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Wednesday, November 26, 2025

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Essex fight back to beat Kent

Essex fought back from behind to make it two wins from two in the Southern Counties Cup as Kent were defeated 3-1 at Gay Dawn Farm.

Despite a bright start from the visitors, the hosts took a first half lead through Ellie Rivers, but Laura Bunton hauled Essex level before the break, with further goals from Nicole Farmer and Yasmin Cowley sealing the three points in the second half. The win takes Essex to the top of the table, with holders Middlesex the next opposition at Aveley FC’s Parkside home in January.

Early opportunities for Essex saw Cowley fire over from a corner before the striker then watched her low shot saved by Kent goalkeeper, Abby Bavarik. It would be the first of a number of fine stops by the home ‘keeper.

Essex’s debutant stopper, Gemma Martin, would make her own impressive diving save to keep out Rivers but, with 13 minutes played, the home forward wouldn’t be denied. Her angled run finished with an excellent, looping shot into the far corner to give the home side the advantage.

The away side responded on the front foot, as Bunton fired over the top before seeing a low drive well held by Bavarik. The equaliser arrived on 21 minutes. Lindsey Morgan charged forward and pulled a low ball across goal for Bunton to finish from close range.

Four minutes into the second half, Essex had the lead in style, when Farmer’s 20-yard free kick dipped into the far corner. Essex were now on top, and Bavarik was forced into another decent save to deny Bunton. Moments earlier, Cowley slid a shot into the side netting, with Bunton also stabbing an effort inches over the top.

The visitors’ third goal arrived on 63 minutes, as Bunton’s low effort was saved by Bavarik, but Cowley reacted sharply to poke home the loose ball. Bavarik made another excellent stop to push Bunton’s next effort over the top before the last chance of the evening saw a swinging cross from Bunton headed narrowly too high by Sienna Sherman.

Essex: Gemma Martin, Jess Wright, Learna Daniels, Nicole Farmer, Charlotte Bryant, Lindsey Morgan, Laura Bunton, Yasmin Cowley, Stef Paci, Aliyas Sambani, Aimee Cawood. Subs (repeated): Darcy Drewitt, Georgia Harding, Sienna Sherman, Hannah Jenks-Landen.

 

Kent: Abby Bavarik, Katy Skelton, Ellie Cole, Poppy McKenzie, Natasha Moloney, Brittany Harper, Grace Laverick, Chloe Francis, Sarah White, Chloe Obamdo, Ellie Rivers. Subs (repeated): Kerys Baker, Aislyn Kelly, Maddie Bone, Millie Walker.

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