This is Hertfordshire FA Women's 1st game of the tournament, 4 county sides contesting the East Anglian Counties Championship, Essex and Kent also involved each county side playing the other once the overall winner topping the table winning the Fred Welham Cup. Suffolk FA Women are the current holders. Won their opening match at home against Essex 4-3 to get 3 points on the board. Essex hosted Kent last time out the match ending in a 1-1 draw the points shared.
Hertfordshire FA Women's squad has several new faces in it for tonight's fixture. A mixture of clubs represented with Stevenage Ladies having 6 players in the squad. 2 from Enfield Town Ladies, with ERWFL clubs, Offley & Stopsley Ladies, Hertford Town Ladies and Hoddesdon Town Owls Ladies all having players in the squad. A win for Hertfordshire tonight would not only get them off to a good start but throw the group wide open with 3 fixtures to come in the New Year.
Suffolk FA Women's squad is largely made up with Ipswich Town Ladies players 9 in all tonight representing Suffolk from the FAWPL South East Division One side. 3 players from Lowestoft Town Ladies with captain Paige Shorten playing for Norwich City Ladies both clubs also in the South East Division One. Twins Sophie & Beth Welton set to make their debuts for their county as is Lowestoft Town Ladies, Abbie Everson. Eva Hubbard from Ipswich Town Ladies also makes her debut for Suffolk aged just 16. AFC Sudbury Ladies player Mia Etheridge also makes her debut.
The County Ground in Letchworth the venue for tonight match under the lights a large pitch plenty of covered seating, new dugouts with the old ones situated in front of the stand now gone. The bar open and more importantly a hot drink available on a chilly but dry November night.
Hertfordshire FA Women starting XI - Michelle Bridgeman (Hertford Town Ladies), Hayley Wood-Thompson (Stevenage Ladies), Molly Johnson (Kings Langley), Louise Gash (Stevenage Ladies), Heidi Sinclaire (Enfield Town Ladies), Kelly Randall (C) (Offley & Stopsley Ladies), Amy Josland, Becky Day (both Stevenage Ladies), Lorna Gower (Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies), Sarah Payne & Jenny Hepton (both Stevenage Ladies).
subs - Millie Guest (Kings Langley), Gemma Coggins (Offley & Stopsley Ladies), Bilge Taspinar (Hertford Town Ladies), Sian Owens (Enfield Town Ladies), Tash Crick (Hoddesdon Town Owls Ladies).
Suffolk FA Women starting XI - Eilish Brogan (Lowestoft Town Ladies), Sophie Welton, Eva Hubbard, Sian Fagg, Aimee Harrison (all Ipswich Town Ladies), Paige Shorten (C)(Norwich City Ladies), Amy Howlett, Hollie Clement (both Ipswich Town Ladies), Gemma Moore (Lowestoft Town Ladies), Mia Etheridge (AFC Sudbury Ladies) & Natasha Thomas (Ipswich Town Ladies).
subs - Charlie Osborne (Walsham Le Willows), Beth Welton (Ipswich Town Ladies) Abbie Everson (Lowestoft Town Ladies).
(roll on roll off substitutes)
It's Hertfordshire wearing an all royal blue coloured kit to kick the 1st half off with Suffolk lined up opposite all in red sponsored by Home Store UK. The ball is won by Suffolk and played long into attacker Natasha Thomas who scored a hat-trick against Essex in Suffolk's 1st match of this season's East Anglian County Championships. Thomas looks to drive centrally with the ball into the Hertfordshire area, defender Heidi Sinclaire holds her up the ball is back with Suffolk's Hollie Clement moving left plays the ball into the box that side with Amy Howlett breaking in behind gets a shot away Hertfordshire goalkeeper, Michelle Bridgeman saving with her legs then catches the return ball lifted back into the area from the left.
Breaking up a Hertfordshire attack, Suffolk counter attack with pace the ball up to Thomas drives forwards through the middle evading a challenge is moving away from goal to the right outside the box cleverly reverses her shot sending the ball in towards goal, Bridgeman diving to her right gets a glove to the ball pushing it wide off goal for the corner kick. Molly Johnson plays the ball out of the back for Hertfordshire on for Becky Day on the left side plays the ball inside for Kelly Randall the Hertfordshire captain, looks to try and thread it between the Suffolk centre backs for striker Jenny Hepton to chase, Aimee Harrison tackling gets to the ball 1st.
Mia Etheridge getting the ball into her feet on the left attacks taking it down the line whips a cross into the area, stretching Hertfordshire's Louise Gash deflects the cross, goalkeeper Bridgeman dropping on the ball near post. Day with the ball out left tries to put striker Sarah Payne in behind only recently returned to full fitness after a long spell out recovering from an ankle injury, looking to get into the box after it, Suffolk's Sian Fagg gets across her plays the ball back to goalkeeper Eilish Brogan to clear. Coming on with the ball on the right this time Hertfordshire's Lorna Gower wins her side a corner the delivery is high towards the near post area, Payne goes up for it headers the ball down towards goal, on target, Brogan is right behind it holds onto the ball.
GOAL! 13 minutes played and Suffolk take the lead playing the ball through the middle Howlett rolls the ball on into Thomas inside the D, moving right with the ball Sinclaire pushes her further wide as she looks to get around her with Bridgeman coming off her line her attempt is blocked deflected wide Thomas goes after it and sends the ball into the back of the net 0-1.
Hertfordshire attack straight from the restart the ball put out to Gower on the right side carries it forwards the shot coming in near post is held easily by Brogan in goal. Etheridge has the ball on the left for Suffolk taking it to the by line cuts back inside evading her marker her cross in is sliced into the air off a Hertfordshire defender, falls for Howlett arriving in the six yard box gets her head on the ball places her attempt wide of goal. Hertfordshire make a change Johnson comes off at left back to be replaced by Gemma Coggins. Hepton is released in behind the Suffolk defence by Amy Josland looking to get onto the ball as it arrives in the box right side, Brogan comes rushing out and sliding in saves at the strikers feet.
Etheridge taking the ball into the box from the left twists and turns looking for an opening eventually sending a low shot wide of the near post. An open game Hertfordshire getting into their stride after a slow start. Gower down the right for Hertfordshire players forwards into the box she squares the ball along the top of the area left side Day controls looks to set up Payne central, the ball rolled into her Fagg puts in the challenge as she goes to shoot the ball is sent wide of goal a goal kick signalled.
Etheridge latches onto a Hertfordshire clearance 2 yards out lifts the ball high into the air, Thomas moving into the box sees it down over her shoulder bouncing she hits the shot on the half volley 8 yards out wide across the six yard box, with Bridgeman scampering across her goal, Etheridge following up far post can't get to the ball before it runs out of play. Howlett beats the offside trap to get in behind the Hertfordshire defence as Suffolk counter, into the area Bridgeman comes to meet her going to ground committed Howlett gets the ball past her moving away from goal turns the shot back in towards goal, Sinclaire getting back clears the ball from inside the six yard box.
GOAL! 23 minutes into the match and the visitors double their lead the ball is out on the right side between them Howlett and Gemma Moore keep hold of the ball off a throw and the cross is played in centrally into the Hertfordshire six yard box, Thomas unmarked sees the ball onto her foot turning it into the back of the net. 0-2.
Sophie Welton gets forwards for Suffolk on the right plays the all on for Moore taking it into the corner does well to squeeze a cross in towards the near post Sinclaire with a vital header clears the ball behind for a corner with Thomas closing in. Hertfordshire defend the corner go on the attack Day's cross cleared by Fagg the counter is on Paige Shorten playing the ball on for Howlett up top looks offside this time but the flag stays down takes the ball on into the box shoots early trying to get the ball past the advancing keeper, Bridgeman with an instinctive save with her foot the ball deflected to the right Moore getting forwards to support Howlett shoots the ball angling wide into the side netting. Hertfordshire make a 2nd change Bilge Taspinar coming on for Crick going into midfield with Randall dropping into defence.
GOAL! Hertfordshire pull a goal back is a well worked move down the right the ball sent out to Gower who takes players on before squaring the ball into the area, 2 yards inside right side Payne stretching does well to control the ball and lay it back out of the area before a challenge and come in. Josland running in meets the ball hitting the shot hard into the box across the goal and into the back of the net to score 1-2.
A smart save from Bridgeman up the other end as Suffolk get bodies forwards the ball out on the right is fired up into the box far side Etheridge brings it down spots Clement charging into the area lays the ball into her path hitting the shot on the run producing a great save from the Hertfordshire keeper pushing the ball behind for the corner. Clement then latches onto a goal-kick putting the ball over the top for Thomas goes to volley it with the outside of her boot with the keeper rushing off her line can't direct the shot on target.
Coggins brings the ball forwards for Hertfordshire on the left inside to Hepton who plays the ball wide for Day as she and Payne both look to get in behind, Day looks to play the ball in the Suffolk defence converge on the ball en mass to clear. Keeping possession inside the Suffolk half Taspinar is fouled wide right a chance for Randall to launch the ball into the area is Fagg who rises highest to get her head on the ball clear for Suffolk. Fagg again stops a goal scoring opportunity as the ball is played into Hepton 25 yards out back to goal, looking to flick the ball over her shoulder turn in behind Fagg marking her closely is the right side to get her foot on the ball as the 1st half enters the final minute.
GOAL! Hertfordshire get themselves back on level terms late in the 1st half the ball squared to Gower on the right side, shapes to go inside then turns wide evading her marker to get in behind take the ball on down the line squares the cross in towards the near post, Payne coming near post inside the six yard box gets her head on the ball turning it across goal over the line at the far post 2-2.
Half-time Hertfordshire FA Women 2-2 Suffolk FA Women
An unorthodox clearance from Osborne inside her area as the ball is flighted in from the left side coming out meets the ball on the volley, good skill to get the ball away from danger. A change for Suffolk as they bring on Abbie Everson for her debut, Clement the player coming off. Howlett fires a shot wide of goal for Suffolk as she gets onto the end of a Moore header on the left. A corner is given the ball swung in from the right strikes the base of the near post bounces back out into the six yard box Fagg tries to stab it goalwards Bridgeman on the floor makes the save holding onto the ball.
GOAL! Bringing the ball out from the back Shorten left side plays a fantastic ball forwards for Thomas to run onto through the centre with play stretched, composure on the ball outside the box powers her shot past Bridgeman to score her 4th goal of the match 2-4.
Is virtually the last action of the game the referee blowing the final whistle and Suffolk winning the game 4-2 to move onto 6 points at the top of the group with a game left in the New Year away to Kent win that and they well retain the Fred Welham Cup.
Suffolk started the game better and have been dominant in attack creating chances testing an unfamiliar Hertfordshire defence. Thomas taking her tally to 5 goals in 2 matches. Hertfordshire grew into the game and came back to level it at 2-2 with two well worked goals. All to play for 2nd half.
A change at the start for Suffolk as they did in the 1st game switching goalkeepers with Charlie Osborne starting that time around comes on this time for Brogan. Suffolk get the 2nd half under way on the attack straight away the ball is with Etheridge now on the right with Moore left. The ball is played into the middle outside the box Clement heads the ball into the Hertfordshire area Thomas coming in right side goes to head the ball puts it wide across goal as she and Randall collide the defender coming off 2nd best needing to go off for treatment.
Is off the field with Suffolk having a corner the ball on the right cut out near side for a 2nd corner this one going further into the middle of the six yard box, Bridgeman gets both fists on the ball to punch clear, Randall returns to the action. Taspinar in the middle drives forwards for Hertfordshire lays the ball into Hepton just inside the box left of goal holding it up Payne is coming in calling for the ball rolled into her, her shot is charged down rebounds back to Day on the left 30 yards out goes to lift the ball high into the area, backpedalling Osborne has to keep her eye on the ball catches it cleanly inside her six yard box.
GOAL! 7 minutes into the 2nd half Suffolk retake the lead and it's Thomas who scores the goal to complete her hat-trick. The goal coming from a Hertfordshire corner kick the ball swung in from the left is knocked out of the six yard box into Howlett at the top of the area bringing it out plays the ball on for Clement who looks to get the ball into Thomas, misplaced the Hertfordshire defence have the ball but Thomas coming in pressures the ball winning it takes it in behind shooting from outside the box burying the ball into the back of the net 2-3.
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| A 2nd successive hat-trick in the East Anglian Counties Championship for Natasha Thomas |
Hertfordshire make a change Tash Crick coming on for Gash. Hertfordshire go on the attack Taspinar getting forwards with the ball has Hepton to her right plays it wide to Crick on the wing taking the ball down the line her cross is cut out by Hubbard. The home side with a corner on the right the ball swept in near post Fagg up again to head away for Suffolk back to the corner taker the shot fired in Osborne at her near post holds onto the ball a quick counter the ball played through the middle into Thomas 20 yards out jinks right then left finding room to shot puts the ball wide of the post. A good tackle from Hertfordshire's Sinclaire to deny Howlett an opportunity to get into the box and shoot from the left as Moore plays her on down the line the corner conceded. Suffolk made another change, Beth Welton coming on her her debut replacing Moore, sees her go over to the right side twin sister Sophie pushed forwards to an attacking role on the left.
A turn and hit from Howlett 20 yards out as they work the ball infield from a throw on the right takes a nick on the way through a corner signalled taken from the right Thomas misses her attempted overhead kick. A great ball from Shorten as she goes long with the pass inside her own half picking out Sophie Welton on the left bursting forwards with the ball looks to pick out Thomas with the cross, Randall lunging slides in to cut out the cross concede the corner. The ball flies through the six yard box Suffolk players jumping can't reach it. A double change for Hertfordshire with 10 minutes left on the clock, Millie Guest and Sian Owens coming on for Hepton and Gower. Howlett comes off for Suffolk, Moore returning to the field.
The ball is played up field by Hubbard for Sophie Welton on the left in field is pushed wide inside the area by Wood-Thompson who then times her tackle well to win the ball and play it up field for Hertfordshire. Suffolk doing well late on keeping possession preventing Hertfordshire getting the ball and building an attack. Shorten very nearly gets Moore in behind with a threaded pass through the middle Coggins reacts well getting to the ball 1st. Everson gets the ball out to Sophie Welton on the left taking it on to the top of the area cross inside to Thomas, Bridgeman coming to close her down makes a great save going to ground the ball squirming past her Thomas goes after it looking to turn it into the back of the net Sinclaire gets back to make to make the block turn the ball behind for a corner kick. Put in from the right is a good delivery near post headed on met by Sophie Welton far post heads the ball down Hertfordshire clearing the ball on the line.
Hertfordshire push on late in the 2nd half stoppage time being played looking for an equalising goal, Payne moving right tries to get Crick in down the wing, Hubbard tackles to put the ball out for the throw is played into the box right side Taspinar holding it up tries to find room for a shot Suffolk win the ball back counter....
Hertfordshire push on late in the 2nd half stoppage time being played looking for an equalising goal, Payne moving right tries to get Crick in down the wing, Hubbard tackles to put the ball out for the throw is played into the box right side Taspinar holding it up tries to find room for a shot Suffolk win the ball back counter....
GOAL! Bringing the ball out from the back Shorten left side plays a fantastic ball forwards for Thomas to run onto through the centre with play stretched, composure on the ball outside the box powers her shot past Bridgeman to score her 4th goal of the match 2-4.
Is virtually the last action of the game the referee blowing the final whistle and Suffolk winning the game 4-2 to move onto 6 points at the top of the group with a game left in the New Year away to Kent win that and they well retain the Fred Welham Cup.
Full-time Hertfordshire FA Women 2-4 Suffolk FA Women
A good game to watch as every county representative match is I've been to a good showcase for the women's game and a good place to start if you want to see what it's all about. Suffolk did well, played some good football, getting into an early lead only to be pegged back, retaking the lead early 2nd half and holding onto their advantage. A strong squad already bolstered by some good performances from the youngsters coming in for their debuts. Hertfordshire start with a loss but can take plenty of positives from the match a new look side showed some good build up play and both goals came in that fashion. Have two matches against Essex and Kent to look forwards to in the New Year.
My thanks to Darryn Marsh from the Suffolk FA and the Hertfordshire FA staff for their help with the teams tonight.
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