Canterbury were on top form for their second Pool B match of the Women’s European Club Championships here in Berlin this afternoon. They played Ritm Grodno from Belarus and despite Canterbury’s dominance goals were hard to come by. It took twenty-five minutes of almost continuous pressure by the Kent side to eventually find the net, courtesy of a penalty corner conversion by Laura Gittings. Canterbury continued to exert pressure but it took 17minutes of second half play for the second goal to come, this time by a penalty corner goal by Jenny Wilson. Wilson had an outstanding game and it was her who had a hand in the third goal. Her cross from the right was met in the circle by a melee of players, but somehow Cathy Gilliat-Smith was able to get enough of a touch on the ball to send it into the Belarus net. Final score 3-0 to Canterbury. An all-round team effort, but the player of the match for me was Canterbury’s England player, Mel Clewlow, who played a relaxed and confident game. I have seldom seen her play better.
Canterbury’s day was somewhat spoilt by the failure of the Scots from Bonagrass Grove to overcome Ata Sport. It was a game that was lost rather than won, but it puts the team from Azerbaidschan into a head-to-head with Canterbury tomorrow for a place in Monday’s final.
Today’s play has been mainly in torrential rain and the availability of photographs from the Canterbury match looks poor. Please check this blog tomorrow for updates.
