Sunday 1st March 2009

Maidstone United Rascals 3 - 3 Swanscombe Tigers

The fine form of Maidstone United Ladies continues after The Rascals put in their best team performance since reforming this year. Manager John Harvey had to make a tactical change, Amy Noakes replaced Nicky Knight on the Left Wing, Rascals Captain Rae Walsh was unavailable, and replacing her was Beccy Penfold.

The Rascals came up against inform Swanscombe Tigers that have been free scoring all season and not conceding many, this was going to be the hardest challenge for the Rascals this season. The game started with Maidstone pressing all over the pitch, not letting Swanscombe settle on the ball, and play their normal style of game. This was clear as both the players and officials did not seem happy with not getting time on the ball.

It wasn't long before this hard "in your face" approach worked, when Rita Dörömbözi brought a ball down on her chest and ghosted past the left back and her cross turn shoot looped over the head of the Swanscombe keeper, 1-nil Rascals.

More than 30 minutes had passed before Rascals Keeper Lisa Gilbert was called into action, when the #11 of Swanscombe broke away from a corner; she made a first class save with her feet. Gilbert would be called into action a lot more over the next 15 minutes as Swanscombe laid siege to the Rascals goal.

Just before half time Amy Nichols had the chance to increase the Rascals lead but her break away shoot was saved, half time Rascals lead one - Nil.

The second half would be a different kettle of fish altogether, Maidstone would not be able to keep up the hard pressing all over the pitch. Swanscombe started the 2nd half like a team that was pressing for the league title and after Michelle Parker survived a penalty claim, Swanscombe found themselves in the lead with two break away goals, placing them Two - One in the lead.

Sian Finns replaced Cheryl Cloude, Knight replaced Dörömbözi and Kayleigh Love came off after another hard battling performance upfront, replaced by Thelma Ankrah.

Ankrah was soon into the action with some neat interplay with Natalie Larby and broke down away, the ball seemed to run away from her, but she pressed on and forced what should have been a simple save for the keeper into a mistake, she rounded the keeper and scored her 2nd goal in two games, both coming off the bench.

With the game coming to an end 2 all would have been a fair result but Swanscombe pressed on and managed to score again, giving them a 3-2 to lead with 4 minutes remaining.

Captain for the day Charley Mitten rallied her team forward, and it worked with practically the last kick of the game, Knight collected a ball on the left wing and bent and unstoppable curling shot from 25 yards plus to score the equaliser. Queue pandemonium, Knight didn't know what to do, not only had she levelled the game but she had just scored her first league goal EVER!!

Woman of the Match was given to Laura Grant who looked accomplished in the centre of defence and starting to live up to her nickname of JT (John Terry) with some timely interceptions.

Captains Comments - Charley Mitten

"The result shows how far the team has come since the beginning of the season. We knew this was a match of epic proportions, and felt ready for it. Everyone worked 100% and fought for the result. Coming straight out of the blocks as soon as the whistle was blown, the first half was ours for the taking. It was only in the second half of the game that Swanscombe came into the game, however due to the fantastic efforts of our newest player Thelma and Nicky's 'wonder goal!', we came out with a result that a few months ago would not have been achievable.

I feel the growth of the team is a lot to do with the amount of effort shown by the coaches, management staff and Physiotherapist on a weekly basis in training and on match days, and I would like to thank them on behalf of everyone in the team for amount of time they put towards helping us."