The competition is once again sponsored by S-Tech Insurance, the venue this time though a little bit further along the A10 to the Glass World Stadium, home of Histon FC. Situated north of Cambridge itself in Impington just off the A14. Is a nice stadium, well laid out good facilities, with refreshments and a bar available. Seated stands on both sides of the ground.
The Finalists
Tonight's opponents are not strangers to one another have been here before have contested the last 2 County Cup Finals with Cambridge WFC being the winners on both occasions, Great Shelford Ladies will be hoping it's 3rd time lucky.
Cambridge WFC though will be wanting to keep hold of the cup they have won for the past 2 seasons. Given a bye for the 1st Rd, entered the competition in round 2, were awarded a home win over Sawtry Ladies and finally started the defence of the cup in the quarter finals beating Huntingdon Town Ladies 6-0 at home. In the semi-finals they were drawn at home to the new winners of the Cambridgeshire Women's Premiership, Riverside Rovers Ladies. Cambridge WFC ply their trade 3 leagues higher in the FAWPL South East Division One and proved to strong on the day running out 7-0 winners to book their final spot.
Great Shelford Ladies like Cambridge WFC were given a bye in the 1st round. Took on Newmarket Town Ladies at home in the 2nd round, scored double figures winning 10-0. Were awarded an away win in the quarter finals against Isleham United Ladies. Were away in the semi finals a tricky tie against Bar Hill Women doing well in the Eastern Region Division One North just a league below Great Shelford Ladies, the Premier Division side edged it though winning 2-1 meaning the 2 powerhouses of women's football in Cambridgeshire would be contesting the County Cup once again.
A cooler evening than last evening, was bright and clear. The pitch was a good size looked like it has seen a lot of football, few bare patches but otherwise in good condition as the teams took to the field.
Cambridge WFC starting XI - Verity Crook, Liv Abbott, Becca Fay, Kayleigh-Anne Burt, Hannah Goodchild (C), Laura Baker, Laura Bright, Emma Jenkins, Laura Mills, Nuala Wayne & Sophie Thompson.
subs - Hannah Bodily, Gemma Clark, Becky Russell, Faith Hewitt & Robyn Phillips.
Great Shelford Ladies starting XI - Laura Gilby (C), Francesca Walder, Georgina Westrope, Cindy Pouder, Claire Creek, Sophie Lanham, Becky Charter, Kate Saunders, Alison Wright, Becky Taylor & Abigail Davies.
subs - Alana Sugden, Georgia Day, Lauren Martin, Amanda Binge & Harriet Blundell.
(roll on, roll off substitutes)
It's Great Shelford to get the final underway wearing claret and blue shirts, claret shorts and socks, with Cambridge lined up opposite in sky blue shirts and socks with navy shorts. Is a bright start from both sides looking to get the ball into forward areas, takes a few moments for play to settle down. Great Shelford get the ball into the Cambridge box Becky Taylor goes for the shot, it is blocked by Cambridge defender Kayleigh-Anne Burt at close range the rebound spins back out to Kate Saunders 20 yards from goal, the Great Shelford midfielder drills her shot in, off target, wide of goal.
Cambridge are getting some joy in the wide area's Liv Abbott is able to bring the ball out from right back, linking up well with Emma Jenkins playing in front of her, she wins the 1st corner of the match, is a good delivery into the centre of the area, Great Shelford defender Cindy Pouder with the header to clear the ball away for a throw.
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| Alison Wright |
Although Cambridge are getting the ball forwards winning corners, Great Shelford are playing a high tempo pressing game early on looking to get the ball back from Cambridge high up the pitch, Sophie Lanham pushing on from the centre of midfield takes the ball of Cambridge captain Hannah Goodchild as she looks to bring it out of defence. Lanham plays the ball into Wright inside the box, she squares the ball across the area looking for Saunders who screws her shot wide of goal.
GOAL! A lively opening barely 10 minutes on the clock and Cambridge pull the scores level. An attacking move starting down the left side of the pitch, Cambridge move the ball quickly, Laura Mills on the ball has Jenkins making a good run coming central, plays the pass putting the ball clear of the Great Shelford defence, Jenkins is after it inside the area Laura Gilby the Great Shelford goalkeeper and captain comes to close her down, Jenkins slips the ball over her and into the net 1-1.
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| Emma Jenkins |
Playing up front for Cambridge, Sophie Thompson gives chase to a long ball rolling into space on the right flank, getting to it she sends the cross in has Nuala Wayne covering the ground to meet it at the far post, is a vital interception by Pouder to prevent the goal scoring opportunity.
On the right wing Great Shelford's Becky Charter is looking to take on the Cambridge defence whenever she has the ball at her feet, Lanham gets the ball out to her, Charter looks to run into the box, Crook comes to meet her, stays big as she tries to take the ball around her gets something on it enough to slow Charter up, she is after the ball though as it bounces off Crook, looks to fire her shot in as Cambridge's defenders race back to cover the goal, the shot is flashed across the six yard box and wide.
Is a good battle developing between Goodchild and Wright, the Great Shelford attacker, strong shoves Goodchild off the ball wide left, plays a great forward pass looking for Becky Taylor who has made a great diagonal run to get into the box. Becca Fay does well though to read the danger and come round on the cover to win the ball.
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| Cambridge WFC captain Hannah Goodchild with the defensive header |
GOAL! Cambridge win another corner on the right are thinking about taking a short one, their manager Steve Edwards makes it clear that they can forget about that, so they don't,a good call then as the corner is instead played into the congested six yard box, Abbott gets her head to it as Gilby comes for the ball hits her is loose there is a scramble for the ball, it pops up nicely for Laura Bright who gets her boot to the ball and strikes home to give Cambridge the lead 2-1.
The game continues to be played at a fast pace travelling up and down the flanks both sides looking for goal scoring opportunities. Good running from Charter on the right again, has players racing into the box as she sends the cross in puts the ball behind everyone however, wide left team mate Abigail Davies retrieves the ball looks to play it onto the penalty spot for Wright to attack, the flag is up for offside bringing the move to a halt.
More good build up play from Great Shelford, Lanham and Saunders travelling forwards have Davies making the run looking to get into the area, is put though on the penalty spot herself her shot though is blocked at close range, the ball spinning loose to Charter whose shot is a little wild as it rises over the bar.
Half time Cambridge WFC 2-1 Great Shelford Ladies
An entertaining 1st half in the Cup Final with Great Shelford starting very getting the early break through with Wright scoring off a defensive error. Cambridge hit back early though and wen on to take the lead. Both sides are creating chances, getting player on the ball looking to drive forwards.
The floodlights are in full effect with darkness descending as Cambridge kick off the 2nd half. Great Shelford have made a change with Davies off and Amanda Binge on, she joins Wright in attack with Taylor dropping deeper on the left. Is a tentative opening to the half from both sides attacking moves breaking down.
Chance out of nothing for Cambridge as Abbott fires the ball low and hard into the box, is met by a Great Shelford defender, the clearance is poor though the ball coming to Wayne wide left, she looks to put the ball back into the area, strikes the back of the defender closing her down as she hits it causing it to loop up with Thompson lurking behind her Pouder does well to deftly head the ball to Gilby with little room for error.
Laura Baker is looking to be more proactive and travel with the ball from midfield 2nd half, tries to thread it between the Great Shelford centre backs for Thompson and Mills to attack, the ball isn't allowed to sneak through.
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| Laura Baker and Kate Saunders battling for the ball |
In attack for Great Shelford, Wright continues to be strong on the ball and cause problems gets her head to the ball as it is played forwards to the edge of the area, the header takes her into the box, gets a 2nd header to take her clear of the defence, has Crook coming to face her down, tries to direct a 3rd header past her, Crook gets the touch knocking the ball down and claiming at the 2nd attempt.
Up top for Cambridge Thompson and Mills are showing good movement tracking into space and exchanging sides, link up well as the ball is fed to Mills on the right she plays it into the box for Thompson to attack, Gilby comes and diving saves well at her feet.
Cambridge make a change with Goodchild leaving the field for Becky Russell. An injury for Great Shelford see's the roll on roll off subs being used by both sides Davies returning to the field for Great Shelford along with Georgia Day, Pouder and Saunders the players off. The substitutes disrupt the flow of the game, slow it down.
Taylor now on the left for Great Shelford drives with the ball at her feet into the left channel, whips a fierce cross in which is cut out by Burt put behind for a corner. The set piece delivered from the left is high aimed towards the far post, it's Francesca Walder who is there to meet the ball with her head, sends it towards goal, Crook though has tracked across her goal and has the post covered.
Baker comes off for Cambridge with Faith Hewitt on, Pouder returns for Great Shelford, Walder giving way. Cambridge have a free kick half way inside the Great Shelford half it's Abbott over the ball, decides to have a go for goal, gets it on target, Gilby though has time to shuffle across and save.
Mills is put through by a good lay off from Thompson the pass setting her free to run into the area, Gilby comes rushing towards Mills sliding in the make the save, Mills can't quite get the ball around her before the Great Shelford defence manage to recover and clear. Jenkins leaves the pitch for Cambridge with Robyn Phillips coming on.
Becky Russell hasn't seen much of the ball on the right since coming on, getting hold of it and taking it down into the right hand corner, wins a corner. The ball is played into Bright on the edge of the area, she looks to shoot gets no power on the ball as it travels into the crowded area, Great Shelford bring it away.
Hannah Bodily and Gemma Clark come on for Cambridge with Fay and Wayne off. Great Shelford bring on Lauren Martin. Not long after Mills pulls up with an injury and ha to come off, it's Goodchild to come back on. A Cambridge shot is fired in from distance Gilby drops low knocks the ball forwards, Hewitt is racing forward to try and latch onto the ball, Gilby though recovers quickly to claim it before she can get there
Great Shelford give Alana Sugden and Harriet Blundell some minutes on the pitch late on as the game enters the closing minutes. Thompson is after a long ball punted up the pitch into the area gets to the ball has defenders around her, can't get the ball down to get a shot away.
GOAL! Thompson does get on the score sheet moments later as the ball isn't properly cleared by Great Shelford. Thompson has peeled off into space, left of the area getting the ball back looks to run at the Great Shelford centre backs before shooting and sending the ball past Gilby and into the back of the net to make it 3-1.
Moments left to play Cambridge have one more attack have sealed the win as the referee blows the final whistle and they win the Cup for the 3rd successive year to cue the celebrations.
A good Cup Final, entertaining especially in the 1st half Great Shelford were prepared to take the game to Cambridge made for a open game that was played at a high tempo, the substitutes slowing things down towards the end.
Congratulations to Cambridge WFC on winning the Cup.
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