A busy Rectory Park hosted 3 well contested Capital Girls Cup Finals

Jim Taylor

The three trophies, at u12, u14 and u16 levels, are competed for by teams from The Amateur Football Alliance, London FA and Middlesex FA.

The Capital Girls’ Under 16 Cup final was played at the Middlesex FA’s Rectory Park HQ on Sunday last 28^th April. This was the last of the three Capital Girls’ Cup finals staged that day on Rectory Park’s 3G surface. The three trophies, at Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16 levels, are competed for by teams from The Amateur Football Alliance, London FA and Middlesex FA. They have successfully replaced the respective county cups.

The Under 16 finalists, were London Bees Girls, who were formed in 2018 and who were therefore playing in the competition for the first time and Queens Park Rangers Girls, the current holders of this trophy.

London Bees were the worthy winners of an excellent encounter, which was a joy to watch. However, Queens Park Rangers played well and the 7-3 score line certainly did not reflect their contribution to a splendid afternoon’s entertainment. For instance, they hit the framework of the London Bees’ goal on three occasions.

The match got off to a flying start.

Catherine Reeves took the ball through the QPR defence and netted for Bees in the 3^rd minute.

Rozalia Starz equalised for QPR with a looping header, 4 minutes later.

London Bees regained the lead in the 13^th minute through Mathilda Finburgh, after keeper Hannah Phillips had parried her first shot.

Bees continued to press forward. Emma Nolan’s free kick from wide on the right bounced on top of the QPR cross bar. Catherine Reeves fed Mathilda Finburgh, who worked her way into the penalty before the keeper saved her drive.

In the 21^st minute, Nicole White beat Hannah Phillips to a through ball and scored from an acute angle to put London Bees 3-1 ahead.

Leyla O’Brien skilfully controlled the ball and lobbed the keeper to add a 4^thgoal for Bees in the 34^th minute.

Half time score: London Bees 4 Queens Park Rangers 1

The first meaningful attempt on goal in the second half came from QPR’s Alexandra Popper, who tried her luck from around 35 yards. Faye Hazelton caught the ball cleanly.

Leyla O’Brien outpaced the QPR defence and cut in but her shot was saved by the diving keeper.

Wiki Balawender spectacularly hit a cross home for QPR’s second goal in the 47^th minute.

QPR keeper, Cara Henderson, was shown a yellow card for bringing down Mathilda Finburgh just outside the penalty area. She saved the resulting free kick from Emma Nolan low down.

Leyla O’Brien scored her 2^nd and London Bees’ 5^th goal in the 56^th minute. She received the ball from Catherine Reeves and took it around the keeper before placing it into the net.

Two minutes later, Leyla was the provider for Catherine, who then took the ball through the QPR defence. The keeper parried her first shot but she regained possession and walked the ball into the net for her 2^nd and Bees’ 6^th goal.

Rozalia Starz hit the Bees’ crossbar just before Anna Kim scored QPR’s 3^rd goal in the 61^st minute by lobbing the keeper.

Leyla O’Brien completed her hat-trick in the 73^rd minute. She picked up a pass from Emma Nolan, raced up the wing, cut in and scored from close range.

In a final flurry, QPR’s Wiki Balkawender hit the post and then tested Cara Henderson with a low drive.

Final Score: London Bees 7 Queens Park Rangers 3

The game was very well controlled by referee Marc Jacob and his support team. They deserve our congratulations on this prestigious appointment and our thanks for their efficient and sensible handling of the proceedings.

Middlesex FA Chairman, John Taylor was introduced to the teams and match officials before the kick off and presented the cup and individual mementoes after the match. He also presented the match ball to Leyla O’Brien in recognition of her hat-trick.

Our thanks are due to the members of the Middlesex FA Youth Cups Sub-Committee, the Middlesex FA Football Services Staff and the Rectory Meadow Centre Team for their contributions to an extremely successful day’s football.

The attendance for this match was 82 and for the day it was 351.

LONDON BEES U16 GIRLS

Faye Hazelton, Emma Nolan, Catherine Reeves, Kiara van de Geest, Neave Wilson, Mathilda Finburgh, Charlotte Kelly (capt), Chiara Lape, Nicole White, Leyla O’Brien and Amaya Navarro.

Substitutes: (repeat substitutions are used in this competition): Mia Wolfin, Edona Malaj, Molly Green and Mia Jimenez.

Manager: Ben Moore.

Coach: Dean Harrington.

Physio: Nathan Grandison.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS GIRLS U16s

Hannah Phillips, Louisa Chadwick, Amber Dredge, Alexandra Popper, Wiktoria Balawender, Jessica Welch, Lara Townsend, Wictoria Cznary-Boyanowicz, Lillie Clibbon-Grant, Anna Kim and Rozalia Sytarz.

Substitutes: Cara Henderson, Abbie Barrett and Ruby Maiden.

Manager: Ramandeep Dole.

Coach: Steve Quashie.

Coach/Physio: Kasha Petit.

Referee: Marc Jacob.

Assistant Referees: Matthew Parkinson and Brett Miller.

Fourth Official: Noga Meyer.

THE EARLIER MATCHES

UNDER 12 CUP FINAL

Ruislip Rangers U12 Girls Clarets 3 Queens Park Rangers Girls U12 6 (HT 1-1)

RUISLIP RANGERS:

Rebekah Dowsett, Elena Mitchell, Erin Creedon, Isabella Simmons, Libby Monaghan, Milanna Cadore and Ruby Yeoman.

Substitutes: Amy Byrne, Anna Davis, Emily Green, Lara Freitas and Ruby Petch.

Manager: Jimmy Creedon.

Assistant Manager: David Mitchell.

Coaches: Niamh O’Grady and Geoff Davis.

Physio: Nicola Hobbs.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS:

Sophie Harrington, Charlotte Byde, Millie Lukeman, Cruz Fuller, Kayla Nohasiarisoa, Lily Peterson and Sigourney Dawson.

Substitutes: Lola Middleton, Lily Vos, Izzy Morley, Megan Page and Serafina Chew Siegel.

Manager: Katie Wales.

Assistant Managers: Jonathan Pickett and Jo Blodgett.

Physio: Steve Wharton.

Referee: Ryan McCarron.

Goals:

Lily Peterson (QPR) RR 0 QPR 1

Anna Davis (RR) RR 1 QPR 1

Lola Middleton (QPR) RR 1 QPR 2

Izzy Morley (QPR) RR 1 QPR 3

Lola Middleton (QPR) RR 1 QPR 4

Elena Mitchell (RR) RR 2 QPR 4

Lara Freitas (RR) RR 3 QPR 4

Lola Middleton (QPR) RR 3 QPR 5

Sigourney Dawson (QPR) RR 3 QPR 6

Presentations made by John Taylor, Chairman of Middlesex FA.

UNDER 14 CUP FINAL

Ruislip Rangers U14 Girls 3 Queens Park Rangers Girls U14s 1

RUISLIP RANGERS

Mya Francis-Pownall, Roopjut Bath, Rie-Anna Booth, Eleonora Cottrell, Krystal Follett, Ciara Gowen, Tessa McCarthy, Connie Malone and Kirsty Young.

Substitutes: Ellen Atkinson, Alanna Bowry, Sara Heshmati and Ciara Moore.

Manager: Dave Holden.

Coaches: John Gowen and James Malone.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Hannah Dike-Lawlor, Zarhira Glanville, Mae Rush, Rosalie Coughlin, Sharkira Roberts, Jess Francis-Weir, Harriet Stiles-Winfield, Isabella Owen and Kayleigh Hayes.

Substitutes: Ruby Norman, Zena Marie Glanville, Iman Hannachi, Olivia Connery and Lauren Thompson.

Manager: Robert Rush.

Coach/Physio: Shaun Channer.

Referee: Clare March.

Assistant Referees: Steve Russell and Martin Broughton.

Fourth Official: Matthew Parkinson.

Goals:

Harriet Stiles-Winfield (QPR) RR 0 QPR 1

Eleonora Cottrell (RR) RR 1 QPR 1

Alanna Bowry (RR) RR 2 QPR 1

Eleonora Cottrell (RR) RR 3 QPR 1

Presentations made by Bob Leeds (AFA), Chairman of Capital Girl’s Cup Committee.