Sevenoaks Town FC’s women’s team put their hearts and souls into the DFDS Kent FA Plate Final on Thursday evening against Sittingbourne Ladies, which was watched by a mammoth crowd at The Gallagher Stadium in Maidstone. Sittingbourne won the final 2-1.
Two penalties and a sending off were ultimately the cause of Sevenoaks loss, but they were the better team by far in this enthralling encounter between the two South East Counties Women’s Football League Premier Division sides.
Sittingbourne took the lead in the 65th minute via the penalty spot after a Sevenoaks player was judged to have handled the ball in the area.
Sevenoaks kept their composure though and in the 83rd minute they equalised after a superb run from Ami Wybrow, who did extremely well to get to the ball first, who then slotted it past the oncoming goalkeeper!
But it was to be late heartbreak for Sevenoaks as Sittingbourne scored an 89th minute winner via another penalty. Ellie Hyner was subsequently shown a red card for bringing a Sittingbourne striker down after she had rounded Emily Orchin in the Sevenoaks goal.
Although the referee played an additional five minutes injury time, and with a freekick out on the right wing and the keeper coming up, it just wasn’t to be for Sevenoaks this time!
Manager Paul McDonagh said after the final: “It wasn’t our night but the girls really dug deep and really gave us a performance! There are so many things to be proud of with this team.”
It was a brilliant performance from all the players, and they left absolutely everything on the pitch, they really did the club proud!
How the evening unfolded for Sevenoaks Town:
4’ | Brilliant play by Ami Wybrow, shows a burst of speed to get away from two Sittingbourne players. Advances into the box and gets a left footed shot away which the keeper saves well! (0-0)
5’ | Ami Wybrow puts in a outstanding sliding tackle to stop Sittingbourne from clearing it away. Throw in by the corner flag instead! (0-0)
8’ | Big chance for the Oaks. Great ball through splits the defence and Thea Willmore just puts it wide of the post with her left foot (0-0)
13’ | Chance for Sittingbourne but it doesn’t test Emily Orchin in the Oaks goal as a shot from 30 yards clears the crossbar (0-0)
17’ | Captain Natalie Graves hits a freekick into the box which ends up with the Sittingbourne goalkeeper (0-0)
28’ | Sevenoaks have started the game really well, looking dangerous on the attack and have had the best chance of the game so far (0-0)
31’ | Good defending from Ellie Hyner to stop a Sittingbourne attack down the right wing (0-0)
32’ | Nancy Housego gets away down the right wing and whips a great looking ball in across the 6 yards box but no one there to get on the end of it unfortunately! (0-0)
35’ | Another great ball into the box from the Oaks, Hannah Cleary this time from the left. Nancy Housego can’t quite get the ball under control and defender manages to clear it (0-0)
37’ | More good defending from Ellie Hyner! (0-0)
40’ | Good sliding tackle from Hannah Cleary near the half way line to put it out for a throw in (0-0)
43’ | Claudia Lane does well to see the ball out for a goal kick under pressure from the Sittingbourne forward (0-0)
45+2 | Sittingbourne fire over from the edge of the box (0-0)
Half time – Sevenoaks Town 0 Sittingbourne 0. Really good half from the Oaks, had the best chance so far just going wide of the post in the 8th minute. Both sides fully committed in tackles and it’s been an entertaining watch!
46’ | First chance of the second half falls to Sittingbourne but it’s off target (0-0)
48’ | Sittingbourne goalkeeper is quickly off her line to stop the Oaks getting a shot away (0-0)
52’ | Hannah Cleary using her pace down the left wing to get away from two opposition players before a third gets a tackle in. Oaks throw-in (0-0)
56’ | Chance! Nancy Housego runs onto the ball at the far edge of the box and tries her luck which the goalkeeper saves well down to her left hand side (0-0)
58’ | Sittingbourne just starting to get into the game a bit more but Emily Orchin and the Oaks defence dealing with the pressure so far (0-0)
60’ | Sevenoaks Town substitution. Luci Dorling is on for Zoe Parson (0-0)
64’ | Penalty to Sittingbourne. Think it may be for a handball but not 100% sure (0-0)
65’ | GOAL! They take the lead from the penalty spot (0-1)
70’ | Natalie Graves goes for goal from a freekick 35 yards out. Good hands from the Sittingbourne goalkeeper who holds onto it at the first attempt (0-1)
72’ | Solid defending from Sittingbourne is just stopping Oaks from getting their shots away (0-1)
77’ | Sevenoaks Town substitution. Abbey Blake is on for Hannah Cleary (0-1)
83’ | GOAL! Ami Wybrow does extremely well to get to the ball first and slots it past the goalkeeper for the equaliser! (1-1)
88’ | Penalty to Sittingbourne and Ellie Hyner is shown a red card for bringing the attacker down after she rounded the Oaks keeper! (1-1)
89’ | GOAL! They convert their second penalty of the night to go ahead late in the game (1-2)
90’ | 5 minutes added time. Come on the Oaks! (1-2)
95’ | Last chance for the Oaks. Freekick out on the right wing. The keeper is coming up! (1-2)
Full time | Sevenoaks Town 1 Sittingbourne 2.
