A football match between Iden Ladies Football Club and Appledore Ladies Football Club was played on Sunday, 11th February at Iden Park. The kick-off took place at three o’clock in spite of discouraging weather conditions. The wind was so bitterly cold, that the general consensus of opinion among the spectators, was that the girls showed extraordinary courage in playing at all. The match was very well supported, a crowd of between two and three hundred people braving the icy wind to give their vociferous and impartial support to both sides.
A hat-trick of three goals was scored in the first half by Susan Young of Peasmarsh who played for the lden team. In the second half Susan went on to score another four goals and so become the only scorer in a seven-goal match. As in all team games the credit for the final result must be shared, and Susan’s success was made possible by the strong mid-field work of her team-mates, who succeeded in dominating the opposing forwards, and by this, winning considerably more than fifty per cent. of the ball.
All credit must be given to the Appledore goalkeeper, Jean Penfold. who turned out to be the hardest worked girl on the field. Had it not been for her tremendous efforts in the Appledore goal the score line could just as easily have been in double figures. For me this must make Jean the girl of the match.
The game was well handled by Referee David Knight (a Hastings League Ref.), who played two halves of thirty-five minutes, and showed an intelligent tolerance with two teams that had only the rudiments of the rules between them. line officials were Mr. Donald Cleverly, another well-known local Ref., and Mr. Trevor Ashbee, better known for his work in horticulture.
Refreshments were served throughout the game and a raffle was organised. The proceeds from the game were donated to the Iden Pavilion Fund.
Despite the disagreeable weather conditions the afternoon proved to be a huge success. although it is felt that the great clubs of the First Division have no cause for real concern as yet.
“Rye’s Own” March 1968
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