Bluebirds Keep Promotion Push On Target

Margate Ladies moved three points clear in second place of the South East Counties Women’s League after a stuttering victory against an under-strength Anchorians team at HDP Sunday afternoon.

It was clear from kick-off that the visitors were in for a long afternoon as Margate went in search of goals and on 12 minutes left back Hannah Russell struck from 25 yards to notch her first goal in a Margate kit.

Unexplainably the ladies seemed to switch off and conceded three times in the next seven minutes as stand in keeper Nicole Adams was helpless as the Anchorians striker outpaced the blues defenders giving them a 3-1 lead on 20 minutes.

It was time for The Blues to wake up and in-form striker Harriet Woolston’s sweet strike reduced the deficit to 2-3 at the break.

An early goal in the second half was needed and after Woolston was bundled over in the box on 51 minutes, the striker stepped up to level the scores with a powerful spot kick.

The visitors visibly started to tire and looked deflated as Russell hit another long-range effort that sailed in and The Bluebirds were back in front 4-3.

Wiktoria Bukowska added another with a lightening run in behind before slotting home.

Russell saved the best for her hat trick goal as she converted a free kick from 30 yards that gave the keeper no chance.  

A goal apiece from Grace Phillip’s James and Nicole Adams in the dying minutes put a shine on the score line as Margate ran out 8-3 winners.

The visitors were unlucky to lose by such a score line as they battled to the end but the three points were eventually deserved as the ladies showed they can dig in when required.

After the match, Evan Paris said:

“As their manager, I know the ladies definitely have another couple of gears to go through but need to keep switched on for the 90 minutes especially after scoring.” 

“Today’s game showed we need to be patient in the build-up especially when a team is sitting deep and the goals will come.”  

“The team know what they can do in training and need to show their class on match days. With only five games left this season and three of them at home in March, promotion is a real possibility for this team’s first season together.”

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