The League Plate is a competition contested by the teams competing in the ERWFL Division One, North and South. This year with just 5 teams contesting the Division One North against 10 in the South the early stages of the competition were set up into a group format with the 15 teams between the leagues drawn into three groups with the winners and the best runner up going into the semi-finals.
The Finalists
Royston Town Ladies are the current holders of the ERWFL League Plate having beaten Hutton Ladies 1-0 last season. Topping their group to reach the semi-finals of the competition were drawn away to Bury Town Ladies won the match 5-0 to book their place in a 2nd successive League Plate Final. Have had a strong league campaign losing just twice have a chance to finish 2nd with 2 games left to play and played in the ERWFL League Cup Final this past Sunday lost on that occasion 3-1 to Lowestoft Town Ladies.
Colney Heath Ladies were originally St Albans City Ladies formed back in 2009. Earned promotion from the Beds & Herts Women's Division One to the ERWFL at the end of the 2013/14 season have since moved and gone into partnership with Colney heath FC and were renamed Colney Heath Ladies has been a case of establishing themselves in the ERWFL Division One South this season. Topped their group to reach the semi finals setting up a tricky match against the best runners up Offley & Stopsley who were riding high in the league won the match 1-0 to reach the final.
The venue for todays ERWFL League Plate Final The County Ground in Letchworth Garden City. Snuck in the last car allowed into the car park is home to the Hertfordshire FA the ground boasts one main stand with plenty of seating with a bar and changing facilities at one end a covered standing area on the opposite side of the pitch with small standing areas behind each goal. Weather wise it was bright and sunny perfect for a Cup/Plate Final.
Royston Town Ladies starting XI - Becki Scott, Stacey Hassen, Katie Seymour, Gemma Barlow (C), Amie Jones, Amy Cooper, Heather Parete, Emma Phipps, Jo Rutherford, Grace Leslie & Natalie Richardson.
subs - Rebekah Fisk, Danielle Lewis, Georgia Gannaway & Samantha Chapman.
Colney Heath Ladies starting XI - Sasha Tucker, Eustacia Randles, Molly Slade, Rachel Sherlow, Victoria Allen, Kelly Hancock, Amber Charlton, Kirsty Feasey (C), Sophie Joseph, Holly Sheridan & Georga Knight.
subs - Faith Trounce, Adrienne Milton, Grace Campion, Sammy May & Lucy Hancock.
(roll on roll off substitutes)
It's Colney Heath to get the final under way kitted out in black and white vertical striped shirts with black shorts and socks against Royston lined up in their away colours yellow shirts with blue sleeves, blue shorts and socks.
Colney Heath start on the attack with Kelly Hancock on the ball down the right slides the pass through to Holly Sheridan in attack in front of her closing the by line down Sheridan cuts the ball back across the area the cross behind the runs of her team mates it's Amie Jones in the Royston defence who is able to get her foot on the ball and bring it out to clear.
Grace Leslie for Royston plays the ball long for Jo Rutherford to get hold of she is strong on the ball making a central run looks to hit her shot from 25 yards out is on target brings the save from Colney Heath goalkeeper Sasha Tucker diverting it behind for a corner kick, the set piece is played into the side netting from the right.
Royston have the ball in and around the Colney Heath box for a spell exchanging passes probing looking for a way through, eventually the shot comes in from Natalie Richardson playing on the left of attack blazes the shot over, but must have caught a Colney Heath boot on the way through as another corner is given.
Is an interesting contest shaping up, Royston are a bigger side than Colney Heath have the power whereas Colney Heath look to be a young side full of pace and energy in attack, intriguing to see how it would unfold. Leslie has the ball out on the right as Royston attack looking to come inside wants to shoot as she crosses the D, Colney Heath captain Kirsty Feasey has tracked back with her and puts the block in as she pulls the trigger.
 |
| Colney Heath Ladies captain Kirsty Feasey on the ball. |
Richardson is making herself available out wide on the wing for Royston is after the ball as it is played long to her getting hold of it in the channel she looks to come inside evades a sliding challenge but entering the box is falling as she takes on the shot getting no pace into the low effort it doesn't worry Tucker in goal.
GOAL! Royston open the scoring as possession is won back from a Colney Heath attack the pass is slotted through beyond the defence is a race between Colney Heath's Victoria Allen and Rutherford to get to the ball 1st, the attacker getting her foot on the ball as she closes the area down sees Tucker racing out to the edge of the box to close her down sends her shot past her and into the back of the net with 15 minutes played 1-0.
Feasey travelling with the ball brings it forwards and sends Hancock away down the right she whips her cross into the six yard box is an inviting ball looking to drop in front of goal vital a Royston defender gets to it 1st, they do as Jones gets the ball clear.
Colney Heath are getting more of the ball in the attacking 3rd now as Hancock on the right again tries to bring the ball into the box wins her team a corner, is taken short however they win a 2nd corner this one is a better delivery played out to Amber Charlton waiting at the back of the box she gets her head to the ball sending a looping ball back in towards goal, has Becki Scott in the Royston goal worried on her line she an arm up to prevent the ball dropping under the bar and in a good save.
Hancock is fouled as she tries to make a central run in front of the D needing treatment has hurt her shoulder is taken off along with Georga Knight as Colney Heath make a double switch Sammy May and Adrienne Milton coming on. It's Feasey over the set piece looks to go for goal sending it in produces another good save from Scott as she leaps and tips it over for a corner kick. The initial corner is cleared but as Royston look to come out Colney Heath's Milton springs the offside trap to get on the ball skipping past one challenge as players race back to challenge she can't find a way past Royston's Katie Seymour who blocks putting the ball behind for another corner.
GOAL! Colney Heath pull the scores level as the corner is played into the box on the floor Royston manage to get it away but not before the referee points to the penalty spot indicating their was a tug on a Colney Heath shirt. Is Charlton to take the kick smashes it high past Scott on the right to make it 1-1.
Royston captain Gemma Barlow in the centre of midfield plays the pass forwards into Leslie on her left she looks to thread it through for Rutherford, this time Allen is there 1st to make the tackle before Rutherford can take the ball beyond the defence.
GOAL! Royston retake the lead the attack beginning from the back as Jones getting hold of the ball brings it out of defence moving into the middle sends Rutherford away with a great pass strong on the ball the striker takes on the shot as she enters the area drilling a low effort past Scott at her left post 2-1.
Another cut back inside from Richardson on the left as she evades another sliding challenge entering the area opens up her body to shoot but pulls her effort over the bar. Royston make their 1st change with Danielle Lewis coming on for Emma Phipps.
GOAL! Barely 2 minutes later and Colney Heath have the scores level once more as another defender brings the ball out from defence, this time it's Molly Slade with the determined run fires her forwards pass into Sophie Joseph she splits the Royston defence as she turns the ball into Holly Sheridan making the run in between Scott has come but hesitates Sheridan doesn't as with her 1st touch she slots the ball past her and into the back of the net 2-2.
Getting onto the ball in front of the Colney Heath area is Lewis for Royston keeps hold of it looking for an opening in front of her eventually gets it out to Richardson on the left she sweeps a great cross along the six yard box looking for Rutherford at the far post the striker can't quite get the touch needed to turn the ball home.
Half time Royston Town Ladies 2-2 Colney Heath Ladies
Has been an exciting and fast paced 1st half to the League Plate Final with Royston twice taking the lead before Colney Heath came back to pull the scores level. Rutherford is a powerful centre forward difficult to deal with looks a threat every time she gets the ball. Colney Heath's movement has caused a few problems in and around the Royston defence although they are prepared to drop deep to prevent them finding any space behind.
Royston to kick off the 2nd half. Half time change for Colney Heath with Grace Champion on for Amber Carlton. Colney Heath win a early free kick out wide on the left have Slade over the ball she plays it into the area dropping at the far post Royston's Stacey Hassen has to be careful as she brings it down with an opponent lurking behind her, Scott is down to smother the ball at her far post.
Peeling out to the left of the box as Royston bring the ball up the pitch Lewis hits the ball into towards goal as it is sent into her path smashes the ball against the crossbar drops down still in play inside the box, Heather Parete is to it 1st for Royston hits her shot straight at Tucker who makes the save.
Play is more open 2nd half end to end the Colney Heath putting in the blocks as Royston bring the ball up towards their box try shooting from distance.
GOAL! Royston retake the lead early in the 2nd half are awarded a penalty as Rutherford is played through to the left of the goal has Rachel Sherlow racing back with her she slides in to make the challenge as they both enter the area takes the ball but also the player the referee pointing to the spot it's Rutherford herself to take a chance to get her hat trick. Hits the ball hard to Tucker's right and into the back of the net to complete her hat trick 3-2.
 |
| Royston Town Ladies Jo Rutherford |
Colney Heath win a free kick 30 yards from goal to the left of the goal it's Slade over the ball looks to have an effort on goal but sends the shot over. A poor goal kick from Scott is played straight into Sheridan 30 yards out she gets her head down and looks to drive with the ball into the area Amy Cooper is after her and across to put in the challenge the ball going away for a corner. Coming in from the right the corner is headed of the line at the near post by Royston dropping in the congested six yard area a scramble for the ball is on feet flying everywhere no one can squeeze the ball over the line before Royston get it clear.
Hancock returns to the pitch for Colney Heath with Joseph given a rest. Royston bring on Rebekah Fisk and Georgia Gannaway for Hassen and Leslie. Barlow puts the ball into Rutherford her back to goal lays it out to her right for Lewis to attack looks to strike the ball on the run tight angle gets no power behind the shot Tucker can see it into her gloves.
GOAL! The rapid pace of the 2nd half is leading to the ball travelling quickly up the pitch both defences are leaving space. Royston have Parete on the ball in space on the right is taken out by Champion as she comes across and slides in to win the ball Rutherford is in front of her though the advantage is played Rutherford though herself is fouled as she enters the area and another penalty is awarded. Rutherford is the taker again looks to send the shot the same way low to the right Scott initially saves this time but the ball pops back out to Rutherford following in and she smashes the rebound home 4-2.
Colney Heath press bodies forwards looking to get back into the match Joseph is back on for Colney Heath they have a corner Amy Cooper wins the header to get the ball out of the area comes to Joseph on the left fizzes it back into the box looking for Milton who can't quite get the ball out from under her feet to get a shot away before Royston converge on her and win the ball back. Charlton comes back on for Colney Heath with Sheridan suffering from a bit of cramp.
Royston have sat back since scoring the 4th goal are inviting Colney Heath on to them looking to counter attack get the ball up the pitch quickly into Richardson on the left squares her cross into the box looking for runners at the far post the ball evades everyone. Faith Trounce comes onto the pitch for Colney Heath with Hancock giving way. Rutherford and Barlow are brought off by Royston with Leslie and Lucy Hancock coming on.
Trounce looks to bring the ball up the pitch down the left is tackled by Cooper the ball going out for a throw a free kick is awarded however the ball from the tight angle the ball is sent in with plenty of pace bounces in front of goal and is past Scott and into the back of the net however Colney Heath haven't pulled a goal back as the linesman on the far side has his flag up.
Colney Heath keep pressing forwards not giving up Royston though have plenty back defending. Slade has another chance from a set piece to put the ball into the box the initial ball is headed away Charlton regains possession bursting into the box on the right puts a dangerous cross along the goal face, Rebekah Fisk does enough to scramble the ball away from danger a yard out with players closing her down.
Royston get the opportunity to launch a counter attack late on with so many forwards for Colney Heath as Gannaway finds herself the furthest forwards free in a central position to attack the goal Tucker comes to close her down she shoots hits the keeper which takes the ball out to the right Gannaway is after it as Tucker back peddles but she can't get her shot away as Champion gets back to challenge for the ball.
Last attack for Colney Heath into injury time a late corner in from the right is headed towards goal at the far post everyone defending the Royston goal can see it fly wide though and the final whistle blows Royston Town Ladies retain the League Plate winning by 4-2 Jo Rutherford with all 4 goals.
An entertaining final both sides going for it two 2nd half penalties settling it for Royston after Colney Heath had done well to keep the scores level at half time. My thanks to both sides for helping me with the squad details today.
Congratulations to Royston Town Ladies ERWFL League Plate winners.
No comments:
Post a Comment