C&K Basildon Ladies are the leading women's football side right now. Newly promoted to the FAWPL Southern Division, have had a solid debut season, with one league game left to play are comfortably in mid-table. Are the current holders of the Essex Women's County Cup beating Billericay Town Ladies 7-1 in last seasons final. Opponents Writtle Ladies are a side very much on the rise, formed 3 seasons ago have won successive league title in Essex then again this time around in the Eastern Region Women's Football League (ERWFL) Division One East with a 100% winning league record over those 3 seasons to date have to games left with the title in the bag.
Road to the Final
As defending cup holders C&K Basildon Ladies were given a bye until the quarter finals of the competition where they were drawn at home to Essex Premier Division title hopefuls Hullbridge Sports Ladies, a comfortable victory on the day a 10-0 win easing them into the semi-finals where they we away to ERWFL Premier Division side Colchester Town Ladies, who did well to hold Basildon to a 0-0 during the 90 minutes to send the game into extra-time. Basildon went on to find the back of the net 3 times to reach their 2nd successive Essex Women's County Cup Final.
Writtle Ladies entered the competition in the 2nd round were at home to Silver End United Ladies promoted with them to the ERWFL Division One East as Essex Premier Division runners-up last season. Writtle were the stronger on the day recording a 3-1 win to progress to the quarter-finals where they were to face an away trip to ERWFL Premier Division side Billericay Town Ladies came out the wrong side of a nine goal thriller losing 5-4. Billericay Town Ladies went on to win the semi-final against local rivals Brentwood Town Ladies but were later removed from the competition for fielding an ineligible players against Writtle who were reinstated to the competition to face Brentwood Town Ladies themselves at home, the ERWFL Premier Division side at the time in a poor run of form, Writtle took full advantage winning 5-0 to find themselves in the final.
The venue for tonight's final Thurrock FC just off the M25 at junction 30, a large non-league ground plenty of parking the ground is overlooked by the Thurrock Hotel has a large covered seated stand on one side covered seating and terraces all around a clubhouse and bar. Refreshments hot and cold on offer. A large pitch with railing all around.
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| Turrock FC's main stand overlooked by the Thurrock Hotel |
subs - Nicola Carty, Laura Bryant & Kayleigh Xidhas
Writtle Ladies starting XI - Rhianna Farr, Amy Simmons, Kayleigh Franklin, Lynette Jones, Leanne Stubbings, Mia Brisley, Hannah Mold, Abigail Fry (C), Georgina Tricker, Courtney Clarke & Sophie Vale
subs - Beth Griffiths, Amelia Murphy, Faith Candice, Caroline Brown & Charlotte Walker.
(roll on roll of substitutes)
Writtle to kick off the final 1st half wearing green and white horizontal shirts, green shorts and socks with Basildon lined up opposite in an all red strip with white trim. Were without experienced centre back Stacey Little who required surgery on a fractured cheek bone sustained during last Sunday's FAWPL Southern Division match away to Lewes Ladies. Basildon get hold of the ball from the kick off and look to play it out to Amy Nash attacking down the left side running into Writtle's Kayleigh Franklin the ball goes out for a throw.
A counter attack from Writtle sees them break down the left side, Amy Simmons playing the ball on for Sophie Vale moving out to the left he squares the ball into Georgina Tricker, just beyond her outside the box she keeps going trying to get into the box as the ball runs on for Courtney Clarke central, rolling the ball into the area for Tricker to chase, Basildon captain Claire Lacey puts in a great defensive tackle to win the ball.
GOAL! Playing higher league opposition the last thing you want to do early on is concede an early goal, however Writtle do exactly that as Basildon hit them on the break the ball going left is played on to Nash who puts it forwards rapidly with striker Karissa Rodney on the move to get in behind the Writtle defence can't catch her as surges towards the area with goalkeeper Rhianna Farr starting to come, Rodney goes for the early shot, plenty of pace on the ball as she fires it past the advancing keeper into the back of the net 1-0.
Rodney and Nash link up again a couple of minute later, Rodney providing the pass this time putting the ball into Nash as she reaches the Writtle area left side knocks the ball on a yard to open up the space for a shot puts her strike straight at Farr, who parries the ball down before gathering at the 2nd attempt. Basildon have Writtle on the back foot, Lily Mellors takes the ball off left back Mia Brisley and races forwards getting in behind has Rodney moving into the box plays the ball on the diagonal into her, looking to hook her foot over the ball to turn the shot on target, sees her effort smashed against the bottom of the goal post before rolling back out Lynette Jones clearing for Writtle.
Writtle are looking to get forwards themselves, Vale with Simmons to the left, Tricker to the right with Clarke a little deeper are probing trying to find away in behind Basildon's back line full-backs Kerry Stimson and Karen Stephanou more often than not challenging and winning the ball. When Simmons does get the better of Stimson tries to pick out Vale just on the edge of the box Hannah Porter get's back from midfield to put in the challenge to reclaim the ball. At the other end the Writtle defence is busy as Mellors steals in behind on the right looks to pick out Rodney coming through the centre, Jones does well to get a foot in front of her to take the ball away from her concede the corner. Is played short with Stimson coming forwards to receive whipping the cross into the box Rodney rises turns her headed ball down towards the far stick Writtle block/clear off the line.
GOAL! Basildon go 2 goals up a strike from distance by Mellors who finds the ball presented to her from a kick out of the area, 25 yards out wastes no time pulling the trigger, good connection with the ball right side of the D lifts her shot over the keeper and into the back of the net 2-0.
Tricker attacks down the right flank for Writtle bringing the ball deep into Basildon territory sends the cross in dissecting the area heading far post, Simmons is closing down the space trying to get there to turn the ball home, Stimson is aware of her presence behind her and sends the ball on out of play for a corner kick.
A free kick for Basildon wide on the left inside the Writtle half the ball is played in towards the front post with Lacey up from the back the target, stooping to head the ball try and turn it on into the net, lifts her effort wide and over across the goal face. The game is relentless Writtle go forwards lose the ball, Basildon look a danger every time they counter attack Rodney and Mellors both getting in behind. Nash left rolls the ball to Zoe Rushen unmarked outside the box, gets the strike all wrong lifting it high and over for a goal kick. Rodney onto a Katherine Huggins ball in the middle finds an extra gear to race clear into the box, Farr comes and slicing towards her comes away with the ball in her possession.
A great save and good sized slice of luck sees Farr keep Basildon from getting a 3 goal advantage. The move coming from what looks a nothing ball played long across field out to the right, chasing the ball to the by line, Mellors retrieves and send a cross in to the near post, Rodney has gambled and made up the ground, looks to help the ball on lift it across Farr who flashes a glove up to try and stop the ball parries it up turning it behind her a narrowly wide of the post, could have gone anywhere the corner is conceded. A great delivery from the set-piece the ball coming in with pace is met by Lacey drills her bullet header wide of the post.
Writtle's Brisley bringing the ball under control left lays it into Clarke in the middle of the park, spreading play out to Simmons on the wing she looks to play a high ball into the area for Vale and Tricker to attack, finds neither as Rebecca Smith heads clear. Writtle come again captain Abigail Fry getting forwards on right has Leanne Stubbings in support inside gives her the ball, closing down on the right side of the Basildon area sees her shot charged down. Free kick on half way from Writtle goes long looking for Simmons edge of the box can't get her head on the ball, but Writtle get an unexpected corner as goalkeeper Blowers slices the back pass rolled into out behind goal. There are cries for handball as the ball fired in to the area is cleared by Stimson but the referee isn't interested.
Basildon bring the ball on Rodney with a shot from outside the box plants the ball straight at Farr. Mellors and Brisley go shoulder to shoulder into the area right of goal the Basildon attacker getting a shot away fires the ball wide across the Writtle six yard box. Half time is rapidly approaching.
GOAL! Basildon get their 3rd goal of the match attacking down the left side an early release from Nash puts Mellors through in behind coming in from the left side this time enters the area, Farr comes towards her drops as Mellors pulls the trigger gets a glove to the ball turning it wide across her six yard box, Mellors goes after it reclaiming at the far post to turn the ball home. 3-0.
Half-time C&K Basildon Ladies 3-0 Writtle Ladies
Had just put in notes at 2-0 Writtle aren't out of it were starting to create a few openings them conceded the 3rd goal on the stroke of half-time leaving them with alot to do if they have any hope of getting back into the match. Basildon have been too strong getting in behind repeatedly could have added more goals to their total 1st half and if the 2nd half continues like the 1st then you can only see them going to score more goals.
It's Basildon to kick off the 2nd half. Writtle press them forcing them to play the ball all the way back to their keeper, Blowers. Basildon attack the ball from Porter releasing Mellors she is forced wide by Jones out right side of the area Mellors tries to pick out Rushen inside the box, Brisley makes the interception cutting off the cross and playing the ball out of defence.
Basildon push at the start of the 2nd half, keeping hold of the ball around the Writtle box Hannah Mold makes a couple of defensive clearances as they try to lift the ball in. Rodney comes again right side bringing the ball on hits it on the run fires the shot straight at Farr who holds onto the shot.
Huggins with a superb pass 20 yards out to put the ball on into the area left side for Nash to run onto, hits her shot goalwards again Farr is well placed gets everything behind the shot. Sustained possession from Basildon ends when Huggins goes for the strike 25 yards out Farr again claiming the ball. Rodney attacking with the ball at her feet down the right flank getting into the box stands the ball up towards the far post, Rushen rises 3 yards out headers the ball down, fantastic reactions from Farr going down to throw an arm out and tip the ball wide of goal for a corner kick.
Writtle ride it out despite the pressure their 3 attackers are keeping disciplined staying up top waiting for the opportunity if the ball comes up to them. Fry offers Clarke an option on the right side going on with the ball squares the cross in towards Tricker coming into the area, can't quite get the ball under her control gives Smith the chance to get on the ball and clear. Vale has a chance to strike from distance 25 yards out smashes a shot in straight at Blowers the keeper spills the shot runs back out towards the edge of her area she goes after it gets hold of it before the onrushing Simmons can pounce.
Writtle are starting to do better, still risk getting hit on the break but are prepared to keeping players up the pitch have options whenever they win it back. Make a double change with Franklin and Vale coming off for Amelia Murphy and Caroline Brown. Murphy joining the attack get's on the ball straight away in the middle of the park playing in on to Clarke ahead of her 20 yards out a turn and hit, must have got some swerve on the shot because Blowers starting to go one way adjusts well to get down and make the save to her left stopping the ball.
A corner for Writtle put in from the right side Lacey gets a good header on the ball taking it out of the area, Writtle reclaim on the right side Fry drilling a ball back in low Blowers calls and get's her gloves firmly around the ball. Basildon launch a counter attack the ball fed into the run of Rushen left of the goal 25 yards out, Mellors and Rodney race on getting ahead of her, the Writtle defence attracted to them both no one closes Rushen down edge of the area has the time and space to hit a shot, comes at Farr at a good speed parries the ball up into the air, flicking the ball up and just onto the top of the cross bar and over.
Free kick for Writtle wide right outside the area, a shooting opportunity Clarke over it goes for goal hit long looking for the top corner far post but over. Double change for Basildon with Nicola Carty and Laura Bryant coming on for Stimson and Smith. Farr gathers a shot from Mellors fired in from the edge of her area. Basildon come on again Rodney travelling into space on the right whips the cross in along the face of the area through to Nash who shoots blasts the strike wide of the goal. Substitute Bryant plays the ball through the middle almost putting Mellors through Farr coming to the edge of her area just gets to the ball 1st. Rodney with the ball on the right again holds it up allowing Huggins to come call for the pass given the ball sweeps a cross in looking for the run of Nash far side of the six yard box tries to meet the ball on the volley misses giving Farr a chance to get down and save at her feet.
A vicious strike at goal from the right from Writtle's Clarke comes at Blowers quickly throwing up a glove pushes the ball out across goal to her left. Charlotte Walker is on for Writtle with Tricker rested after an earlier knock. Another strike from distance as Clarke goes for the top corner 25 yards out drops before it gets there coming at Blowers quickly she reacts putting the ball wide of the post for a corner. Tricker returns to the field with Simmons now rested. Writtle are doing much better now no signs they are tiring Fry playing the ball inside to Tricker 20 yards out her shot is a tame one rolling through to the keeper. Time is running out to get a goal however.
Murphy is played in through the middle running after the ball into the area can't get there as Blowers comes and scoops the ball out. Another shot from Tricker on the right side of the area more height this time but put straight at Blowers. Nash attacking for Basildon as the game enters the final minute slices a shot well wide from the edge of the area running out to the right Mellors is still full of running keeping it in Rodney is available for the ball to be played back up the right side, lifts the cross into the area Rushen meeting it turns her header wide.
Late charge from Writtle in injury time Clarke in the drive with the ball through the middle gets plenty of power behind the shot swerve on the ball is coming straight for Blowers central in her goal, going to claim the ball almost evades her plucking it out of the air behind her keeping her clean sheet intact as the final whistle blows and Basildon celebrate winning 3-0 to retain the Essex Women's County Cup
A good battle played at a high tempo throughout, Basildon doing all the damage 1st half always in control with a 3-0 lead could have doubled it or more on another night had the chances. A much improved performance 2nd half from Writtle Ladies, 1st time I've seen them in action and clear to see why they have done so well climbing the leagues.
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| C&K Basildon Ladies, Essex Women's County Cup Winners |
Congratulations to C&K Basildon Ladies on winning the cup and my thanks to the staff at Thurrock FC and the Essex County FA for their help tonight.
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