Herne Bay Women (1) – QPR FC Women (2)
10/31/2024 01:00 PM
Adobe Women's FA Cup 3rd Round Qualifying
Team: Wiggins, Cooper, Brooks, Dixon, Searle, Blodgett, Kennedy, Ward-Chambers, Stanley, McCrea, Dzyadyk
Attendance: 340
The railway station is situated close to both the ground and the seafront. After having a pint on the pier, we headed off for some fish and chips, away from the swooping seagulls, before making our way to the ground.
The Crest Stadium consists of a small stand behind each goal. On one side is the main stand, which seats 200, and the Clubhouse is situated opposite.
It was the hosts who provided the first attempt on goal when the No.14's long-range free kick whizzed over the crossbar.
Rangers fashioned two shots on goal within the first 15 minutes or so, courtesy of Courtnay Ward-Chambers and Grace Stanley.
QPR took the lead on 18 minutes after Ellie Searle had set-up Courtnay Ward-Chambers in a widish position. She then let fly, and although Edie Kelly managed to get her hands to the ball, she couldn't keep it out.
The Bays No.7 then went close, when her side-footed effort ended up just wide of the target.
At the other end, Ellie Searle's pass found Grace Stanley, who then saw her shot come off the crossbar.
As Rangers looked to double their lead, Anna Dzyadyk received the ball from Grace Stanley, and she then forced a very good save from the keeper.
The R's were awarded a penalty after Renai McCrea became sandwiched between two defenders. Courtnay Ward-Chambers stepped up and fired her spot-kick against the crossbar.
Although she was on hand to stroke the rebound into the net, the referee had no choice but to rule it out.
An excellent ball made its way to Anna Dzyadyk on the right-flank. She then cut in and her strike at goal was-well saved at the near-post.
With about eight minutes remaining, Herne Bay equalised against the run of play. Steph Adby's audacious 30-yard free kick went in via the underside of the crossbar.
As the R's looked to regain the lead, three minutes later, Renai McCrea's shot hit the side-netting.
After one added minute, it remained all-square at the break.
Into the second-half and it was the away side who continued to have the best of it.
Stevie Kennedy's strike from outside the penalty area was knocked onto the bar by the keeper.
With about 30 minutes remaining, the Bays really should have taken the lead. Unmarked in the box, the ball was somehow tapped wide from close range.
Jo Blodgett smashed the ball goalwards from all of 25-yards, but it ended up drifting just wide of the target.
Danny Harrigan made his first change on 65 minutes, when he brought on Alana Munro at the expense of Renai McCrea.
A big shout went up when Grace Stanley was knocked over in the box, but the referee wasn't interested. However, soon after, he harshly booked Courtnay Ward-Chambers.
Rangers got their noses in front with about 18 minutes to go, following Alana Munro's run down the right-flank.
She then squared the ball across the edge of the box, where Anna Dzyadyk was situated to hit it superbly first-time into the net.
Then soon after, Jo Blodgett fired the ball just wide of the target.
A very naughty challenge on Jess Cooper went unpunished and she stayed down for some time requiring treatment!
Rangers successfully negotiated the five added minutes.
Four other changes were made in the closing stages, which saw the introduction of Kasha Petit, Paige Hoile, Izzy Owen and Chloe Sampson, at the expense of Courtnay Ward-Chambers, Jess Cooper, Stevie Kennedy and Anna Dzyadyk respectively.
It was back to league action next, when the R's travelled to Wealdstone's Grosvenor Vale Stadium to face Watford.
Steve Russell
(Shown above are: Chris Hewitt, myself, Sammy and Martin Wheeler. Thanks to Chris for the photo)
