The Finalists
Another chance for Women's Premiership side Cambridge WFC Reserves to win silverware at the end of the season having played at Ely City FC just a fortnight ago beating Milton Ladies 4-0 to win the Women's S-Tech Junior Invitation Cup Final. Entered the League Cup competition in the 1st round drawn against Women's Championship North side Wisbech St Mary's Ladies winning 11-4 on aggregate over 2 legs. Were drawn against fellow Premiership side Cambridge University Women on the 2nd round the 1st leg ending 4-4 before Cambridge WFC Reserves were awarded an away win to set up a quarter final tie with Downham Town Ladies. Needed extra time to over come the Championship North side eventually winning 4-3. Faced a tough opponent in the semi finals a home match against the Premiership leaders and now champions Riverside Rovers Ladies won 2-1 to reach their 2nd cup final. Are the current League Cup holders.
Huntingdon Town Ladies compete in the Cambridgeshire Women's Premiership. Were given a bye in the 1st round of the competition. In the 2nd round competed over 2 legs they were drawn against Deeping Diamonds Ladies from the Cambridgeshire Women's Championship North, the ties were postponed before Huntingdon Town Ladies were eventually awarded the tie and put through to the quarter finals. The last 8 was a straight knock out game with Huntingdon Town Ladies drawn at home to fellow Premiership side Fulbourn Bluebirds won the match 4-2 to set up another home match in the semi finals against another Championship North side Bourne Ladies a 3-0 win booked their place in the final.
Both clubs are in mid table in the Premiership and little clue was given to who might come out on top when the two sides met in the league last week the game ending 0-0.
Another final at Ely City FC on a pleasant spring evening as April draws to a close
Cambridge WFC Reserves starting XI - Tafazwa Mhundru, Kayleigh Whitehead, Emma Roberts (C), Nicola Geoghan, Robin Phillips, Ellie Cullum, Gemma Clark, Jade Powell, Liz Pamplin, Clara Greed & Lisa Grimes.
subs - Becca Fay, Maria Davies, Rio Will, Sindy Infante & Sarah Carroll.
Huntingdon Town Ladies starting XI - Megan Stow, Rachael Bowd, Laura Melling, Valerie Smith, Stef Day, Kelly Daniels, Natasha Dowdell, Claire Knox (C), Emma Clark, Danielle Bennett & Sophie Marheineke.
subs - Goergie Goodwin, Jo Bull & Lydia Bedford.
(roll on roll off substitutes).
Cambridge in their sky blue shirts and socks with navy shorts kick off the final, with Huntingdon lined up in red and black striped shirts and socks with black shorts. Is a quiet opening to the match with both sides taking the ball into the others final 3rd but not getting a final back in for their strikers to get an early sight on goal.
Playing on the right for Cambridge it's Gemma Clarke who looks to send the ball into space on the right of the Huntingdon area with Lisa Grimes up front making the run for her, looking to turn into the box though it's Huntingdon central defender Valerie Smith who is across quickly to take the ball away from Grimes before she can latch onto it inside the area.
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| Cambridge's WFC Reserves, Jade Powell on the ball |
Likewise at the other end it's a Cambridge central defender who comes across to tackle Huntingdon's Danielle Bennett on the right as Sophie Markeineke rolls the ball out into her path. Markeineke then looks to go beyond her strikers as she lays the ball out to captain Claire Knox on the left she sends the ball into Markeineke as she looks to steal through the Cambridge defence, has been tracked back by Cambridge's Jade Powell the midfielder putting in the tackle to win the ball.
GOAL! Cambridge are attacking the Huntingdon box have bodies surrounding the D pressurising the ball, block a Huntingdon clearance the ball spinning into space in front of the goal, it's Liz Pamplin, who I've seen play in every position for Cambridge, who is onto the ball from outside the area, shooting she sends the ball arching over Huntingdon goalkeeper Megan Stow and into the back of the net 1-0.
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| Scorer of the opening goal Liz Pamplin for Cambridge WFC Reserves |
The early goal has livened the game up, Cambridge are attacking again the ball retrieved on the left and fired into the area into Clark right of goal she shoots the effort blocked spins away for a throw. Kayleigh Whitehead is over the ball for a free kick 35 yards out central after Grimes is fouled, she looks to send the ball in long for runners to attack, too long Stow can see it run wide.
Fed the ball out on the left high up the pitch Clara Greed looks to slide it on into the box has Grimes making the run just a little too much weight gives Stow the chance to gather. Pamplin and Grimes link up well in attack outside the Huntingdon box playing a 1, 2 gets Grimes past the defence, sends in her shot finds Stow well positioned in the middle of her goal to make the save.
Huntingdon have struggled since the goal to get anything going up top, most of their forward play is through Knox wide left, more often than not though she looks to come inside and Cambridge have players covering any midfield runners looking to support. Early chance for Cambridge as Whitehead is given a rest and Maria Davies comes on going in at right back.
From 35 yards out Ellie Cullum has the ball in space looks to drive the ball towards goal, the shot blocked by Huntingdon's Rachael Bowd. More good defending from Bowd then as Cullum plays a ball over the top for Pamplin to chase into the area, shoulder to shoulder with the Cambridge attacker, Bowd gets the tackle in to take the ball away from her.
Huntingdon make a triple chance with subs, Lydia Bedford, Jo Bull and Goergie Goodwin coming on. Cambridge are attacking again Pamplin releasing Greed on the left, the winger takes the ball on into the box can't get the cross in though as Smith is across and defends well to win a goal kick off Greed. Cambridge bring Grimes off and send on Sarah Carroll.
Late in the half Huntingdon are starting to get themselves back on the ball take it into the Cambridge half. Knox a strong player with the ball at her feet has it on the left looking to drive across the middle of the park plays the pass into Stef Day to the right side of the D, she sends it onto to Goodwin on her right wide of goal who shoots sends her effort wide of goal.
Half-time Cambridge WFC Reserves 1-0 Huntingdon Town Ladies
Didn't expect there to be too much between these two sides, Cambridge though have been on top since they took the lead just after 10 minutes were on the clock. Have had more attacking chances 1st half, Huntingdon have defended well although Cambridge have rarely taken the ball beyond their full backs. Whilst up the other end Cambridge have limited Huntingdon's attacks Cullum and Powell breaking play up in the middle with centre backs Phillips and Nicola Geoghan intercepting most forward passes, still only the one goal in it the final is far from decided yet as Huntingdon get the 2nd half under way.
Huntingdon start on the offensive with Goodwin taking the ball into the right channel, checks back and squares her cross into the edge of the area where it is met by Jo Bull who turns her shot goal wards, Cambridge block the shot. More good work from Day to bring the ball down inside the box from a corner on the right lay it off for Bull outside the box, no shot on rolls it out for Goodwin to the right gets the cross back in again Cambridge block.
Launching a counter attack Cambridge have the ball down the other end quickly with Clara Greed racing into space on the left, turns inside and looks to fire the ball into Pamplin on the edge of the area, she looks to open up her body to turn the shot goal wards slices it wide of goal, however it has taken a touch off a Huntingdon body as a corner is given. The corner is fired into the crowded near post header but it's a Huntingdon head that gets it away. Greed looks to come inside runs into trouble takes a knock and after needing treatment is replaced by Becca Fay on the left of midfield.
GOAL! 15 minutes into the 2nd half Huntingdon equalise. Good possession down the right again brings a corner, the ball is played long coming through to Knox towards the far post area she gets her shot away smashing it against a Cambridge defender marking the post the ball comes back into the crowd, it's a red and black boot that gets to the ball 1st as Bowd sends the ball up over Cambridge goalkeeper Tafadzwa Mhundru to clip the underside of the cross bar and bounce down over the line 1-1.
The scores back level the game really opens up, Cambridge play the long ball from half way up to Pamplin she heads the ball on into the area from Clark to attack, she can't get her shot away, Huntingdon half clear sending the ball out to Sarah Carroll 25 yards out, left of the D she fires a low shot back in pulling it wide of Stow's goal.
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| Cambridge's Gemma Clark with Huntingdon captain Claire Knox |
From a throw in deep in the Cambridge half on the right Huntingdon fire a cross into Bull just inside the are she heads it down for Goodwin to the right of goal, retrieving the ball the angle is acute as she looks to shoot, has a defender to beat gets the ball past her but Mhundru has her near post covered as the ball strikes the side netting. Goodwin is put through inside the box on the right again, this time Mhundru comes out to close her down makes the save, taking a knock in the process play is held up whilst she receives treatment.
Sindy Infante comes on for Cambridge.
Both in search of another goal the pace of the game has quickened the final passes are rushed however and both sides are not keeping the ball for long. Natasha Dowdell is fouled by Fay inside the Cambridge half, she plays the ball out to Goodwin on the right, taking the ball forwards she has Day with her giving her the ball, Day squares the ball across the front of the area is met by Lydia Melling who turns the ball 90 degrees sending it towards goal but the wrong side of the post.
Nicola Geoghan now in midfield gets the ball out to Sindy Infante on the left, good pace to take the ball pass her defender she gets the cross into the box comes to Grimes who has returned to the pitch, she is closely marked plays the ball into Clark next to her, same again can't get the shot away on the edge of the six yard box before Huntingdon win it back.
The whistle blows for full time and the scores are 1-1 as we head into a half an hours extra time. Was looking increasingly likely in the 2nd half that the next goal would win it didn't come though, would either team get a winning goal in extra period or would I see another cup final go to penalties this season?
Extra Time
Huntingdon kick off the 1st half of extra time. Good defending from Phillips as Huntingdon break on the right again Goodwin on the ball has Bennett keeping pace with her on the left Phillips though prevents her getting the ball to her.
GOAL! Huntingdon win a corner on the left it's Natasha Dowdell to take the delivery an in swinger into the near post area is a good one coming in at a dangerous height, Mhundru comes to punch clear with three Huntingdon players attacking the post, misses the ball and it flies into the goal straight from the corner Dowdell scores 1-2.
An awful goal for Cambridge to concede, Cullum has gone up top for them now, she attempts to steal into the box with the ball has 2 Huntingdon defenders converge on her before she came get her strike away.
Half time, extra time Cambridge WFC Reserves 1-2 Huntingdon Town Ladies
Greed is back on the pitch for Cambridge as they kick of the 2nd period of extra time looking to bring the scores level again. Get the ball into Infante outside the area on the left trying to come inside she is fouled, 20 yards out it's Fay over the ball, gets her shot around the wall, plays it straight into Stow's gloves.
Geoghan slides the pass through for Greed to run after Day makes the run across the ball to slow Greed down as Stow comes rushing out of the area to get to it, Greed skips past Day as she and Stow collide leaving Greed hurt and needing treatment. Whitehead back on is over the ball, sends the shot in on goal looking for runners to attack, bounces through to Stow before they can reach it.
Into the closing moments Cambridge are piling forwards looking for a leveller, Huntingdon are defending well. Geoghan is left sprawled on the ground from a challenge 30 yards out it's Powell on the ball central she puts her foot through the shot sending it in towards goal is over Stow past her smashes against the cross bar, as close a Cambridge get as Huntingdon hold out the referee bringing extra time to a close and Huntingdon are the Cambridgeshire S-Tech Women's League Cup Final winners.
Was always looking like it would be a closely fought final between the pair, after taking the early lead though Cambridge were in control for much of the 1st half, without the cushion of a 2nd goal however Huntingdon were always in the game pulled the scores level before needing extra time to seal the winner and lift the cup. Two disappointing goals to concede from a Cambridge point of view the club having to settle for 2 pieces of silverware this season instead of 3.
Congratulations to Huntingdon Town Ladies on their League Cup success.
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