Bedfont Sports Host the Capital Women's Cup Finals
This game, between Queens Park Rangers Girls U18s and Tottenham Hotspur Ladies Reserves, was largely dominated by the Spurs team, who won more comfortably than the 1-0 score suggests.
The first attempt on goal was a long range shot from Spurs’ Andrea Georgiou, which was saved by QPR keeper Harriet Whitaker. Then Rangers’ skipper Erin Pope burst through but shot over. Melanie Hall of Rangers went on a good run but her cross was headed wide by Emily Hill.
Spurs then took control and had a number of scoring chances. Cheryl Williams provided a perceptive through ball for Amy Makewell, who drew a good save from Harriet Whitaker. Andrea Georgiou just cleared the cross-bar with a lob. Cheryl Williams’ excellent cross failed to attract a touch. Harriet saved Amy’s shot from the edge of the penalty area. A through ball from Amy released Cheryl, who cut in and just cleared the bar. Cheryl put in another fine cross, which was scrambled away. Cheryl fed Andrea, who shot wide.
Andrea released Cheryl. Cheryl cut in and squared to Amy, who couldn’t quite convert. Cheryl was fouled 5 yards outside the area. Shona Chitate-Samuriwo pushed the free kick to Cheryl, but her drive hit the defensive wall.
Rangers hit back and brought 2 saves from Chloe Morgan, in quick succession. A good through ball from Erin Pope found Georgia Allen, whose low shot tested Chloe and then Erin was foiled in a one on one situation.
The final action of the first half took place in the QPR penalty area. Another through ball from Cheryl was taken on by Amy, whose shot was pushed away by Harriet. The ball rebounded to Andrea, whose close-range strike was charged down.
Half time score: Queens Park Rangers Girls U18 0 Tottenham Hotspur Ladies Reserves 0
Spurs moved Cheryl Williams up to centre forward at the start of the second half. They continued to put pressure on the Rangers defence. Cheryl released Amy, with a ball placed inside the defender but Shakira Waithe shot wide from Amy’s pass. Then a defender made a saving tackle on Cheryl, before Spurs eventually scored. Andrea ran onto a ball up the middle, her shot hit a post and Shakira was on hand to convert the rebound. This goal came in the 52nd minute.
A high free-kick by Rebecca Fisher of QPR eluded everyone in the Spurs’ goalmouth and went out of play beyond the far post but the majority of scoring chances continued to fall to Spurs. Andrea, Leanne Mabey and Shakira each had shots cleared off of the goal line. Harriet made a good save from Belle Shannon’s awkward low shot. A drive by Cheryl was charged down, following good approach work by Andrea and Shania Leacock.
A free kick from around 35 yards, by QPR’s Jessica Painter, was taken under her bar by Chloe Morgan. At the other end, Shania Leacock broke up the left and Harriet palmed her shot away. Shania showed some nifty footwork to release Kelly Smith. Kelly transferred to Cheryl but her shot cleared the crossbar.
Rangers mounted a couple of attacks. Chloe Sampson broke through but was pressured into hurrying her shot, which went wide. Then, despite being under considerable pressure in a crowded goalmouth, Chloe Morgan safely caught a lofted free kick.
Further chances fell to Spurs before the final whistle. Harriet took Shona’s high lob, despite the close attention of Chloe Gunn. Amy Makewell cleared the cross-bar from Kelly Smith’s cross. Belle Shannon fired narrowly wide and Amy skimmed the bar. Shona put Belle away but her cross was intercepted. Belle headed over from Amy’s centre. Cheryl and Amy put Shakira clear but Harriet saved well.
The young QPR players should be congratulated on the manner in which they retained their composure and stuck to their task when faced with mounting pressure from their opponents. Although, it has to be said Spurs were wasteful with their chances, it was an achievement to keep the winning margin to a single goal.
Result: Queens Park Rangers Girls U18s 0 Tottenham Hotspur Ladies Reserves 1
The Guest of Honour, Middlesex FA President, Jim Taylor, presented the cup and medals after the game. He chose the experienced, technically accomplished and extremely hard working, Cheryl Williams as Player of the Match.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS GIRLS U18s: Harriet Whitaker, Emily Hill, Nancy Gilmartin, Ailish Straver, Erin Pope (capt), Paige Laider, Chloe Sampson, Kristal Clarke, Sophia Amanor, Melanie Hall and Rebecca Fisher.
Substitutes (rolling substitutes are used in this competition): Natasha Hammond, Jade Horne, Georgia Allen, Gillian Kasirye and Jessica Painter.
Manager: Steve Quashie.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR LADIES RESERVES: Chloe Morgan, Cheryl Williams, Leanne Mabey, Shona Chitate-Samuriwo (capt), Sophie Tudor, Shakira Waithe, Amy Makewell, Andrea Georgiou, Emily Smith, Giorgina Baldwin and Kelly Smith.
Substitutes: Chloe Gunn, Belle Shannon and Shania Leacock.
Manager: AK Lakhani.
REFEREE: Chris Hartley ASSISTANT REFEREES: Debbie Hartley and Louise Healy FOURTH OFFICIAL: Mervyn Hughes.
Ashford Town (Middlesex) Ladies recorded a resounding 5-1 victory over Whyteleafe Ladies, after leading 3-0 at the half time interval.
Ashford Town took the lead after 6 minutes through Holly Isaacs, who headed home a centre from Lavana Neufville, despite it taking a deflection on its way to her.
Whyteleafe had a couple of chances. Danielle Johnson’s shot was too high. Izzy James crossed low to the well positioned Amanda Hollidge, who failed to convert.
Ashford Town doubled their lead after 13 minutes, through Vicky James, whose well-struck free kick from around 30 yards entered the net via the underside of the bar.
Another free kick from Vicky, from a slightly shorter range, crashed against the bar. It rebounded to Laura Huse but her shot was saved by Sophie Bridson.
Ashford Town keeper, Lauren Restel saved at point blank range from Amanda Hollidge. A free kick by Izzy James, from the right-hand edge of the box, was well held by Lauren under her crossbar.
Ashford Town scored a third goal in added time before the break. A free kick, taken by Tyra Mills, wide on the right, was converted from close in, by Laura Huse. There was still time before the half time whistle for Lavana Neufville to burst through but she was blocked in the act of shooting, by Helen Brown.
Half time score: Whyteleafe Ladies 0 Ashford Town (Middlesex) Ladies 3
Two minutes after the interval, Ashford Town’s Tara Mills fouled Amanda Hollidge in the penalty area. Amanda required lengthy treatment and limped through the remainder of the game. Danielle Johnson’s penalty kick was hard and low and gave Lauren Restel no chance.
Ashford Town came back strongly. Sophie Kemp kicked clear from the well placed Lavana. Lavana then released Beth Sheehan but Sophie Bridson made an excellent save. Charmaine Benham worked her way along the goal-line, past two defenders before Sophie Bridson palmed her angled shot away.
Ashford Town made the score 4-1 in the 63rd minute. Lavana shot on the turn from the edge of the box and found the top corner of the net to Sophie’s right. After Sophie had saved with her finger tips from Beth, Lavana netted Ashford Town’s 5th goal from close range. This goal came in 69th minute.
Soon afterwards, the referee dismissed Whyteleafe defender, Helen Brown from the field for a second cautionable offence. This was just about the last straw for the unfortunate Whyteleafe, who because of injuries and some severe attacks of cramp, had been numerically depleted for most of the second half. They had already been forced to play lengthy spells with only 9 or 10 players, due to injuries to Izzy James and Rachel Innes, who was taken off on a stretcher. Also, Amanda Hollidge, who had gamely stayed on the pitch after her 47th-minute injury, was very immobile.
Because of the frequent long stoppages for players requiring treatment, the match lost most of its impetus in the final quarter. The remaining noteworthy incidents involved Ashford keeper, Lauren Restel, who fumbled a shot but just managed to catch the ball before it entered her net and Whyteleafe’s Jade Elston, who prevented a 6th Ashford Town goal by clearing off of her goalline.
Result: Whyteleafe Ladies 1 Ashford Town (Middlesex) Ladies 5
The Joint Guests of Honour, Caroline McRoyall and Mike Brown, Chief Executives of Surrey FA and the AFA respectively, presented the medals and trophy after the match and selected Vicky James, the Ashford Town captain, who lead by example, as the Player of the Match.
WHYTELEAFE LADIES: Sophie Bridson, Helen Brown, Daisy Jenkins, Sophie Kemp, Jade Elston, Steph Mann, Amanda Hollidge, Izzy James, Rachel Innes, Danielle Johnson and Georgie Perkins.
Substitutes: Louise Johnson (capt) and Hayley Giles.
Manager: Charlie Bickell
ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDLESEX) LADIES: Lauren Restel, Beth Sheehan, Amber Luzar, Nicole Jacobs, Jess Boyd, Vicky James (capt), Lavana Neufville, Holly Isaacs, Lauren Richardson, Laura Huse and Charmaine Benham.
Substitutes: Tyra Mills and Samara Phillips Hines.
Manager: Will Boye.
REFEREE: Steve Earl ASSISTANT REFEREES: Dave Lawton and Callum Peter FOURTH OFFICIAL: Adrian Freeman.
Our thanks are given to Bedfont Sports FC for the use of their fine facilities and for their superb hospitality. The attendance over the 2 games was 189.
Photos from the game are available here courtesy of matchday photographer, Chris Benn.
