Woodcoombe (A) - 26th November 2023

By David Hanson

For the 2nd week running Margate Women are on the road in the South-East Counties Women’s Football League as they take on Woodcoombe LFC at the Murston Recreation Ground.

This will be the 2nd time this season that the two teams have locked horns in competitive action, as Margate beat Woodcoombe 7-4 at Hartsdown Park which included three separate braces from Rebecca Niblett, Esmee Kew-Stroud and Paige Godden.

Margate come into the game with four points out of their last six available as they picked up a point against Sevenoaks Town at Hartsdown Park where after an entertaining match the score ended 4-4. Most recently Margate were on the road against London Road where in difficult conditions managed to grab a 2-1 after coming from behind thanks to a double for midfielder Harri Chapman.

The hosts have endured a difficult season so far as they find themselves in the drop zone after playing ten matches in the league but did pick up a point recently away against London Road where they came back from 3-0 down at half-time to earn themselves a well-deserved point.

Past Meetings:

Margate 7-4 Woodcoombe LFC – SECWFL - Hartsdown Park - (17/09/23)

Woodcoombe LFC 0-8 Margate – Friendly – Murston Recreation Ground - (13/08/23)

Team News:

Margate will almost have a full squad available for the game meaning players like Abbey Luby and Paige Godden can be recalled after missing out last week against London Road, however midfielder Jemma Barton remains side-lined due to a current knee injury.

Kick-off for the game is scheduled for 2pm with supporters being able to watch the Women for free!

Address:

Woodcoombe Sports & Social Club Church Road

Sittingbourne

Kent

ME10 3RT

Women Win At Woodcoome

By David Hansen

A delayed start to kick-Off saw Margate Women take three points away from Sittingbourne as they beat Woodcoombe 2-1 at The Murston Recreation Ground.

With a delay to kick-off, the first 20 minutes of the game were stop start with the only sniff of a chance for either side was coming from corners. The first half chance fell to Katy Hyde when she was sent through on goal, but the flag was up for offside, but Margate had given themselves the confidence to build on their attacking play.

However, Hyde would have her chance as Niblett was found with a nice diagonal before slipping the ball inside to Hyde, but her shot was straight at the keeper meaning the score remained 0-0 after half an hour.

Niblett was starting to pull the strings, this time from the left as she got in behind the Woodcoombe defence before finding Chapman on the edge, but her shot was well saved again by the keeper who was having a very good game to this point.

The pressure Margate were starting to put on finally had its reward as a corner which was swung in by Niblett to captain Slevin, but her shot was blocked before the ball fell back to striker Paige Godden whose low shot was too accurate for the keeper as she found the side of the net to give the ‘Gate the lead in the 36th minute.

With half time approaching Margate could have had a second when a terrible mistake at the back saw the Woodcoombe keeper misjudge the bounce of the ball but thankfully for her the defenders were able to clear the ball to spare her blushes and keep the deficit to just 1-0 at half time.

Only eight minutes into the 2nd half, Woodcoombe had the equaliser when Kemp passed the ball back to Wood, but her touch was heaving allowing the striker to have an easy tap in to level the score much to the delight of the hosts.

Woodcoombe with the goal had grown into the game and started putting pressure on the Margate team. Margate were able to regroup when an injury to Hyde gave the team some time to talk and try to take the game by the scruff of the neck with the match being in the balance. Seemingly this break in play helped Margate as only moments later Abbie Luby took down a fantastic ball before seeing the underlap of Speller who ran towards the line before pulling the ball back for Chapman who was able to net her 3rd goal in two games to give Margate the lead.

Due to the delay of the kick-off and there being no lights at the Murston Recreation Ground the last 15 minutes of the match was played in fading light meaning neither team were able to show much attacking play and most of the final period of the game was littered with fouls and long balls all of which didn’t challenge either side.

Come the 90th minute the final whistle went, and Margate Women had made it back-to-back victories away from home meaning six points from the last two games as well as being unbeaten in the last 6 matches since the loss in the FA Cup against Millwall Lionesses.

Next week is a massive week for the team as they face XL at Hartsdown Park in a game which could be crucial at the summit of the table. Only two days later the Women are back in action again against Deal Town in the Kent Women’s Cup.

Line-up:

Wood, Luby, Coltham-Lai, Kemp, Charman (King 69’), Slevin ©, Chapman (Duff 82’), Godden (Scales 45’), Niblett, Hyde (Speller 57’), Greetham (Kew-Stroud 45’)

Subs:

King, Duff, Speller, Scales, Kew-Stroud

Goals:

Godden x1

Chapman x1

Opposition Player of the Match:

Abbie Luby