We can compete against teams in higher divisions, warns Herne Bay boss Anthony Deer

ANTHONY DEER has guided Herne Bay’s ladies to the brink of their first piece of silverware in only their first season together.



The Bay came away from Long Lane with a 4-2 victory yesterday to clinch their place in the Kent Women’s Plate Final at the first attempt.

They will now face Dartford-based outfit Parkwood Rangers in the final at Sevenoaks Town’s Greatness Park on Thursday, 4 April.

Striker Vicky Holness took her goalscoring tally to SIXTY for the season with a hat-trick, the other goal coming from Kiya Mills.

”After our performance last week against their reserves we were upbeat knowing that a winning result would see us in our first final in our first season in becoming a team,” Deer told the club’s website.

”The girls were frustrated from last week’s defeat to Long Lane reserves and had their grit between their teeth to make sure that they got the result that warranted the last three games performances.

”We played on the same pitch as last week and this time we decided to play up the hill in the first half, the sun and wind was against, however, we knew if we could get through the first half without conceding or at least keep it close then the second half we should dominate and score more than Long Lane.”

Deer described the victory as a good all-round team performance.

He said: ”It’s difficult to pick out one player of the match at the moment because each and every player brings something different to the game, each contributing to such a great team performance especially over the last few games.”

Herne Bay, who play in the South East Counties Women’s League Kent County Division, and are presently in second place in the table with 36 points from 14 games – three points behind Long Lane’s reserves, but with a game in hand, play their biggest game of the season on Tuesday night when Gillingham visit Winch’s Field in the Ryman Women’s Cup Quarter-Final.

James Marr’s side play in the FA Women’s Premier League South and defeated Ebbsfleet United 1-0 yesterday to book their place in the Kent Women’s Cup Final, where they will face Millwall Lionesses or Charlton Athletic.

Deer, who performs numerous roles at the Ryman League Division One South club, wants his side to produce a giant killing act, especially as his side have scored 87 goals from their fourteen league games.

He said: ”The last few performances have shown that we can compete with teams in higher divisions with defending of the highest quality and composure on the ball when needed everywhere on the pitch.”

Visit Herne Bay’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/hernebay

Herne Bay  v  Gillingham
Ryman Women’s Cup Quarter-Final
Tuesday 19^th February 2013
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Winch’s Field, Stanley Gardens, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5SG