QPR TRIUMPH IN GIRLS' U14 CUP FINAL
The finals of the Middlesex FA Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16 Girls’ Cups were played on Saturday, 27th May at Rectory Park. We reintroduced our own girls’ competitions last season, following the recent growth of the girls’ game, to replace the Capital Girls’ Cups, which involved several county FAs. Our second match of the day was the Harold Horskins Under 14 Cup final, between St Albans City Youth U13 Central and Queens Park Rangers Women.
St Albans City Youth are members of the Hertfordshire Girls Football Partnership League, Division 1 and are currently in second place in the league table. Queens Park Rangers Women play in the Middlesex Youth Football League U13 Premier Division. They occupy 6th place in the league table, with 2 matches to play.
30 teams entered this season’s competition.
St Albans City Youth reached the final with victories over Kensington Dragons Youth 5-0 (away) in round 1, Brent Schools 5-1 (away) in round 2, Harefield United Youth 3-1 (at home) in the quarter-final and Pitshanger U13 Red 9-0 (at home) in the semi-final.
Queens Park Rangers had a bye in round 1 and then beat Hearts of Teddlothian Jaguars 9-0 (away) in round 2, Pitshanger U14 Red 3-2 (away) in the quarter-final and Hinton & Finchley Revolution Haringey 3-2 in the semi-final.
Matches in this competition are played over 35 minutes in each half, with rolling substitutions.
A very watchable match, played in a good spirit, was comfortably won by Queens Park Rangers. They led 3-0 at the interval and then added 3 more goals before St Albans City scored a consolation goal, 4 minutes from time.
QPR started well and dominated possession.
Jasmine Bailey scored from close range, in the 6th minute to put QPR ahead.
Jasmine had a shot blocked. She then set up Bronwyn Hardy, whose shot was saved by keeper, Charlotte Luckhurst.
Charlotte then parried a shot from Jasmine and Chloe Pottle hit the rebound wide.
Ava Lyon picked up a square ball and her shot was turned for a corner by Charlotte.
QPR increased their lead in the 21st minute, through Jasmine Bailey, who finished a good team move with a low shot into the corner of the net.
Chloe Pottle skimmed the St Albans crossbar with a drive from the edge of the penalty box.
Charlotte Luckhurst saved Jasmine’s shot from an acute angle.
Jasmine scored QPR’s third goal, and completed her hattrick in the 29th minute, when she outpaced the defence and hit the ball past the advancing keeper.
Just before the interval, Alexa Johnson made a good run on the left but she shot wide from an acute angle.
Score at half-time: St Albans City 0 Queens Park Rangers 3
QPR’s Maggie White made an opening but her shot was too high.
Regan Allford headed Ayah Chebila’s corner home for QPR’s 4th goal, in the 40th minute.
St Alban’s Jazz Mercer had a chance, following hesitation in the QPR defence but she shot wide.
Lucy Barrett hit the ball home from the edge of the box for QPR’s 5th goal.
St Alban’s Lola Small won the ball and made ground but her shot was taken low down by QPR keeper, Holly McLoughlin.
Charlotte Luckhurst saved at Maggie White’s feet. However, Maggie scored QPR’s 6th goal in the 62nd minute. She fastened on to a through ball, took it up the middle and beat Charlotte with a shot, which she touched but couldn’t stop.
St Albans didn’t give up. A freekick by Alexa Johnson was charged down. Then Sophea Bridge took possession, following a poor back pass and netted.
Result: St Albans City 1 Queens Park Rangers 6
Our quartet of teenage match officials performed excellently. Millie Kyriakides impressed throughout with her calmness and control. She received good support from her assistants, Bella Baptista and Maya Blackstone and from 4th official, Dylan Spiers.
We were delighted to welcome, as Guest of Honour, Middlesex FA Councillor, John Lewis. John was introduced to the teams and match officials before the kick off and presented the cup and the individual mementoes afterwards. He selected QPR attacker, Jasmine Bailey, as the Player of the Match. He also presented Jasmine with a match ball, signed by Middlesex FA President, John Davies, in recognition of her hattrick.
TEAM LINE-UPS:
St Albans City: Charlotte Luckhurst, Lola Small, Georgina Brugnoll-Rowe, Millie Lindsay, Sacha Davies, Alexa Johnson, Jazz Mercer, Sophea Bridge (capt), Alice Taylor, Holly Brooks and Aasha Barker.
Rolling substitutes: Matilda Flynn, Jessica Reeve, Olivia Wood and Charlotte Stockwell.
Manager: Chris Johnson Coaches: John Hyatt and Dean Goodwin.
Queens Park Rangers: Holly McLoughlin, Gabriela Majewska, Bronwyn Hardy, Violet Scully, Taylor Doherty, Regan Allford, Chloe Pottle, Carlotta Debor, Ines Bailey, Aleyna Karyagdi and Jasmine Bailey.
Rolling substitutes; Ayah Chebila, Maggie White, Lucy Barrett, Jessica Hennessey and Ava Lyon.
Manager: Paul Golah Coach: John Cadden.
Attendance: 138
We thank Chris and Jim for covering this final, as ever they have picked out some of their favourite shots, some of which can be found throughout this report. Chris has also very kindly provided a full album of imagery from the match.
Full Album Courtesy of Chris Benn
Photography - Chris Benn