Slazenger National League Premier Division
Canterbury 4 Clifton 1
Canterbury moved back into the top half of the table with an emphatic win over Clifton at Polo Farm on Saturday. It was the City sides first win in six attempts and ended a winless streak which saw their last victory on October 6th in a run that has seen them draw two and lose four.
Canterbury despite being without coach Mel Clewlow & Hayley Brown who were both away with the Great Britain squad, started much the brighter and won two penalty corner in the first 4 minutes. The first was well saved by Clifton goalkeeper Gemma Ible but the second saw Canterbury take the lead after a simple one-two between Jenny Milne & Natasha Brennan who then passed to Natalie Seymour who slammed the ball home into the corner of the goal.
The home side then doubled their advantage on 15 minutes when Susie Townsend found space on the right and crossed for Seymour but her neat deflection was well saved by Ible, however the ball was cleared back to Townsend on the right who crossed again and this time Seymour made no mistake.
Canterbury went three up on 27 minutes with Susie Townsend again causing problems. This time she cut in from the right beating two Clifton defenders but was unable to get her shot away and so passed to Jo Bryant who drilled the ball past Ible.
The third goal seemed to stir Clifton who then created two chances before half time that needed Canterbury's goalkeeper Becky Duggan to be at her very best to keep Canterbury's 3 goal advantage into the break. The second half saw Clifton finally beat Duggan on 47 minutes after a cross from the right was neatly deflected into the goal & then the home side had to dig deep as Clifton looked to claw their way back into the game.
On 59 minutes Canterbury regained their 3 goal advantage when Susie Townsend this time broke on the left and her intelligent pass released Gilliat-Smith one on one on the keeper & she made no mistake.
The final ten minutes saw Clifton still have chances to reduce the deficit but with Duggan in the Canterbury goal and an amazing goal line clearance that capped a superb performance from Georgie Kemsley that ensured Canterbury took the much needed 3 points.
Squad : Duggan, Chapman, Wiles, Kemsley, Stewart, Brennan, Milne, Seymour, Gilliat-Smith, Bryant, Townsend, Kerly, Wilson
Canterbury are now fifth & play the last game before the Christmas break on Saturday away to fourth placed Olton.