Bath pull plug on Chichester ... ladies back to winning ways

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Chichester 1 Bath Buccaneers 8

National League Conference West

Chichester and Bath had played each other six times in the past two seasons in league and cup competitions – and Chichester had yet to come out on the losing side. Now things have changed...

Chichester started well, moving the ball around and dominating the early midfield encounters. But the opening five minutes was as good as it got.

They conceded an early short corner and were punished by a very good drag flick. From then on Chichester struggled to get the ball out from the back and regularly lost possession in the centre of the park.

Bath punished Chichester to make it 2-0 through another well-worked penalty corner. It was soon three when a Bath player was left unattended from the halfway line into the Chichester D before firing the ball into the bottom corner.

Chichester remained hopeful of scrapping a point but Bath put an end to that idea and effectively put the game to bed when a simple lapse in concentration enabled them to walk the ball into the Chichester net early in the second half.

One positive from Chichester was a fantastic goal from 15-year-old Alex Pendle, who received the ball from the left, controlled it with his first touch and fired it into the bottom corner.

The remainder of the half saw Chichester lie down and allow Bath to walk the ball into the Chichester D on numerous of occasions and at the end Chichester were fortunate to only have conceded eight.

The performance raised a lot of questions over the team and individuals, but Chichester have two opportunities to bounce back this week – they face unbeaten Cardiff at Kingsham on Saturday and travel to Old Georgians on Sunday.

Chichester Ladies 3 Brighton & Hove Ladies 3rds 0

After a disappointing draw with Lewes, Chichester were pleased to come away from this game with three points.

Chichester were dominant early on and one attack was converted by Verena Sambel striking the ball from a wide angle into the bottom corner, with Lottie Greenlees also lurking at the post for a deflection.

Chichester continued to pass the ball nicely around their midfield with Anna Healey, Patti Hyla and Amy Chaplin linking up well to create a further chance down the left for the ball to be slipped into Meg Goring on top of the D. Goring’s powerful shot narrowly missed.

Chichester were awarded two short corners and were unlucky not to convert either. The second half saw the home side continue to push forward with Greenlees, Holly Gyles and Jess Gleeson using their pace.

Chichester’s third corner was trapped well by Hyla before taken wide by Goring and cleverly converted with a clean shot into a corner of the goal.

Defenders Megan Hattemore, Natty Halliday, Sally Bradley and Mirriam Sparshott had little to do but were tested from time to time.

With the help of goalie Steph Kalber, Chichester survived a succession of short corners with a clean sheet.

The win was sealed when Chichester picked up the ball in midfield, transferred it around the back and up the wing for Hyla to pick it up in front of the Brighton keeper and with some clever stickwork she flicked the ball into the net.

The last chance fell to Demelza Peake, who controlled the ball well with her back to the keeper and turned to fire the ball into the corner but was unlucky to hit the post.

Chichester took three points but will need to be more clinical when playing more challenging oppositions.

Chichester are third, trailing the leaders and this week’s opponents Horsham Ladies II by two points.

Chichester: Kalber S, Hattemore M, Halliday N, Bradley S, Sparshott M, Healey A, Hyla P, Chaplin A, Goring M, Sambel V, Greenlees L, Gyles H, Gleeson J, Peake D.

Brighton and Hove 4ths 3 Chichester Ladies 2nds 2

As league leaders, Chichester knew they were there to be shot at – and this is what the home side did.

Chichester’s passing was not up to their usual standard and that put them unnder pressure, which led to Brighton scoring first.

The visitors battled on and were awarded a penalty corner. This gave Chi a chance and Rachel Trent scored the equaliser.

Brighton kept pushing and regained the lead despite Cheryl Parrott and keeper Claire Young’s best efforts.

In the second half Chi were more organised and they had the bulk of possession but still felt outnumbered when the hosts attacked.

Chi’s persistence paid off as another penalty corner came their way and a ball fed in by Tracy Austin to Sarah Jessop at the top of the D led to a pass to Trent who flicked it over the keeper for her second.

Brighton were awarded a penalty corner from which Austin stopped the ball with her foot, adjudged to be on the goal line, resulting in a penalty flick – but to her delight Young pulled off a brilliant save.

Chichester’s concentration waned and Brighton scored again – and Chichester ran out of time to get an equaliser.

Chichester: Young, Austin, Oliver-Catt, Greenway, Parrott, Trent, Spencer, Gray, Young, Bennison, Hurd, Jessop.

Chichester Ladies 3s 1 Brighton & Hove Ladies 5s 5

Chichester had a strong team but couldn’t keep Brighton from hitting the backboard.

The girls worked the ball around the pitch well and passed the ball with great effort. But Brighton scored three goals in the first half and another two in the second.

Chichester spirits were lifted when a fantastic cross by Charlotte Binning fell to Katie Rose whose shot flew in.

Despite the score, both teams thoroughly enjoyed the game.

Chichester: B Stemp, C Stemp, Carter, Cruttenden, O’Callaghan, Maddison, Rose, Goddard, Binning, Burley, Eddis, Muvuti, Bennison, Tyler.

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