Both with 2 wins out of 2, Suffolk FA Women lead the way on goal difference with Kent FA Women travelling up to play them at Brantham Athletic knowing nothing but a win will do if they want to lift the cup in their debut season as entrants. Suffolk FA Women know a draw will do tonight, but having scored 9 goals in their opening two matches under new manager Emma Manning they will want to finish in style.
| East Anglian Counties Championship Table | |||||||||
| Pos | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Suffolk | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 6 |
| 2 | Kent | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| 3 | Essex | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9 | -3 | 3 |
| 4 | Hertfordshire | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 0 |
The Suffolk FA Women's County Representative squad is largely made up from players from Ipswich Town Ladies the leading women's football club in Suffolk who themselves are enjoying a good run of form at the start of 2016. Suffolk FA Women started this season's East Anglian Counties Championship campaign at home at Mildenhall Town FC, Hertfordshire FA Women the visitors back in October, got off to a flyer Zoe Cossey netting in the opening minute, conceded a minute later but went on to win the match 5-1. Tonight's fixture was meant to be played before tonight but got postponed leaving a gap of nearly 4 months till Suffolk FA Women were in action again a trip to Stanway Rovers FC to play the Essex FA Women's County Representative side a little over 2 weeks ago, both with one win in the competition to date it was Suffolk FA Women who came out on top a strong 1st half performance giving them a 3-0 lead before substitute Hannah Waters netted late in the match to seal a 4-0 victory to make give them 6 points to lead the table. Keeping the goals out the other end has given them a superior goal difference going into their final game a draw would be enough to see them lift The Fred Welham Cup.
Kent FA are new entrants to the East Anglian Counties Championship this season and have had a fine debut to date starting with a 4-2 home victory over Essex in October. A trip to play Suffolk was postponed later that month. There 2nd match in the competition didn't come until the start of February away to Hertfordshire, exciting match that came alive 2nd half Kent coming back from being 1-0 then 2-1 to lead 2-3 were pegged back to 3-3 only to win the match deep into injury time 3-4 to set up tonight's title decider between themselves and Suffolk. Only a win will do for Kent.
The venue for tonight's match Brantham Leisure Centre, home of Brantham Athletic FC, the ground boasts a large clubhouse with bar and refreshments, leading out onto the large sized pitch sloping from one goal to the other looked a little bobbly under the floodlights a seated stand behind one goal and another along the pitch between the dugouts. A crisp clear evening, dry.
The venue for tonight's match Brantham Leisure Centre, home of Brantham Athletic FC, the ground boasts a large clubhouse with bar and refreshments, leading out onto the large sized pitch sloping from one goal to the other looked a little bobbly under the floodlights a seated stand behind one goal and another along the pitch between the dugouts. A crisp clear evening, dry.
Suffolk FA Women starting XI - Charlotte Osborne (Bury Town Ladies), Emma Boreham (Copleston Ladies), Marcie Prettyman, Sian Fagg, Amiee Harrison, Amanda Crump (C) (all Ipswich Town Ladies), Paige Shorten (Norwich City Ladies), Hollie Clement, Amy Howlett, Zoe Cossey & Natasha Thomas (all Ipswich Town Ladies).
subs - Kristy Turner (Ipswich Wanderers Ladies), Nadine Basson (Bury Town Ladies) & Roxanne Small (Ipswich Town Ladies).
Kent FA Women starting XI - Katie Startup (West Ham United Ladies), Emma Brown (Herne Bay Ladies), Madison North, Vanisha Patel (both Gillingham FC Ladies), Hannah Wheeler (West Ham United Ladies), Emma Tune (C) (Gillingham FC Ladies), Chelsea Wallace (Aylesford), Lydia Wills, Shannon Redhouse, Jade Keogh (all Gillingham FC Ladies) & Sammy Booker (Millwall Lionesses).
subs - Amy Russ (Meridian Ladies) & Charlie Spice (Charlton Athletic Women)
(roll on roll off, substitutes)
Suffolk kick off the 1st half attacking down the sloping pitch kitted out all in red sponsored by Home Store UK. 7 of their starting line-up play for Ipswich Town Ladies with 6 of the starting side for Kent playing for Gillingham FC Ladies kitted out all in blue tonight. Right from kick off Suffolk look to release Charlton Athletic Women winger Amy Howlett down the right surging down the ground, whips an early cross in towards the far post, with Zoe Cossey looking to race in to meet it, Kent right back Emma Brown does well to lunge forwards to stop the ball, keep it in and get up quickly to launch it clear from danger.
Kent bring the ball up the left with Jade Keogh passing it out wide to her Gillingham FC Ladies team mate Shannon Redhouse, Suffolk right back Emma Boreham, playing her league football for Copleston Ladies closes her down, tackles to win the ball back. Sian Fagg brings the ball out from the back for Suffolk as she deals with a long ball put into the box, Howlett is on the move on the right a good diagonal 30 yard pass picks her out, Natasha Thomas makes a move towards the near post area as she enters the Kent area, Howlett looks to pick her out, West Ham United Ladies central defender, Hannah Wheeler gets herself in front of Thomas to intercept the cross.
Suffolk are working hard to close Kent down as they look to bring the ball out with Hollie Clement putting herself about. Cossey gets the ball back on the left as Kent look to bring it over the halfway line, carrying the ball into their opponents half squares the ball into Thomas central outside the box she looks to help it on for Howlett coming in from the right and then turn off her marker get into the box, Emma Tune captain for Kent tonight reads the pass and is 1st to the ball.
Deep in the Suffolk half Kent have a throw on the left, striker Sammy Booker comes over to that side to receive the ball corner of the area outside the box looks to curl a shot into the far corner of the Suffolk goal close but goes wide out of play. Suffolk attack from the goal kick the ball coming into Howlett on the right looking for Thomas inside the box once again it's Wheeler who gets in front to win the ball. Kent are over playing it at the back a little with Suffolk closing down, Cossey latches onto a lose pass left squares the ball along the area into Thomas 20 yards out, goes for the shot, low runs through to Katie Startup in the Kent goal.
Lydia Wills is played in on the right for Kent, getting in behind whips her cross back along the face of the Suffolk area, inside the D, Keogh meets the ball on the volley, Bury town Ladies goalkeeper Charlotte Osborne gets her gloves on the ball as it looks to be running wide at her far post. Kent have a free kick 25 yards out, Tune to take it looks to pick out Madison North inside the box Aimee Harrison defends well against her, the ball stays high up the pitch left side is played back to Tune who shoots from distance Osborne gets something on it coming to her near post turns the ball out for a corner kick. Tune has another chance to shoot from distance as the corner is cleared out to her, this strike is high over the bar.
An even contest both sides bringing it forwards looking to create Suffolk look a threat on the counter attack Cossey and Howlett providing options left and right for Thomas central when then ball is played into her. The 3 attempt to combine, Thomas back to goal turns the ball out to Howlett right her cross is long towards te far post Cossey racing in can't quite connect with the ball. Wills gets hold of the ball on the right for Kent as Suffolk fail to clear Booker makes a diagonal run inside the box looking to get in front of the goalkeeper, Wills looks to pick her out the ball a little too high as she leaps for it drops behind Osborne seeing it late knocks it down as she falls the ball is loose, Booker snatches for it, Harrison is back gets her toe to the ball 1st.
The ball going out for a throw on the right as Kent attack, Booker retrieves it quickly to take with Keogh available lays the ball to her left for Redhouse coming into the middle then breaks in behind the Suffolk defence running into the area, Redhouse picks her out with the return all right side of goal Keogh pulls the trigger drags the shot wide across the goal. End to end Kent have a free kick on half way, Shorten puts her head on the ball clearing it, then bringing it out looks to send Thomas through the middle, Startup comes racing out to kick the ball away for a throw on the left. Marcie Prettyman plays the ball into Suffolk captain Amanda Crump 25 yards out a great ball puts Cossey through to attack the Kent goal, shifting the ball half a yard to evade the defender in front of her make space for the shot looks to curl the shot around the keeper but just wide of the far post.
Kent's Wills sprints up the right wing, before laying the ball back into Tune who spreads play out to the left stretching Suffolk, Redhouse picks it up and dribbles the ball into the area closing in on the six yard box looks to hit the ball hard over Osborne the keeper get's a glove to the ball turning it wide across her goal and out for a corner kick. Suffolk defend the initial corner, Chelsea Wallace wins the ball back for Kent come back up the right win a throw, the ball is send in towards the near post with Booker looking to make the run again, gets her foot on the ball this time, sends her shot over the crossbar.
GOAL! 3 minutes of normal time left to play in the 1st half and the dead lock is broken. Suffolk have players forwards inside the Kent half the visitors get the ball out towards halfway, Thomas has come deep to get hold of the ball, Paige Shorten bursting forwards from midfield is looking to get in behind the Kent defence edge of the box, Thomas tries to pick her out, Vanisha Patel gets her head on the ball denying Shorten however can;t get any elevation on the header as it drops kindly for Clement she goes for goal, lifting the ball high over the keeper it drops into the back of the net 1-0.
Half-time Suffolk FA Women 1-0 Kent FA Women
Two evenly matched sides has been a good contest, Kent calling Osborne into action more than Startup in their goal. Everyone has been involved the visitors over playing at the back sometimes has put them under pressure, Suffolk taking the lead just before half-time have the slender advantage Kent needing to score twice 2nd to win the East Anglian Counties Championship. The visitor kick off the 2nd half, have made a change at the start of the half with Amy Russ joining Booker up top in place of Keogh.
The game is free flowing moving from one end of the pitch to the other early on. Wallace plays a fantastic pass into substitute Russ on the edge of the Suffolk area, one touch gives the striker a yard on her marker, takes on the shot puts the ball straight into Osborne's gloves. Clement fizzes a pass into Thomas backing into her marker, releases Cossey on her left then spins in behind looking for the return ball, get's it shoots the ball sails wide of the goal.
A good turn of pace by Booker on the ball sees her skip past the full back puts the pass into Russ who shoots the ball is deflected wide for a corner kick. The ball is cleared from the area by Shorten who sends it long for Cossey to chase in a race for the ball with Patel the defender does a great job shielding the ball, allowing her keeper to come and kick to safety. Direct play from both sides Russ is in the heart of the action early on in the 2nd half The ball is played over the Suffolk defence, with Russ getting in behind, Osborne starts to come but is beaten as Russ hits the ball on the half volley outside the box lifts the ball over the keeper but off target goes wide.
Russ again with the shot the ball sent up through the middle again picks out the attack outside the box, flicks the ball up and hits the shot on the half volley, high gathering pace is on target, Osborne does superbly throwing herself at the ball stretching gets fingertips to it to turn it narrowly over her crossbar fantastic save. Kent are pressing forwards in search of a goal, Wills over on the right sends her cross long across the face of the Suffolk area Redhouse left side latches onto the ball and puts it into Booker inside the D, turns and shoots lifts the ball over. Lifting the tempo Kent are risking leaving space in behind, Wills has a go for goal 20 yards out sends the ball in low looking for the inside of the post, Osborne dives and holds onto the ball.
Double change for Kent with Brown and Wills coming off Charlie Spice coming on along with Keogh returning to the action. Fagg releases Cossey on the left with a great ball out from the back, goes to shoot as she turns inside 22 yards out the ball is blocked, cries for handball but nothing doing. Suffolk make a change Thomas has had a ball in the face minutes early from a defensive clearance needs to come off to recover, on comes Nadine Basson the striker only just back from a long term knee injury for Bury Town Ladies makes her debut for her county.
Great link up play between Cossey and Shorten on the left as Suffolk attack a give and go between the midfielder and winger Cossey's slide rule pass putting Shorten into the Kent box a strong run looks to get around the defence coming in from the left, hits the shot hard blasts the ball into the side netting.
Booker showing good hold up play has Tune coming towards her offering herself for the pass, has the vision to pick out Redhouse making a run on the left flank, Boreham has done well up against her for much of the night stays on her forcing her to turn away from the area take the ball into the corner. Kent win a throw deep in the Suffolk, Boreham looks to bring the ball out as the home side win in back looks to hit it long smashes of Wallace the ball rebounding favourably for Redhouse to turn and chase is free if she can get to the ball 1st, she can't as Fagg covers the ground to get across and throw herself at the ball taking it away from the winger. Suffolk make another change bringing in Ipswich Wanderers Ladies, Kristy Turner for Hollie Clement.
Suffolk have a corner, a good delivery put in from the right, Basson running towards the near post throws herself at the ball meeting it with her head, puts the shot wide. Kent go up the other end the ball with Redhouse on the left surges forwards gets room to put the ball into the box with Russ making a central run, too close to the keeper, Osborne gets down to make the save. Boreham has gone down in her box looks to be struggling with cramp has had a busy game up against Redhouse. The ball goes out for a throw inside their half giving them a chance to make a change Roxanne Small being readied a zip issue means the throw is ordered to be taken before Small can get onto the pitch with Boreham off Suffolk are down to 10.
GOAL! Doesn't matter, Small is a spectator on halfway as Suffolk work it out from the back the throw into the defence played into Crump then on for Cossey with Shorten making a run to go beyond the Kent defence, the pass from Cossey is weighted perfectly bursting into the box Shorten blasts the ball across the advancing keeper and into the back of the net to make it 2-0. Small runs on to celebrate the goal then get into position at right back with 18 minutes left to play.
Kent don't let their heads drop keep coming, getting down the other end Russ is allowed too much time and space right side of the D sends a bouncing shot into towards goal, lacking any pace Osborne has time to set herself see it into her body. Out wide Tune plays a good cross into the six yard box Wallace is in the centre the shot is fired at Osborne close range instinctive save to get it away over the bar. Suffolk deal with the resulting corner.
GOAL! 6 minutes left on the clock and Kent are offered a lifeline. Osborne doesn't get any distance on her goal kick, it travels to the edge of her box, Russ steals in on the ball muscling it of the defence trying to clear and shifting the ball to her right as she enters the box making room for the shot lifts the ball wide of the keeper and in 2-1.
Setting up a tense finish Kent continue to press, Suffolk have everyone back not letting any gaps appear late on, defend will Harrison putting her head on a ball lofted into the area by Tune. The home side break, Shorten with the burst of energy gets fouled as she goes over halfway, stays down suffering from cramp in both legs, comes off as the match enters injury time Thomas back on.
That's it, the referee blows the final whistle and Suffolk win 2-1, making it 3 wins out of 3 to top the table and win the 2015/16 East Anglian Counties Championship. A fantastic achievement for Suffolk as they looked to rejuvenate their women's football side at the start of the season Emma Manning new to the role with assistant Chris Smith seeing their side lift The Fred Welham Cup. Have played consistently throughout the tournament with everyone contributing.
Kent have done well too in their debut season in the competition and hopefully we will see them back next season, have watched a few matches in this seasons competition and enjoyed some great football, no doubt players enjoy representing their county, hopefully we'll see Cambridgeshire and Norfolk back in the not too distant future.
My thanks to Suffolk FA's Darryn Marsh for his help with the team details tonight.
And finally Congratulations to Suffolk FA Women on winning the East Anglian Counties Championship, I'd give you all the day off work if I could, enjoy the celebrations.
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