Sunday 22nd February 2009

Corinthians Reserves 0 - 4Maidstone United Rascals

Maidstone United Ladies - The Rascals continue their 100% record to the start of the year with a 4-Nil win away to London Corinthians Reserves. This was a good benchmark for the Ladies as Corinthians had beaten them at home 3-2, at the start of the season.

The Rascals started brightly and made some good chances and spent most of the half in the Corinthians end of the pitch, but not making any chances to test the keeper. Although London spent majority of the half defending they did let the Rascals defence sit back and tested Lisa Gilbert twice, before the deadlock was broken by Maidstone Captain Rae Walsh.

Walsh who had been given the arm band at the start of the game, and pushed into centre midfield to cover for Beccy Penfold who was missing, played a neat give an go with Kayleigh Love to unlock the Corinthians defence, and poked the ball under the advancing keeper.

Half time saw The Rascals replace Sian Finnis with Cheryl Cloude at left back, after Finnis tired after her first game for over year, due to a knee injury, but she made an impressive debut.

It took almost 20 minutes into the 2nd half before The Rascals increased their lead. Michelle Parker's delivery from a set piece being the key, two goals coming from her corners, both dispatched by Walsh inside the 6 yard box.

Thelma Ankrah replaced Amy Nichols on the right wing, and capped her debut with a goal. Rita Dörömbözi who ran the midfield set off, on a mazy run that resulted in her pulling the ball back to Ankrah to pass the ball into the net.

The Rascals had numerous chances to increase the lead but could not find away past the Corinthians' keeper. Stand out performance must go to Nicky Knight that played left midfield and Kayleigh Love who partnered Nat Larby upfront. Both playing in new positions and looking comfortable.

Not only did The Rascals win for the "third" game in a row, they also recorded their first clean sheet since reforming. The defensive partnership of Laura "JT" Grant and Charley Mitten is now settling, and both should be proud to have reached this target

Manager John Harvey commented that he set the girls a target just before Christmas and that was to achieve at least 7 points over the Christmas period but due to the bad weather we never got the chance to play however looking at the last four fixture we are now moving in the right direction and we should be looking at a minimum mid table position by the end of the season.

The next game will be the test to judge how far we have developed we are to play the inform Swanscombe Tigers at Home Sunday 1st March