Swale Magpies 2 v 1 HJF Dartford Ladies

South East Counties Women's Football League Division 1 East

DARTFORD Ladies were unlucky not to bring any points back from their travels to top-of-the-table Swale after conceding a 1-0 half-time lead, writes Brian Page.

Under the helm of caretaker managers Catherine Fitzpatrick and Laura Donnelly, Dartford settled quickly against the only team in the league with maximum points.

An early effort from Swale was securely held by Claire Stork, who once again was deputising as Dartford's goalkeeper.

Dartford's skipper Ally Holloway sent a shot narrowly wide before deadball specialist Catherine Fitzpatrick curled a free-kick around Swale's wall into the roof of the net.

Then Tessa Bird's shot was blocked by Swale's keeper and Kel Vickers put the rebound wide.

Shortly after the interval Swale levelled from the penalty spot and then took the lead within minutes after a cruel deflection off a Dartford defender left Stork helpless on the goal line.

Despite carrying two injuries, Dartford fought back strongly throughout the half.

Another Fitzpatrick free-kick was this time blocked on the goal line as Harriet Hill closed in.

Fitzpatrick was unanimously nominated man-of-the-match.

Dartford's squad: Stork; Beaney; de Waal; Etherington; Benham; Fitzpatrick; Holloway (Donnelly, 60); Vickers; Elson; Bird; Hill.

Dartford Ladies travel to third place Whitstable on January 29 for league action. Kick-off 2 pm.