Page 7 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.19 2020-21

Dartford claimed the delayed 2019-20 Kent FA Cup with a 3-1 win over London & South-
East Regional League Premier Division rivals Aylesford.
In a very good match in front of a large and passionate crowd, Darts finally proved
too strong for a well organised and committed Aylesford team, a superb 74th minute strike
by Emily Vaughan settling the outcome in Dartford's favour.
Despite almost constant pressure, it took Darts 38 minutes to take the lead.
Aylesford defended with bravery and keeper Sade Rider made a string of top class saves
including a miraculous reaction stop from a close range Nicha Dyett header. When Rider
was beaten by a low shot from the edge of the area, Stacey Glover was well positioned to
clear off the line on 31 minutes.
The Dartford opener came from excellent work by Emily Read whose low cross was
unfortunately turned home by a defender on 38 minutes. Read's battle with Aylesford's left
back Alison Draper was a highlight of the match, both players emerging with great credit.
Aylesford had put together several good attacking moves of their own on the break,
the best of which saw skipper Beth Hulme fire across goal and just wide but Dartford were
good value for their interval lead.
A super first time finish by Alicia Gibbs from another Read cross gave Dartford a
second four minutes after the restart but this seemed to inspire Aylesford into attacking
mode. Darts keeper Jade Charlton made an acrobatic save to keep out an Alex Whitham
header from a free kick but was beaten on the hour by a fine finish from Hulme who had
got free on the left.
With the outcome back in the balance, Darts continued to press forward and were
rewarded when Vaughan powered in a shot from 25 yards when there seemed to be little
danger on 74 minutes.
Charlton made another good catch from a Whitham header but it was Rider in the
opposite goal who made the final save, turning away another low shot to deny Darts a
fourth goal late on.
Both teams deserve great credit for an entertaining final, fiercely but fairly
contested and including some fine individual performances, but it was Dartford who went
home with the Kent FA Cup.
Dartford: Jade Charlton, Kimberley Green, Joanne Woodgates, Charlie Torry, Emily
Read, Lizzie Adams, Isabelle
Michalski, Shauni Griffiths, Alicia
Gibbs, Emily Vaughan, Nicha
Dyett. Subs: Katie Butts, Becky
Burnham, Rachel Stevens, Megan
Mansfield.
Aylesford: Sade Rider, Annie
Colston, Alison Draper, Alex
Witham, Sasha Rudler, Stacey
Glover, Milly Penfold, Lucy Dante,
Beth Hulme, Hannah Tyler, Fiona
Constable. Subs: Sian Cheedy,
Sydney Davis, Chloe Fowler, Zaka
Chapman.
(Report by Patrick Higgins,
Photo by
www.jamesprickett.co.uk)
Issue no. 19 - 27 May 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk