Young Kent Side Fall to Defeat

The Kent FA Women’s Rep Team fell to defeat at the hands of Army FA in the season opener in the Southern Counties Cup Competition.

Kent travelled to the Aldershot Military Stadium with a noticeably young side boasting an average age of 20 and ten players making their debuts for the County team.

The opening stages of the match saw the hosts dominate the ball without causing much threat to the Kent goal whilst Kent looked dangerous on the attack. On 25 minutes, the hosts took the lead with a well taken goal that gave Sade Rider in the Kent goal no chance. Kent grew into the match and came close to drawing level on the half hour mark, Nicole Pepper-Scott volleying wide of the target. As the halftime whistle got closer, Kent again threatened in attack, a great run from Juliette Blyghton found Elsa Ejupi but her effort went over the bar. Army FA then capitalised on this let off by doubling their lead. On the cusp of halftime, Kent had a great chance to reduce the deficit but having robbed the goalkeeper of the ball, Elsa Ejupi could not convert from a very tight angle.

Kent came out attacking in the second half in search of a goal to get back into the match, but it was the Army who claim closest as they struck the post. Moments later Mille Chapman shot over the bar after doing great to create space in the box. Gabriella Buddle-Smith went close on the hour mark, but Kent sensed it was not going to be there night. This was confirmed when the Army scored a well taken third goal. Kent kept pushing forward to get a consolation goal and once again were thwarted as Buddle-Smith saw her effort headed off the line in the closing stages.

An encouraging display from such a young squad and plenty to look forward to in the remaining fixtures this season.

Squad: Sade Rider (Aylesford FC), Holly Diamond (Ashford United FC), Juliette Blyghton (Aylesford FC), Mille Chapman (Ebbsfleet United FC), Daniella Schmitd De Menezes (Millwall FC), Nicole Pepper-Scott © (Ashford United FC), Jodie Cain (Ebbsfleet United FC), Faith Cullen-Cooper (Ebbsfleet United FC), Layla Crouch-Salmon (Leyton Orient FC), Clementine Young (Millwall FC), Gabriella Buddle-Smith (Sutton United FC), Billy Burgess (Millwall FC), Natasha Hurst (Ashford United FC), Elsa Ejupi (Hashtag United FC).