Tonight's League Cup is the 2nd meeting between the 2 clubs in a week with both involved in a final day title decider in the Suffolk Women's Division last Sunday, just 2 points separated the pair going into the last match of the season against one another. Long Melford Ladies were at the top of the table having spent much of the season catching up to Brantham Athletic Ladies who had been at the top for much of the campaign. Long Melford Ladies ran out 7-1 winners on the day to win the league.
The Finalists
Having missed out on the league Brantham Athletic Ladies had a 2nd bite at winning some silverware this season in the League Cup Final. The Suffolk Women's Division contained 10 clubs at the start of the season, by the end 3 clubs would be lost to the league. Brantham Athletic Ladies received a bye in the 1st round, then were awarded an away win with Bury Town Ladies after they pulled their reserves team out of the league. So it wasn't until the semi finals themselves before they faced an opponent, won 2-1 against Bacton United Ladies to earn their spot in tonight's final.
Long Melford Ladies having clinched the league at the weekend had a chance to win the double, like Brantham Athletic Ladies the club received a bye in the 1st round. Were drawn away to Copleston Ladies in the quarter finals with the match ending 1-1 after extra time a penalty shoot out was required Long Melford Ladies won through winning 2-3. This set up a semi final meeting at home to East Bergholt United Ladies, a 2-0 victory put them into the final.
The venue Hadleigh FC a small stadium tucked away in the picturesque countryside of Suffolk. A good clubhouse and facilities beside the playing surface which looked in good condition a little dry, good size a good number of supporters had turned out to watch on a bright and mild Thursday evening as the 2 teams came out onto the pitch.
Brantham Athletic Ladies starting XI - Heather Andrews, Miriam Howe, Monique Peters, Charlotte Partridge, Katy Skinner, Jo Hazelton, Lucy Elmes, Lucy Dunnett (C), Emmi Bennett, Kirsten Hutchings & Emily Boore.
subs - Nadine Williams, Keri Burley, Ezmee Yallope, Coral Williamson & Timisha Grant.
Long Melford Ladies starting XI - Ellie Aldous, Jodie Sharp, Deben Howlett (C), Rachel Linsdell, Jess Clark, Megan Partridge, Sheral Williamson, Jessie Casey, Kerry Humphries, Beth Hurst & Penny Everett.
subs - Amy Harrington, Jo Marshall, Dolly Orr, Hannah Whiting & Francesca Cole.
(roll on roll off substitutions)
It's Brantham to get the final under way kicking off the 1st half wearing and all blue strip with white trim on the shoulders of their shirts against Long Melford lined up in black and white vertical striped shirts black shorts and socks. Brantham start positively, Long Melford look a little nervous as the team in blue take the ball into their half an early cross in from the right is headed away from inside the box by Long Melford captain Deben Howlett.
Brantham retain possession keeping Long Melford penned inside their own half without really getting the ball in beyond them, 5 minutes are on the clock before Long Melford finally bring the ball out over the halfway line. In their 1st attack midfielder Penny Everett making the forwards run is slid in centrally by Rachel Linsdell, Everett opts to shoot early with the Brantham centre backs closing the door the block is made the ball spinning away for a corner. The set piece comes all the way through from the left to Everett standing just inside the box at the far post, can't wrap her foot over the ball to keep the shot down as it flies over the bar.
GOAL! Long Melford open the scoring comes from an unforced error at the back from Brantham, goalkeeper Heather Andrews presents the ball to Long Melford striker Megan Partridge 30 yards out. She has the ball takes it into the box, central sending her shot past Andrews and into the back of the net 0-1.
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| Long Melford's Megan Partridge on the ball opened the scoring |
Brantham deal with couple of Long Melford corners before taking the ball up the right wing and winning a corner themselves is played long to the far post a Long Melford defender headers the ball high into the air is dropping awkwardly towards goal Long Melford goalkeeper Ellie Aldous needs to keep her eye on the ball is able to collect with Brantham closing her down.
Long Melford's Beth Hurst is presented with the ball from a defensive header 25 yards from goal right side of the goal, sends a shot back in but finds Andrews well placed to make the save. Long Melford win the ball back from the Brantham defence the pass putting Megan Partridge away on the left of the area she enters the box looks to shoot near post, Andrews is across to drop low to make the save.
A good turn of pace from Long Melford's Jodie Sharp out wide left takes her beyond the Brantham defence puts her cross in looking for Megan Partridge running in on goal, the ball is past her before she can turn it into the net, retrieves it out wide right on the by line her ball back in is claimed by Andrews.
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| Brantham Athletic Ladies captain Lucy Dunnett |
Brantham are looking to counter attack, their captain Lucy Dunnett has a good range of passes on her is taking the set plays, bringing the ball up over the halfway line sends a pass out the Long Melford defence into the right of the area for Kirsten Hutchings to chase down, watching the ball come down over her shoulder she looks to hit the ball on the half volley, screws her shot wide of goal.
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| Kirsten Hutchings |
Sharp is alert latching onto a wayward Brantham clearance out on the left looks to come inside getting into a central position, is given the time and space to line up a shot, takes it on pulls it wide of goal 35 yards out. Megan Partridge is slid through on goal but Brantham defender Monique Peters is very quick and across to put in the tackle before the shot is released. Partridge then has her head in her hands after sending a shot wide of goal from 3 yards out as she steals in unmarked from a throw sent in from the right.
GOAL! Long Melford restore their lead is again from an error at the back by Brantham
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| Penny Everett |
Long Melford make a double change with Hurst and Sheral Williamson coming off with Francesca Cole and Amy Harrington coming on. It's Sharp on the left for Long Melford taking the ball into the corner sends her cross in looking for Partridge, Peters is across again to make the interception. 3rd change for Long Melford with Williamson making a prompt return to the pitch for Partridge.
A good strong run from Hutchings in attack for Brantham to look to take the ball beyond the Long Melford defence her touch is too heavy as she takes the ball wide of the goal on the right manages to win a corner as she tries to play the ball back across the goal. The set piece coming in is met by the head of Charlotte Partridge making the run from the edge of the area to meet the ball, is an instinctive save from Aldous throwing up a glove turns the ball up onto the crossbar comes back out to Partridge she tries to redirect her header back in places the ball onto the roof of the net.
Half-time Brantham Athletic Ladies 1-2 Long Melford Ladies.
An entertaining 1st half in front of a good numbered crowd of around 200 on a Thursday evening, both sides looking to be positive and travel with the ball Long Melford have capitalised upon a couple of Brantham errors at the back to score their 2 goals the score at 1-2 though all to play for 2nd half.
Brantham are out on the pitch early the coaching staff putting them through a warm up to get them firing for the start of the 2nd half. Sharp is off the pitch for Long Melford at the start of the 2nd half with Hurst back on the pitch. Everett plays the diagonal ball out into space for Francesca Cole on the right of the area running after it takes on the shot is a tight angle can't get it past Andrews who claims the ball.
Long Melford are slow to get the ball out from the back, Hutchings always alert for a chance steals the ball and surges beyond into the area left of goal, she doesn't want to shoot with her left foot trying to dig it out with her right plants the shot wide.
Good attacking play from Brantham the ball played up to Emily Boore by Lucy Elmes, the attacker with a deft header drops the ball nicely into Hutchings beyond the Long Melford defence edge of the area Aldous comes to close her down, Hutchings tries to slide the ball around her the keeper gets a glove to the ball knocking it away from both of them.
Sharp and Megan Partridge return to the pitch Williamson and Cole giving way. Has been a quieter start to the 2nd half Dunnett is playing deeper for Brantham 2nd half her passes less effective.
GOAL! Brantham have been putting the Long Melford box under pressure for a couple minutes and they level the scores for the 2nd time a great diagonal ball sent in from wide on the left rolls through the gap between goalkeeper and defence coming all the way trough to Emmi Bennett running in at the far post, she smashes the ball back in across the goal to make it 2-2.
On top at the minute Hutchings spins off the shoulder of the last Long Melford defender as the ball is played in from the right, into the box shoe looks to shoot across the keeper, fires her shot straight at Aldous the keeper makes the save but spilling the ball, has to scramble up and retrieve the ball before it can creep over the line.
Brantham are pushed up higher in the 2nd period giving Long Melford the chance to run beyond if they want to send the ball over the top in Sharp they have a player full of pace who can travel quickly with the ball at her feet. In a central position is looking to get into the box slips but with the Brantham back line trying to keep up with her the ball winds up in space Sharp is up and tries to curl the shot in, won't turn back in goes behind the goal.
Playing out on the right of the attack now Bennett has been getting the ball into some good crossing positions for Brantham, Long Melford bring on Williamson rested for Jess Clark to mark her. Central Jo Hazelton travels forwards with the ball taking it into the congested D tries to shift it for the shot, it's Kerry Humphries who puts in the tackle to win the ball back for Long Melford. Brantham make a change new legs in attack with Timisha Grant coming on for Emily Boore as wide right Bennett wins a corner the ball is headed on at the near post, Hutchings tries to bring it down for the shot six yards out is charged down.
Play has got a little scrappy as the final enters the last 15 minutes, both teams are looking for another goal play is congested into the Long Melford half as Brantham defend a high line when they have the ball, Sharp always ready to run when the ball is sent up the pitch. Amy Harrington leaves the pitch with Clark coming back on. Sharp is sent through bearing down on the area Peters shows good recovery skills covering the ground quickly to win the ball catching Sharp unawares before the shot is released. Brantham bring on Ezmee Yallope for Hazelton.
GOAL! Into the last 5 minutes of normal time Brantham have been attacking the ball is won with their defence high the ball is put beyond for Sharp to run down as she peels off the shoulder of the last defender taking the ball out wide right has plenty of time and space to tee up the cross has Megan Partridge running up with her getting into the area, picks her out Partridge coolly turning the ball into the back of the net from 12 yards out 2-3.
Into injury time Brantham throw everyone forwards send Boore back on everyone bar the goalkeeper is in the Long Melford half.
GOAL! Long Melford win the ball and launch it up the pitch wide left Brantham let it bounce and this gives Sharp a chance to pounce is after the ball racing clear of everyone she takes it all the way into the box right of Andrews goal the keeper closes the angle, Sharp though powers the ball over her and into the back of the net throws her arms up into the air knowing the win is almost there 2-4.
Just enough time for Long Melford to bring on Hannah Whiting for a cameo appearance before the referee blows the final whistle and Long Melford celebrate a league an cup double, something manager John Harrington tells me he could only dream about having started the club up just 4 years ago.
A decent sized crowd for a Thursday evening League Cup Final were entertained by a good match contested between to eager sides, hard luck for Brantham to concede 2 late goals and miss out on both the league and the cup this season.
The presentation from the Suffolk FA a double one with Long Melford assured the league before the final kicked off come to collect the shield, then Deben Howlett comes back to collect the cup and cue the celebrations.
Congratulations to Long Melford Ladies winning the league and cup double.
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