Women Win Final Home Game In Style

By David Hansen

Margate Women earned victory on Sunday, in their final home game of the season, as they comfortably beat Glebe Ladies 3-0 at Hartsdown Park, to move just five points off 2nd place.

Margate started the game well, especially Abbie Luby, who was dictating the early stages of the match. A dangerous ball from Luby was just too high for top scorer, Paige Godden, as she glanced her header straight at the ‘keeper.

Moments later, it was Luby again with some nice control, before laying the ball off to captain, Becca Slevin, who’s whipped cross flashed across goal, but no one in the box could get on the end of it.

The best chance of the half would come in the form of a cross from a Rebecca Niblett. Her cross towards the back post found Luby perfectly. However, the header back across goal was well saved to keep it at 0-0.

Margate would create one more chance before the break. A Glebe player managed to clear the ball following a cross, but it ended up at the feet of Charlotte Scales, whose shot from outside the area ended up just over the bar, bringing the half to an end.

With the Glebe ‘keeper playing superbly in the first half, it was going to take a brilliant effort to beat her. Up stepped Godden, who fired one into the top corner from the left side of the box. The ‘keeper did get to the ball, but the power was too much as the ball flew into the net.

With the Glebe side tiring, Margate doubled their advantage in the 64th minute through Luby. The ball ended up in the six-yard box and after some pinball, the ball fell to an unmarked Luby at the back post who slotted the ball in at the near post.

Margate introduced Emily Hall into the game for the final quarter. Her determination for a goal created a superb opportunity, as she picked the ball up from outside the box and lashed an effort towards goal but the ‘keeper was up to the task and diverted it out for a corner.

In the 90th minute, Margate were awarded a late penalty for handball against Glebe. However, Godden pulled the shot just wide of the left post, keeping the score at 2-0 for the time being.

The Blues would add to their lead in the dying moments, as Emily Hall took a corner which managed to beat everyone in box and go straight into the net for her second goal this season.

Moments later the final whistle came, ending the season at Hartsdown Park in the best possible fashion. Now all the attention turns to the SECWFL Cup next weekend at the Gallagher Stadium against Tonbridge Angels, with this victory boosting confidence further ahead of the final.

Lineup: Adams, Charman, Coltham-Lai, Kemp, Greetham (King 67’), Speller (Mann 86’), Scales (Hall 67’), Slevin (c) (Kew-Stroud 45’), Luby, Niblett (Fitzgerald 86’), Godden. 

Goals: Paige Godden 56’, Abbie Luby 64’, Emily Hall 90+2’.

Player of the Match: Abbie Luby

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