lden Ladies Football Team entertained the Eastbourne Debs at Iden Park on the 1st December.
This was the ldens girls second match and a much tougher encounter than their first against Appledore when they were the victors by seven goals to nil.
Eastbourne Debs came to Iden with an unbeaten record, having won all five previous games.
A crowd of over 350 turned out to cheer the girls on a cold, damp Sunday afternoon and were rewarded with an exciting game full of incidents and goals.
In the first half the visitors looked the stronger team and kept the Iden goal under pressure throughout—only fine goalkeeping by Christine Bourne and constant advice from trainer Jimmy Cooper, kept the score down to 2-0 at the break.
The second half started with a lucky Iden own goal after a mistake by the Eastbourne defence. The Debs returned to the attack and scored almost immediately. Three-one down and with only a quarter of an hour left it seemed as though Iden were in for a besting—but the Iden girls were made of sterner stuff—with Boyfriends and Brothers in the Iden Men’s Team unbeaten this year, they couldn’t let the Situation stand as it was.
With ‘Seven Goal Sue’ (Mrs. Gunther) spearheading the attack and Sarah Ashdown urging the defence to greater efforts, Iden gradually took command.
Two great goals by Myra Smeed levelled the scoreline and as the “Iden roar” increased, Sue Gunther put the home side ahead.
The game still hung in the balance. The Debs never gave up and their brilliant left-winger came close to scoring on three occasions, before in the last minute of the match, Iden’s Vicki Butler scored a tremendous goal and put the issue beyond doubt.
Over £20.0.0. was collected and goes towards the Pavilion Fund. The match was organised by Iden Youth Club.
IDEN LADIES
Christine Bourne
Christine Piggott
Sarah Ashdown
Katie Bell
Janet Kent
Vicki Butler
Ann Ashenden
Linda Bennett
Sue Gunther
Sue (Young) Gunther
Myra Smeed
Ref.: Mr. Jack Kent
Rye’s Own January 1969
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