DFDS Kent Women’s Cup Semi-final, played on Sunday 21st January 2024 at PP Community 3G pitch
Team: Jade Charlton, Gabby Howell, Chana Hinds, Jo Woodgates, Meghan McKeag, Bethany Powell,
Lizzie Adams, Emily Read, Emily Vaughan, Nicha Dyett, Shauni Griffiths
Subs (used): Hannah Cleary, Paris Smith, Emily Woodhouse, Georgie Davis
Scorers: Emily Vaughan, Jo Woodgates
Attendance: 150
A GREAT ALL-ROUND TEAM PERFORMANCE
GOALS:
31 mins 0-1 Chie Madamombe
45+2 mins 1-1 Emily Vaughan
73 mins 2-1 Jo Woodgates
On a gale-force wind-blown Community 3G pitch, Darts first of all equalled their 3rd Tier opponents and then
took the game to them with the wind at their backs and with Jo Woodgates' thunderbolt free-kick, sent Darts into
the Kent Women’s Cup Final. They will face Aylesford who defeated Herne Bay 2-0 in the other semi-final.
In a match that could easily have been ruined by the weather, this was a good display - by both teams - and it made for a enthralling game.
Yes, it's true, the wind did cause havoc but both teams had periods of play where they succumbed to the gale-force wind but then also had times of really good passing play by keeping the ball closer to the surface.
Jade made the first save after just a couple of minutes when a free-kick was driven straight at her. She made the save look easy but the wind did play havoc with its flight. Jade wasn’t too troubled with Chat’s shooting, but after they had fluffed a couple of corners their third effort was ‘right on the money’, and delivered accurately into the Darts' 6-yard box, and from close in, Chat's took the lead with a headed goal from Chie Madamombe.
They very nearly added to their score from another good corner, where it was planted into the 6-yard box again, a little bit higher this time and looked destined to go straight in but fortunately for Darts it struck the far post and rebounded into Jade’s arms.
On 36 minutes a great chance fell for Lizzie Adams, who had worked so hard to regain the ball and it looked for a moment that she had buried it, but it skimmed past the post by a whisker.
Just on the stroke of the half-time whistle, a great move with flowing passing brought about Darts’ equaliser. A beautifully-flighted ball came over to the back post and there was Emily Vaughan to head it firmly past the keeper.
HT 1-1
Now with the wind at their backs, Darts, it was thought, would take the game to Chatham.
But Chatham came out slightly stronger and certainly mastered the wind better than in the first half and their breaks from midfield, along with well-timed runs did cause Darts some problems. Darts too though, had their turn at taking the game to the Chats, and a good second 45 minutes of entertainment resulted.
Chatham had a good opportunity of taking the lead but the chance was spurned as it was hit into the side netting board, and with Jade in top form Chat’s weren’t able to get their noses in front.
As the half wore on and with Chat's forward looking lively, it was down to the hero of the day, Jade to keep the Darts on level terms.
She blocked several one-on-one's and certainly kept Darts in the game and it was after another one of her great saves that she released a long wind-assisted kick.
Nicha battled and battled for the ball and finally a few yards outside the penalty box the referee awarded Darts a free-kick.
Was this going to be one of Jo Woodgates’ “Specials?”
The crowd waited …….. and up she ran ……. a couple of strides then WHAM! and thundered another of her unstoppable shots into the top right-hand corner for a brilliant goal that gave Darts the lead in the 73rd minute.
The last 20 minutes or so, with six minutes added on at the end was quite frantic at times … and again Jade pulled off a great blocking-save. Chatham searched for an equaliser but Darts players, everyone of them, fought and fought, and to some degree ‘out-fought’ their 3rd Tier opponents. Far from it being a barn-storming finish by Chats, the Darts equalled them in all quarters and saw out an exciting end to the game.
So, excellent work all round today from the Darts. and against, what should have been higher-fitness level opponents, Darts work-rate equalled them and excelled in playing some great passing football in very difficult and trying conditions.
Report by Tony Brown
Photos by Taur Everard and Alex Barber (ABc Video)