CHATHAM TOWN 2-1 DARTFORD KC Final

[Ajaxman DFC]

Make no mistake Chatham will wake up this morning knowing they've been in a game last night. Probably one of, if not the most hardest they've been involved in all season.
The passion, grit and determination our women displayed was flawless. Played at 100 miles per hour it was a fierce contest and one we were unlucky not to win.
Chatham's opening goal in the 16th minute was an unsavoury one. The ball pinning around like a pinball machine in the penalty area ended with a goal Jade Charlton couldn't palm away due to her arm being yanked down like a one armed bandit.
If that's not a blatant foul on the keeper then I don't know what is. Jess King was credited with the goal following the mayhem.
We all thought justice had been served on 22 minutes when Lizzie Adams was hauled down inside the box and the penalty was given. Shauni Griffiths went for the bottom left corner but unfortunately Trinidad & Tobago international keeper Simone Eligon guessed right and made the save.
On 39 mins I thought Xayla-Rae Alberts had scored but Simone thwarted her shot with Shauni heading just over the bar from the resulting corner.
Four minutes later, a late challenge by Beth Powell saw her booked for the first time this week. It was a bit harsh in my opinion. She didn't mean it!
The second half saw Chatham under the cosh as our girls cranked up the pressure in search of the elusive equaliser.
On 57 mins Simone did well to tip a great effort from Amy Russ onto the bar. We were clearly the better side after the break, so it was gutting to see Lottie Sharp heading a cross into the far corner to make it 2-0 against the run of play, with ten minutes of normal time remaining.
The goal of the game didn't arrive until the 90th minute when Russ unleashed a cracking shot from just inside the area following a long ball from Abbey Davies.
Despite 8 minutes of added time to play it sadly proved only a consolation goal in the end.
Player of the match for me was captain Xayla-Rae Alberts. A battling performance as usual and she certainly took a few knocks at the Gallagher which she was expecting to know all about when she wakes up this morning. Every crunching tackle and collision she get's up from. It reminds me of the saying, "You can't keep a good man down".
Well that applies to women as well and should anyone be in any doubt whatsoever look no further than Xayla.
A truly amazing lady.
Wild horses wouldn't drag her off that pitch under any circumstances.

[TonyDart]

Well done Ajaxman. A really good account of the game and the way every single Dartford player held their heads high even well after the whistle was a credit to witness.
Well done to Dartford FC Women (and in part to Chatham Town too) in providing surely one of the best Kent Women's Cup finals ever.

[Lol]

A cracking game of football and 100% given by all our girls for the 98 official minutes played. I was concerned that this cup final was officiated by a referee and assistant who probably had to go to school this morning, they looked very young. They may have the experience, but I doubt it. The Chatham players were in the Ref's face whenever she blew the whistle. If she had booked some players early there would have been better control of the game. And at least one sending off when Xayla copped an elbow right under the nose of the fourth official, who admitted to the Ref she saw the incident but couldn't identify the player! Maybe players should have numbers on their shirts for ease of identification.

[MINTY]

Last night was my 1st live Women's football game. I hate going to the Gallagher normally, for obvious reasons, even though I live in Maidstone, I wanted to see the girls, so I put my feelings to one side. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Shame the girls lost, but it wasn't for the lack of trying. The commitment was excellent from the girls, some of those tackles, wow. They who should hold their heads up high today. I certainly will go and see them again.

[Lol]

Last night was my 1st live Women's football game. I hate going to the Gallagher normally, for obvious reasons, even though I live in Maidstone, I wanted to see the girls, so I put my feelings to one side. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Shame the girls lost, but it wasn't for the lack of trying. The commitment was excellent from the girls, some of those tackles, wow. They who should hold their heads up high today. I certainly will go and see them again.

Glad you enjoyed it, Minty and great that you came along and supported our girls. They play with that much pride and passion every match, and the tackling is just as fruity! Look forward to seeing you at future matches, the next one being the last game of the league season against Fulham, at Princes Park. Expect another passionate performance with the usual firm but fair challenges, even though it is a charity day, raising funds for Breast Cancer Awareness on behalf of one of our own, Rachel.

[MINTY]

Last night was my 1st live Women's football game. I hate going to the Gallagher normally, for obvious reasons, even though I live in Maidstone, I wanted to see the girls, so I put my feelings to one side. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Shame the girls lost, but it wasn't for the lack of trying. The commitment was excellent from the girls, some of those tackles, wow. They should hold their heads up high today. I certainly will go and see them again.

Glad you enjoyed it, Minty and great that you came along and supported our girls. They play with that much pride and passion every match, and the tackling is just as fruity! Look forward to seeing you at future matches, the next one being the last game of the league season against Fulham, at Princes Park. Expect another passionate performance with the usual firm but fair challenges, even though it is a charity day, raising funds for Breast Cancer Awareness on behalf of one of our own, Rachel.

I may well come up for that one.

[Lol]

It will be good to see you, and anyone else you can bring along. Doors open @ 12:00 for the pre-match fun and kick-off is at 13:30 More updates on "X"
@DartfordFCWomen

[TonyDart]

Here is the Kent Messenger report, by Matthew Panting on Darts' heroic attempt to retain the Kent Women's Cup.

The seemingly inexperience of the referee was highlighted to me from her attitude of prolonging Shauni's penalty kick wait.
I saw her take up her position to the right of the penalty spot, which was correct, but then walk slowly to the goalkeeper, all the way to the goal-line, pointing her arm to and along the goal-line, obviously explaining the rules of movement and her whistle. But then instead of re-taking up her position, she walked on past this to the 18 yard line on the right-hand side waving her arm, then walked along the 18-yard line to the left-hand side, duly explaining the rule of infringement and her whistle, and only then took up position, where she was about 60 seconds earlier.

I think this was a shame because all the advantages of a delayed kick played into the hands of the goalkeeper (who was also of international standard).

Perhaps she just wanted to be in the limelight for the moment, but she surely put Shauni (and any penalty-taker for that matter) at a real disadvantage.

But it was a cracking final with two excellent and equally-balanced sides.

Does anyone know what the attendance was?

Tony Brown

[TonyDart]

Photos courtesy of PSP Images

[Ajaxman DFC]

Looking at Shauni's body language I think she was becoming frustrated due to the length of time she was spending in pole position waiting for the whistle.
I wouldn't have blamed her if she had retrieved the ball from the spot and gone for a walk with it under her arm, handing the referee a slip of paper on the way with her number on it telling the official to give her a call when she's ready.
It's instances like this where maybe there should be a contingency plan in place involving two penalty takers. One to take it straight away with the other on standby to step in at the last minute to take it should there be a legthy delay. It would also give the penalty taker a psychological advantage over the keeper, throwing her own tactics out if of the window when deciding whether to dive to her left, right or just stand her ground. Fine margins involving the minutest of details can sometimes make a huge difference.

[TonyDart]

Matt Dixon, Kent FA has just confirmed - The attendance was 453

[Ajaxman DFC]

Matt Dixon, Kent FA has just confirmed - The attendance was 453

453 declared. Rounded up to 600. Not a bad turnout.