Slazenger National League - Clifton 2 Canterbury 3
Canterbury made hard work of keeping their winning start going in the Slazenger National Premier League with a slender victory against newly promoted Clifton in Bristol on Saturday. Canterbury welcomed back both England Internationals Mel Clewlow and Cathy Gilliat-Smith after their enforced rest period following the summers International duties, but it was Clifton that put Canterbury on the back foot from the start having much the better of the opening 10 minutes with Becky Duggan in the Canterbury goal having to be at her best to stop Clifton taking the initiative.
However it was Canterbury that broke the deadlock after Jo Bryant had won a penalty corner after good work on the left. From the initial set piece Gemma Ibble in the Clifton goal made a good save but the penalty corner was rewarded after an infringement by a Clifton defender and this time Mel Clewlow made no mistake with a trade mark strike low to the keepers left to take the lead on 28 minutes.
It took just a minute longer for Canterbury to double their lead this time England International Hayley Brown getting in on the act, cutting in from the right to unleash a reverse stick shot that flew past the Clifton keeper. Canterbury maintained the lead to the break but needed Duggan to be at her best to deny Clifton twice in the last 5 minutes on the half.
The second half saw Clifton take just a minute to reduce the deficit when a free hit from just outside of the circle was deflected in by Carys Hopkins. This gave Clifton added belief and they went close on 42 minutes hitting the post before drawing level on 55 minutes with a spectacular goal. The ball crossed in from the left was cleared by Canterbury's Kirsty Chapman but fell to Clifton's Elisabeth Sinton whose first time volley flew past Duggan in the Canterbury goal.
Canterbury had to dig deep and defended well before regaining their compose and scoring a brilliant winner on 59 minutes. Gilliat-Smith taking the ball from inside her own half and playing 1-2's with Hayley Brown up the pitch, as they got to the Clifton circle Brown's cross was met by a diving Gilliat-Smith to deflect the ball past the Clifton keeper to take all 3 points back to Canterbury.
Canterbury play their first home game of the league season this Saturday versus Olton at Polo Farm 11.45am start.
Squad : Duggan, Chapman, Clewlow, Stewart, Kemsley, Seymour, Milne, Wilson, Bryant, Gilliat-Smith, Brown H, Kerly, Brennan.