Hollands & Blair (2) 4 L. Farley 10 Milner 16
Tonbridge Angels (4) 4 Mayhead 8,25,45 Cresswell 39
Attendance: 582
Admission: £5
Mileage: 20/6,554
Tonbridge Angels Women won a thrilling Kent FA Women’s Plate Final at the Gallagher on Friday evening beating Hollands and Blair 4-2 with a hat-trick for Grace Mayhead and one for Charlotte Cresswell. All the goals came in a frantic first half in which the Angels fell behind at 2-1.
Both clubs were well supported in an attendance of 582 and it made for a great atmosphere as the supporters lapped up a first half of thrills, spills and plenty in between.
Blair, who top the division below the Angels but nervously wait while Park Regis complete their games, showed an intent from the opening whistle that they were not going to be overawed by the occasion and it took a few minutes before the Angels women settled into their game.
But, once they did, the chances arrived with Aimee Churchill forcing the Blair goalkeeper, Erin Farley, into a first save and, following a corner, the keeper was brought into action again with an effort from Hope Mumford.
After eight minutes, the Angels took a deserved lead when Mayhead was sent clear to finish clinically.
The Gillingham-based opposition were, however, not for rolling over and were on level terms within a couple of minutes. A corner was scrambled to safety leading to a further corner that was delivered to the far post where a header from Lauren Farley brought the score level.
Now, it was a case of the Angels needing to recover their composure, but after 16 minutes, they found themselves behind when a free kick from Sophie Milner sailed over the head of Ashleigh Rhodes.
After chances for Freya Jones, Churchill and Mayhead, Tonbridge got back on level terms after 25 minutes with a fine move that involved Megan Gill and Churchill that opened up the opportunity for Mayhead to score her second.
Confidence renewed, the Angels started to dominate the game, playing some attractive football in the process. In the space of a couple of minutes Mayhead saw a header come back from the crossbar and was denied by the feet of the advancing Erin Farley.
It seemed only a matter of time before the Angels hit the front and this came on 39 minutes when a deft flick on from Churchill gave Cresswell the chance which she took well.
Hollands and Blair showed good spirit and Rhodes was twice called into action before, on the stroke of the break, Churchill was once again the provider as Mayhead completed her hat-trick with a delicate chip over the goalkeeper.
Whatever was said in the dressing rooms during half-time brought a bit more organisation and structure from both sides as opposed to the frantic nature of the opening 45 minutes.
Tonbridge were largely controlling the game but should have been pegged back on 63 minutes when Farley was brought down for a penalty to which Rhodes was the equal with a good parrying save from Sophie Nicholls spot kick with the rebound sailing into the Maidstone sky.
The Angels had several chances in the remaining time to put the game comfortably beyond their opposition but a combination of near misses and good goalkeeping kept the scoreline at 4-2.
A delighted Joe Rowe said post-match: “It was a tough game, Hollands and Blair made it difficult for us, especially in the first 15-20 minutes. But when we found our feet and started to find our patterns we created a lot of chances and ultimately deserved to win the game.”
One trophy safely in the cabinet and on Thursday, 8th May, the women will return to the Gallagher, this time to defend their League Cup success of last season with this year’s opposition coming from Parkwood Rangers.
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