The competition is sponsored by S Tech Insurance, who are dedicated sponsors of women's football in Cambridgeshire. An invitational competition there were 9 teams involved this season, 8 of them competing in the Cambridgeshire Women's Championship North & South Divisions along with Cambridge WFC Reserves who play in the league above the Women's Premiership and who are also the current holders of the Junior Invitation Cup.
The Finalists
Cambridge WFC Reserves won the competition last season, and defending the cup this season were drawn away to Championship North side Outwell Swifts in the quarter final won the game 1-4 to reach the semi finals another away trip this time against Championship South side March Town United Ladies, the game was postponed, the rearranged fixture played just this Sunday, Cambridge WFC Reserves winning through 2-1 to make the final.
Milton Ladies play their football in the Cambridgeshire Women's Championship South and have come through 3 rounds to reach the final. With 7 teams receiving byes to the quarter final stage, Milton Ladies were drawn away to Newmarket Town Ladies in the 1st Rd won the match 2-0 setting up a quarter final game against another Championship South side at home to Little Paxton Ladies won 2-1 to reach the semi final and another home match against Championship North opponents Wisbech Town Ladies winning the game 1-0 to book there place in tonight's final.
The venue Ely City FC will be familiar to those that read my match reports as the home venue of Cambridge WFC. Only the 1st team play their matches here however. A great venue for the final, the ground on the outskirts of Ely just off the A10 part of a larger sporting facility. Always like coming here especially when the sun is shining like it was today, although it would get a lot cooler once the floodlights took full effect.
Cambridge WFC Reserves starting XI - Tafauzwa Mhunduru, Jade Powell, Emma Roberts (C), Ellie Cullum, Rio Will, Kayleigh Whitehead, Liz Pamplin, Carrie Bennett, Clara Greed, Lisa Grimes & Sarah Mosley.
subs - Sarah Carroll, Maria Davies, Ellen Green Sindy Infante & Vicky Hoover.
Milton Ladies starting XI - Dani Busby, Lauren Threadgold, Marianne Rowley, Olivia Thorogood, Kirsty Lemmon-Sparkes, Sarah Freestone (C), Cara Agar-Hutty, Gabi Bocchetti, Katie Tedstone, Dani Briggs & Chloe Brown.
subs - Serena Caruso, Sharon Rayment, Lauren Lock, Sammy Cousins, Ligia Ramos, Kat Brown & Joanne Carr.
(roll on, roll off substitutes)
A minutes silence was held before the cup final got underway in memory of the 96 Liverpool fans that tragically lost their lives at Hillsborough 26 years ago.
It's Cambridge to get the final under way kicking off the 1st half wearing sky blue shirts and socks with navy shorts, with Milton lined up in navy shirts and socks with yellow shorts. Cambridge are the ones pushing forwards early on making head way into Milton's half without putting in the final ball to test their defence.
On the right side of the pitch Cambridge's Sarah Mosley has space to run into and the pace to travel forwards quickly with the ball at her feet, opts to put in an early cross, a diagonal ball fired low across the Milton box, on the opposite flank, Clara Greed is sprinting in to try and get on the end cross, can't quite get her toe to it Milton goalkeeper Dani Busby coming to intercept can allow the ball to run out of play.
From midfield Liz Pamplin, wins the ball and sends it forwards into striker Lisa Grimes, twice on the edge of the area she takes a shot, both are blocked at close range by a Milton body, the ball eventually spinning away for a throw wide right. Getting on the ball Mosley shifts it to give herself an opportunity to put a cross into the box, is looking to put the ball into Grimes making a near post run, good defending though from Milton's Gabi Bocchetti to get to the ball 1st put it behind for a corner.
Barely 10 minutes played and it's Cambridge doing most of the attacking, Mosley coming into the centre gets onto another blocked rebound from a Grimes shot, looks to shoot inside the D, slices the ball wide of the goal. Tries her luck from 40 yards out not long after, the ball coming in low and bouncing poses Busby little trouble.
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| Cambridge WFC Reserves Sarah Mosley |
Pamplin is fouled as she drives forwards, clattered inside the D it's Kayleigh Whitehead over the ball, a good position she opts for the shot, puts her effort narrowly over the crossbar.
The Milton goal is threatened as Cambridge's Ellie Cullum is played in down the left wing running with the ball has a strike from 25 yards out, is arrowing towards the top corner, Busby throws up a glove, a great save as she tips the ball over the bar.
Milton attacks are rare but when they do get players forwards the most likely to create something is Dani Briggs, on the ball driving into space out on the left, she looks to come inside, in the area looks to fire a cross into Olivia Thorogood running in towards the far post, the Milton attacker sliding in to try and get her foot on the ball has Cambridge defenders converging on the ball the shot is blocked the ball spinning up and back to Briggs to the left of goal she tries to fire it goalwards with her 1st touch, puts it straight at Cambridge goalkeeper Tafauzwa Mhunduru who brings the ball down to make the save.
From right back Cambridge's Kayleigh Whitehead is playing some good passes up to her team mates in front of her, is getting forwards too linking up well with Mosley both putting in crosses, Bocchetti and Milton captain Sarah Freestone are covering the ground to intercept the ball before Cambridge's attackers can get in on goal.
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| Kayleigh Whitehead on the ball for Cambridge WFC Reserves |
In attack for Milton, Thorogood comes back to support her team mates in midfield slides in to win the ball and leaping up after it releases Briggs to her right to charge into the open grass in front of her, ahead of everyone she tries to take on the early shot try to catch Mhunduru by surprise sends the ball across the box, however the Cambridge keeper can see it wide of her goal.
On the left side of the pitch Clara Greed is another player full of pace, prepared to run with the ball take players on, out paces the Milton defence to get to a forward ball, turns inside and puts the ball into Ellie Cullum inside the box her back to goal she tries to lay it off to Mosley inside the D, her shot is blocked.
Greed then latches onto an error at the back from Milton a loose pass she is onto the ball taking it into the box has put a little too much pace on the ball, it runs through to Busby before she can send it past her and into the net.
Milton are forced to make a chance as Briggs comes off 2nd best in a challenge late in the half Ligia Ramos is the player coming on. A late free kick for Milton won by Thorogood wide right, it's Kirsty Lemmon-Sparkes to put the ball into the box, hits it hard across goal a cross/shot, players are late to arrive at the far post the chance is gone.
Half-time Cambridge WFC Reserves 0-0 Milton Ladies
A dominant 1st half from Cambridge, they have had plenty of the ball, carved out several good chances, Milton though have had plenty behind the ball and defended the crosses put in well, a case of being patient for Cambridge, Milton will hope they can hang on but need more opportunities going forwards, Briggs is walking gingerly on her ankle to the bench as the teams return to the pitch.
Milton get the 2nd half underway. Cambridge though start the 2nd half where they left the 1st on the attack winning the ball back Jade Powell plays it out to Mosley on the left, she looks to dink in a cross for Grimes to attack with her head at the near post, under challenge from Milton's Marianne Rowley she puts her effort wide.
The no 10s collide as Milton's Freestone fouls Grimes giving Cambridge a free kick 25 yards out left of the D, it's Powell over the ball, fires the shot in, Busby is behind it but spills the shot, it's a melee as bodies throw themselves at the ball, squirming out everyone turns to see it roll wide of the goal.
Greed is substituted with Maria Davies coming on she drops into left back a move that sees Carrie Bennett moving forwards into an attacking role. Milton have everyone back as they look to keep their goal intact, have no one up top to release the ball to meaning Powell and Cambridge captain Emma Roberts can retrieve it and set another attack going from the back.
Cambridge have a corner take from the right have tried a few aimed to players on the edge or outside the box a low ball played in comes to Pamplin to the right of goal 30 yards out has time to line up a shot, places it wide of goal, although it must have taken a deflection for another corner is signalled.
GOAL! This one is a peach of a delivery from Mosley put in at a good height towards the near post, it's Grimes who jumps to meet it with her head, turning the ball across the face of goal and into the back of the net 1-0.
Changes for both sides with Milton bringing Briggs back on for Rowley and Cambridge taking Mosley off, Sindy Infante coming onto the pitch. Boccetti is hurt as she and Cullum run into one another has to come off Serena Caruso comes on in defence. Rio Will is taken off by Cambridge, Sarah Carroll comes on.
GOAL! The changes have made little change to the flow of play Cambridge continue to attack, it's Whitehead on the ball pushing deep into Milton territory on the right, squares the ball into Bennett inside the box right of the six yard box she turns and sends her shot across Busby and into the net 2-0.
Ellen Green comes on for Cambridge with Pamplin coming off. Milton have brought a good number of supporters with them they are trying to spur their team on, Thorogood is throwing herself into challenges, winning the ball, Cambridge though are comfortable at the back.
GOAL! Into the last 15 minutes and Cambridge extend their lead even further with a scorcher of a goal too. From another corner this time the ball is played short back up the touchline on the right before the ball is squared into Ellie Cullum outside the box 25 yards out right of goal she rifles her shot it across the area and into the net at the far post 3-0.
Vicky Hoover gets onto the pitch for Cambridge late on. Cullum tries her luck from distance again hitting the ball on the half volley, it doesn't get any height and bouncing before her Busby takes it cleanly. Bennett wins another corner for Cambridge in injury time, Milton bring on Lauren Lock and Joanne Carr for the closing minutes. The corner is cleared.
GOAL! The ball is with Bennett out on the left, charging down towards the touch line she fires the cross in along the goal face, has a runner coming in to meet in Ellen Green who taps the ball past Busby at close range to seal a 4-0 as the final whistle blows and Cambridge WFC Reserves win the Women's Junior Invitation Cup for the 2nd time.
A strong performance from Cambridge had the lions share of the ball, but had to be patient before scoring the 1st goal and then going on to score a further 3. A dogged performance from Milton worked hard to defend but as the game wore on the pressure they were soaking up became too much.
Congratulations to Cambridge WFC Reserves on their cup success tonight.
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