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City Ladies recover well

- 05/10/2008

City Ladies 2 Maidstone Town 2

There is merit in playing below your potential but still avoiding defeat and that was exactly what happened in this tough, rain soaked second meeting in seven days with Maidstone.

The previous Sunday a depleted City had put up a brave performance, only to be knocked out of the FA Cup. This time Maidstone would probably have won again if they had taken a stronger hold in the early part of the game when City were struggling.

Although City were able send out a stronger team than in the earlier game and tried to dominate midfield, they were still not up to full strength and had some players out of position. Last season's top scorer in the whole club, Debbie Burgess, performed a supporting role to Natalie Santos who had few opportunities because it was difficult for the midfield players to give her support when, for a large part of the game, they were being pressed back.

The difference between the quality of opposition teams such as Maidstone and the standard City faced last season is obvious. Not only are these sides physically stronger, they adapt to the demands of the game. City were a goal down after twelve minutes when Gemma Sullivan headed powerfully past Sarah Hardy, who was blameless for the two goals she conceded. However, City had some good fortune on their side. When Natalie Farbrace hit a speculative ball upfield from about thirty yards, the Maidstone goalkeeper failed to judge the bounce and the ball rose over her for City's equaliser.

The goal of the game came from Maidstone's Nicola Morris who hit a stunning 55th minute free-kick over Hardy's reach. Five minutes later Avril Spary sent a long ball over the penalty area, more in hope of finding a City head than the goal itself, but it went over everyone and into the net to give City the draw that their work over the last half hour justified.

CITY: Hardy; Deeley, Collins, Farbrace (Smith), Dowle, Blackmore, Spary, Santos, Bailey, Baker, Burgess