By Chloe Kingsland (Women’s 2nd XI Captain)
Cliftonville Women’s 2nd XI opened their hockey season with an impressive 3-2 comeback win over local rivals Herne Bay Women’s 3s on a sweltering day at home.
After finishing third in the league last season, Cliftonville looked eager to build on their success and their determination shone through from the first whistle.
The home side started strong, controlling possession and setting a solid defensive wall. For the first 20 minutes, Cliftonville’s defenders, in a sea of red, held off waves from Herne Bay, while the attack consistently pushed the ball upfield. Despite constant pressure, they struggled to break through Herne Bay’s defence.
Against the run of play, Herne Bay capitalised on two quick counterattacks, catching Cliftonville off guard and netting twice before the halftime whistle. At 2-0 down, Cliftonville faced a tough challenge, but they returned to the pitch after the break full of fight.
Their perseverance paid off when forward Holly broke through to score, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Cliftonville’s momentum grew, and after winning a penalty corner, midfielder Tracy found the back of the net with a determined effort following a series of rebounds, levelling the score at 2-2.
With confidence surging, Cliftonville continued to dominate possession. A quick, precise pass into the D found forward Chloe, who calmly fired home the decisive third goal, putting the home side ahead. The defence, led by some crucial sweeps from Paula and Sally, stood strong in the closing minutes, ensuring Herne Bay had no further chances to level the match.
The final whistle blew, and Cliftonville celebrated a hard-earned 3-2 victory—an excellent start to their season, showcasing their resilience and teamwork.
Marnie earned Woman of the Match for her relentless effort, winning key battles against Herne Bay and supporting both attack and defence. Her work driving the ball up the pitch was crucial to Cliftonville’s victory.
Squad:
Chloe Kingsland (Capt), Tracy Ballard, Olga Borovyk, Holly Cobb-Webb, Paula Gaffney, Marnie Hooper, Cheryl Macer, Sally Maiden-Tilsen, Donna Masters-Grounds, Laura Moor, Sara Patterson, Hannah Perez and Rachael Ruocco-Buchanan
Full Results:
Mens 1st XI v Gore Court 1 (Away)
(Loss) 1-4mScorer: Dan Vinson
Men’s 2nd XI v Sittingbourne 3 (Away)
(Win) 1-3 Scorers: James Provins, David Hooper, Simon Hooper
Men’s 3rd XI v Gravesham & Wellcome Unicorns (Home)
(Loss) 2-3 Scorers: Mike Troy x2
Women’s 1st XI v Edenbridge 1 (Away)
(Win) 3-1 Scorers: Kat O’Hara x2, Anna Holland Smith
Women’s 2nd XI v Herne Bay 3 (Home)
(Win) 2-3 Scorers: Holly Cobb-Webb, Tracy Ballard, Chloe Kinglsand
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