The Finalists
Wymondham Town Ladies compete in the Norfolk Women's Division One where they have finished in 3rd place this season. Were the winners of the competition in the 2012/13 season, reached the final last year finished runners up beaten 4-0 by Thorpe United Ladies.
This season's competition saw Wymondham drawn at home to 2nd division side Red Rose Ladies in the 1st round won 5-0. Was another 2nd division side in the 2nd round with a 12-2 home victory over Harleston Ladies. At home again in the quarter finals faced fellow Division One opponents Stalham Town Ladies recorded another 5-0 win to set up a home semi-final against new Norfolk Women's Division One champions Aylsham FC Ladies booking their place in todays final with a 2-0 win.
Brandon Town Ladies have moved over from competing in the Suffolk Women's Division to Norfolk joining Division Two where they are top of the table and closing in on promotion to the top flight of women's football in Norfolk with a 2 games left to play.
Had a bye for the 1st round of the League Cup before facing a tricky home tie against Division One side Bungay Town Ladies, won 2-1 to reach the quarter finals an away trip to play fellow 2nd Division side Kirkley & Pakefield Ladies won the match 0-3. Another away trip in the semi finals a tough test against the League Cup holders Thorpe United Ladies. Won the semi final 1-2 to make it to the final.
The venue for todays League Cup Final, Plantation Park, home of Norwich United FC as well as the home ground for Norwich City Ladies. Situated near Blofield east of Norwich off the A47. The ground was hosting a finals day today with the U16s & U18s finals taking place earlier in the day as well as the Women's 7s Final. The ground is a nice sporting complex with a number of pitches, also houses the Macron Store whom are dedicated supporters to women's and girls football in Norfolk.
The weather wasn't playing ball early on was a wet start to the day but slowly it eased off and although I was prepared for all eventualities by the time kick off arrived the sun had broken through and weather was perfect as the 2 teams entered the pitch.
Wymondham Town Ladies starting XI - Gemma Hamilton-Rout, Emma Chambers, Kelly Ayers, Mary Cann (C), Louise Hamilton-Rout, Rachel Cossey, Leah Newcombe, Laura Hammerton, Kayleigh Holloway, Amber Cantwell & Sally Hammerton.
subs - Gemma Perry, Laura Parry & Natalie Woods.
Brandon Town Ladies starting XI - Shannon Oderbrecht, Melanie Talbot, Natasha Rutter, Laura Grove, Ellie Marshall, Hazel Shepherd, Frankie Torrance, Georgina O Malley, Brooke Wickens, Tiffany Forshaw (C) & Laura Brame.
subs - Leanne Sloan, Rachel Lynch & Chelsea Paremain.
(roll on, roll off substitutes)
It's Wymondham in red shirts, black shorts and socks to kick off the League Cup Final against Brandon who are lined up in yellow shirts and socks with blue shorts. Wymondham start on the attack feeding the ball up to Kayleigh Holloway wide on the left the ball is sent into the area, half hearted cries for a penalty as a Wymondham player goes down, nothing given as the ball is put out for a throw wide left the cross swept back in is safely into Brandon goalkeeper Shannon Oderbrecht's gloves.
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| Amber Cantwell |
Brandon have struggled to get the ball deep into the Wymondham half early on, Frankie Torrance attempts to take it down the left, Wymondham right back Kelly Ayers puts in the challenge putting the ball out for a throw, taken quickly the ball is put into Georgina O Malley, she looks to slide the pass forwards into Brandon captain Tiffany Forshaw, on the edge of the area she looks to hit the ball on the spin too much on the shot sends the ball high over the bar.
Holloway getting hold of the ball on the halfway line almost slips striker Sally Hammerton in beyond the Brandon defence but as she races clear to get onto the ball inside the box, Oderbrecht has come out to slide in and claim the ball at her feet. Wymondham are playing a good pressing game inside the Brandon half with Holloway and Cantwell providing options left and right for midfielders Rachel Cossey, Louise Hamilton-Rout & Laura Hammerton to pass to.
Brandon's Laura Brame is fouled on the left just outside the area as she tries to shift the ball to take it into the box, it's Torrance over the free kick whips is a curling low cross looking for a runner at the far post to turn it home, just evades everyone.
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| Laura Hammerton |
Brandon are finding it tough going trying to get Forshaw and Brame on the ball, Cossey is the one for Wymondham more often then not back there to help her defence, then when she does get on the ball try and thread it through into Sally Hammerton to try and have a run at goal. Brandon shots are being limited to long range after a bit of head tennis in the Wymondham half, Forshaw does manage to bring the ball down wrapping her foot around it on the turn from 40 yards out pulls the shot wide of goal.
Brandon are getting a little more possession in the Wymondham half, midfielder Hazel Shepherd is pushing on a little bit more looking to give Forshaw and Brame support, giving Brame the ball out on the right she wins a corner. Torrance takes fizzing the ball into O Malley on the edge of the area she returns the pass and Torrance sends it sweeping across the goal face, Shepherd is coming in at the back post but running out of room as she meets the ball is the wrong side of the post. Rachel Lynch comes on for Brandon, Brooke Wickens coming off.
From the Wymondham midfield Louise Hamilton-Rout has made a run to get into the area as the ball is fired in from left tries to get onto it, goes down as Brandon get it out of the box only as far as Sally Hammerton on the edge of the area, she looks to curl a shot back in, Oderbrecht throws her arm up to stop it as it smashes against the cross bar and out.
Brandon have a throw on the left deep in the Wymondham half late on as Shepherd attempts to roll the ball through for Forshaw in the area. The throw is played long his helped on into the area is bouncing however Wymondham goalkeeper Gemma Hamilton-Rout keeps her eye on the ball and claims with runners looking to steal in.
Half-time Wymondham Town Ladies 1-0 Brandon Town Ladies
Has been Wymondham's half started the better and have created more of the chances although neither goalkeeper has been overly troubled. A good contest between two good footballing sides who look to get the ball travelling quickly. Wymondham with the 1 goal lead still all to play for as both teams are out early for the 2nd half, are made to wait by the referee. Brandon to kick off the 2nd half have brought Leanne Sloan.
Wymondham have brought on Laura Parry at the start of the 2nd half, they start the brighter again as Sally Hammerton is put through on the right outside the box tries to put the ball back in sends her shot/cross flashing across the face of goal and out. Hollloway is constantly looking to take players on more often than not up against Talbot the two are having a good battle. Holloway evades Talbot this time and sends a cross in to the near post with Sally Hammerton looking to race in on the ball, Oderbrecht though has read the danger and is out and grabbing the ball as Hammerton clatters into her the ball is split goes behind corner given.
Forshaw holding up the ball plays it beyond her into Shepherd, she can't quite get to it but Brame is up with her hustles the Wymondham defence to win a throw, Brandon's Rachel Lynch has a good throw on her launches the ball long into the box Forshaw is the one to bring it down has Sloan close by can't get her shot away the ball is blocked comes lose to Forshaw she gets a strike away, in goal Gemma Hamilton-Rout dives full length the ball not having the pace to evade her she pushes it away for a corner. Hamilton-Rout punches the corner ball away at the far post bulldozers Brandon's Natasha Rutter in the process as she looks to meet the ball.
Rutter is taken off to recover along with Brame as Brandon bring Lauren Grove and Brooke Wickens on. 30 yards out for Wymondham good footwork from Cantwell she shifts the ball to evade a challenge opens up space to shoot, Oderbrecht is across to save although the ball flying wide.
Emma Chambers comes off the pitch for Wymondham with Natalie Woods coming on. On the left for Brandon is Forshaw she whips a good ball into the box has Shepherd making the run, the ball though is too close to the keeper and she can make the save. Brame is back on for Brandon with Sloan giving way.
Laura Hammerton has been making some fantastic forward runs from midfield for Wymondham all game, with Holloway on the ball out left she pushes on again the ball is played into her, with her 1st touch evades a challenge to open up the space to shoot 25 yards out sweeps the ball in, smashes against the bar.
GOAL! from a corner put in from the right Wymondham double their lead in the match is fired in at a great height again and it's Laura Hammerton who jumps unmarked in the centre of the six yard box to head the ball down once again this time heading for the corner of the goal, Oderbrecht dives but can't keep it out 2-0.
Gemma Perry enters the field of play for Wymondham now with captain Mary Cann coming off. Laura Hammerton is fouled out on the left, she is over the ball looks to fire a shot in to the top corner, pulls it wide of goal.
Brandon who have been looking for a regular goalkeeper all season make a change between the sticks with Chelsea Paremain donning the shirt she replaces Ellie Marshall with Oderbrecht going into an outfield position as Brandon look to find a way back into the game. Forshaw strong with her back to goal holds the ball up as it is fired into her, bringing it up as she turns looks to hit the shot from 25 yards on the half volley, a wild strike over.
O Malley and Brame link up down the right wing, a give and go the best Brame can do is win her side a corner. Is a good delivery played along the six yard line to the far post Oderbrecht is the one who meets it with her head puts the shot over the bar. Wymondham have gone a little bit deep since scoring the 2nd goal are inviting Brandon onto them giving them a chance to put pressure on their area for the 1st time in the game.
On the ball Forshaw plays the pass out to Wickens on the right in space she does well to get to the ball on the by line plays it back for Shepherd coming into the area she sends a shot in at goal, Hamilton-Rout with an instinctive fist turns the ball away from danger. An overload on the right for Brandon with Brame and Wickens in space looking for the cross that is played over, Brame's cross is cleared for a throw, a chance for Lynch to put a long throw in it comes to Shepherd outside the box she doesn't get the contact she wants the ball looping up into the air Hamilton-Rout has her far post covered but the ball falls just over rather than under the bar.
Despite the late pressure however Wymondham defend well as Brandon try everything to get a goal back the final whistle blows full time 2-0 and Wymondham Town Ladies win this seasons Norfolk Women's League Cup.
Were the better side on the day keeping the ball higher up the pitch preventing Brandon from getting in behind and causing problems. Brandon struggled to get any meaningful possession in Wymondham's final 3rd now they turn their attention to chasing down the Norfolk Women's Division Two title.
Played in front of another good sized crowd under the sunshine my thanks to everyone who helped me today.
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| Wymondham Town Ladies |
Congratulations to Wymondham Town Ladies, Norfolk Women's League Cup Winners.
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