A Depleted Womens Side Win At Glebe

By David Hansen

New faces, a return from long term injury and the gaffer lacing up her boots, it was all happening as Margate Women beat Glebe Ladies 3-1 in the SECWFL Premier Division on Sunday!

Heading into the match, Steph Meek and Dan Smith had a real selection headache, with many first team players unavailable for the trip to Chislehurst, there were starts for development players Annabelle Ashby, Robyn Nicklin and Halle Harrington. There was also a return for Laura Aldridge after a two-year recovery from an ACL injury and places on the bench for development players Katie Andrews and Emily McCormack.

Margate managed to open the scoring in the opening minutes, thanks to a lovely through ball from Steph Meek, slipped in Rebecca Niblett, who netted the ball to earn her 15th goal of the season.

The ‘Gate would continue to push for the second, but the ball just wouldn’t go in the net. After several reprieves for the hosts, they eventually found the equaliser. A long range freekick was deflected off the back of Glebe’s striker and into the path of Sarah Bradshaw, who was then one-on-one with the ‘keeper. Her quick decision making led to her beating Kemp and bringing Glebe back into the game.

Just before the break, Lily Kemp was called into action once more as a shot placed towards the far post was excellently saved on the full stretch, keeping it at 1-1 before the break.

The second half saw Margate retake the lead. Ashby tried on three occasions to get a ball into the box towards Tabitha Fitzgerald, and after a stroke of luck, the ball found the net, her first goal for the club!

Yet again, up stepped Kemp in goal who pulled of another two-world class saves from close range, and on the stretch again to deny the seemingly frustrated Glebe attack.

Finally, the nerves for Margate settled late on, when Aldridge played a ball through to Luby. Knocked on by Luby, Glebe’s centre back was unable to clear with her head, and Luby was able to poke the ball into the near post.

The result confirmed the three points the ‘Gate needed to secure third place in the league this season.

Margate will be relying on another fixture next week to go their way to keep a chance of 2nd place still on the table against Tunbridge Wells Foresters on the 19th of May.

Margate XI: Kemp (McCormack 85’), Ashby, Mann, Coltham-Lai (c), Harrington, Meek (Andrews 70’), Speller, Nicklin (Aldridge 34’), Luby, Niblett, Fitzgerald.

Substitutes: Andrews, Aldridge, McCormack, Hall, Charman

Manager Steph Meek had her say:

“We needed three points last weekend to secure a top three finish as well as keep us in the running for 2nd place and I’m delighted to have reached that target given the circumstances.

“It proved a very difficult one to manage with many first team players missing from the ranks, in other weeks a fixture such as these is merely one of routine.

“Depleted, we relied on the support of the development team to fulfil the fixture as well as giving starts and minutes to some first team players who don’t always feature in the first XI.

“This came with new challenges both on and off the pitch. Three development players made their debut one of which also featured in the starting lineup and there were return call ups for two other development players. Each one worked hard and gave all they had to help the team secure the win but there were notable changes in team dynamic and communication throughout the fixture which made it both mentally and physically taxing on all players.

“I have little to comment on the management of the game this weekend, having laced up boots myself, I tried to focus on my performance on the pitch and left the in-game management in the capable hands of my Head Coach Dan Smith. I can however pass comment on the effort and drive of the squad, from Kemp standing in goal to the development players stepping up, Fitzgerald netting her first club goal and a return for Aldridge there was plenty to celebrate as the season heads into the final fixture. Although the form may have looked very different to what supporters are used to seeing from the side, a huge team effort saw a confident win and another three points on the table.”

Goals: Niblett, Fitzgerald, Luby

Assists: Meek, Aldridge

Player of the match: Lily Kemp

UP THE 'GATE

More news