The competition could have been settled a week ago with table toppers Suffolk needing just a point to retain the The Fred Welham Cup away to Kent who themselves had a chance of winning the trophy if they could beat them then win again against Hertfordshire who they have yet to play, that game was postponed however due to Storm Doris and will be rearranged for a later date.
Essex have played two games in the East Anglian Counties Championship this season losing narrowly 4-3 away to Suffolk in an exciting match before earning a good point at home to Kent in a 1-1 draw back in November. Will be looking to end this season's competition with a win. Hertfordshire have played just the one game to date at home to Suffolk at the end of November losing against the defending cup holders Suffolk 4-2 6 points still to play for would need alot to go their way if they were to edge Suffolk away at the top of the table.
The venue for tonight's game took some finding, I blame the Sat-Nav it insisted it was on my right when I should have been looking left still 3 trips up the street I eventually spotted the entrance to Aveley FC. Quite well hidden in a residential area, normally you'd spot the floodlight but despite being tall they were fairly well hidden. An old stadium, has a large pitch with plenty of grass either side the crowd standing fairly well back. A large seated stand behind the dugout with concrete terracing in front. A newer clubhouse and bar before the stadium in one corner a good size with hot and cold drinks available. Was a cold evening and getting colder but dry. The pitch a good size a little bobbly in places.
| East Anglian Counties Championship | |||||||||
| Pos | Team | Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Suffolk | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| 2 | Kent | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Essex | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 1 |
| 4 | Hertfordshire | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 0 |
Essex FA Women starting XI - Layla Prior, Charlotte Twydell, (both Brentwood Town Ladies), Hayley Piggott (C) (Billericay Town Ladies),Charlotte Bryant, Abigail Fry (both Writtle Ladies), Sasha McDonald, (Colchester Town Ladies), Nicole Farmer Katie Whitehead, Lindsey Morgan, Vicky Kinsman (all Billericay Town Ladies) & Courtney Clarke (Writtle Ladies).
subs - Lucy Jones, Niamh Gamble (both Writtle Ladies), Kira Fitzpatrick, Miagh Downey (Colchester Town Ladies), Lyndsey Bowman (Silver End United Ladies).
Hertfordshire FA Women starting XI - Michelle Bridgeman, Bilge Taspinar (both Hertford Town Ladies), Lorna Gover (Hemel Hempstead Town Ladies), Heidi Sinclair (Enfield Town Ladies), Hayley Wood-Thompson, Becky Day (both Stevenage Ladies), Sian Owens (Enfield Town Ladies), Molly Johnson (Kings Langley), Cara Breckenbridge (C) Amy Josland & Sarah Payne (all Stevenage Ladies).
subs - Erin Davies (AFC Dunstable Ladies).
(roll on roll off substitutes)
It's Essex all in red to kick-off the game with Hertfordshire lined up opposite all in blue. Essex half the early possession making progress down the left before being awarded a free-kick the initial delivery into the box cleared by Hertfordshire's Heidi Sinclair out back towards the free-kick taker played back in low towards the top corner of the area, Essex's Abigail Fry gets a shot away is claimed by Hertfordshire goalkeeper, Michelle Bridgeman at her near post.
A good start from Essex pushing bodies forwards finding space to make runs in behind, Lindsey Morgan bursts forwards with the ball on the right side getting down the line squares the ball in towards the near post too close to the keeper, Bridgeman takes it cleanly gets the ball up field Molly Johnson linking up with Amy Josland through the middle attempts to play the ball over the top for striker Sarah Payne, Essex captain, Hayley Piggott playing at centre back heads the ball away the counter attack on Sasha McDonald playing the ball on for Vicky Kinsman in behind with Becky Day on her shoulder the pair heading for the box, Bridgeman makes the call coming out to collect the ball at the top of her area.
Katie Whitehead takes the ball down the right wing for Essex cuts her cross back along he top of the Hertfordshire area, Courtney Clarke coming in from the opposite flank stretching can't quite reach the ball. Essex continue to have the bulk of the attack in the opening 10 minutes. Kinsman trying to get her head onto a ball flung in to the box from the right puts the ball wide of goal.
GOAL! Breaking up a Hertfordshire attack the ball is played into McDonald in the centre of midfield turning sees Clarke in pace on the left, running on with the ball strikes from the top of the box getting plenty of pace on the shot the ball flying in towards goal over the keeper to drop into the far corner to give Essex the lead on 11 minutes 1-0.
Morgan plays the ball out to Whitehead on the right drives with the ball into the box, Hertfordshire's Johnson is with her risks giving away the penalty if she lunges in to try and take the ball, Day coming across on the cover has the better angle for the tackle gets the ball sending it behind for a corner kick. Morgan heads the ball on across the area for Essex, Hertfordshire launch it clear, Payne looks to be away up top but is stopped by the offside flag. Good hold up play from Kinsman outside the area right side passes the ball into Whitehead's feet on the right taking the ball into the corner whips her cross in towards the far post, Clarke throws herself at the ball but can't get enough on it to deflect it goalwards.
GOAL! Kinsman doubles the lead for Essex on 18 minutes the ball fired into her feet as she moves to the right into the area, turns and sends her lobbed effort up over the keeper to land in the inside the goal of the side netting beyond 2-0.
An opportunity for Hertfordshire soon after going 2-0 down attacking down the right side of the pitch the ball is played on through the middle with Payne getting in between the centre backs a strong run heading for the area sees goalkeeper, Layla Prior coming out to the top of the area to close her down attempts to lob her, Prior makes an excellent save going to ground gets her gloves up to take the sting off the ball bouncing behind her the Essex defence manages to clear before Payne hurdling the keeper can follow up. Hertfordshire make a change there only sub Erin Davies coming on for Johnson.
The pitch is a little bobbly in places one in front of Hertfordshire's Hayley Wood-Thompson as she is closed down by Essex's Fry, knocking the ball past her out to Clarke out wide, Wood-Thompson is quick to get back on Clarke win the tackle preventing her getting a cross into the box. Herts attack captain Cara Breckenbridge playing the ball on for Josland through the middle for a moment Payne looks to be away through the centre to attack the Essex goal, Charlotte Bryant throws herself into the tackle taking the ball away from the striker, running into the left corner Bilge Taspinar keeps the ball in play fr Hertfordshire sends a cross in towards the near post, Piggott cuts it out headers clear for Essex.
Having seen two goals scored with lobbed strikes flying over the keeper, Morgan tries the same for Essex getting hold of the ball as Hertfordshire struggle to clear in a central position 25 yards out sends the ball high into the air, Bridgeman sees on her goal-line brings the ball down safely into her gloves. Kinsman tries the same moments later as the ball is fired into her feet turning to try the lob from inside the box the ball looping up into the air, Bridgeman seeing it land on the roof of her net this time. Whitehead in behind on the right wing again for Essex squares a high cross into the box just over Morgan making a near post run drops to Clarke beyond meeting the ball as it falls flashes her strike wide.
Herts attack bringing the ball on down the right Lorna Gover on for Payne outside the box cuts the ball inside with Josland arriving shoots from the top of the area, her strike blocked by Essex's Charlotte Twydell spins away for a corner. The ball in from the right is cleared for a 2nd corner, this delivery falling into the six yard box causes a little panic before Prior throws herself on the ball to end the threat. Breckenbridge comes forwards with the ball on the left side for Hertfordshire tries the diagonal ball forwards towards the area with Payne making the run, Piggott gets in front of her to intercept the ball for Essex they counter attack the ball played up to Whitehead on the right a driving run with the ball shots early her strike from outside the box flying into the side netting.
Into the last 5 minutes of the 1st half Hertfordshire attack Breckenbridge playing the ball on for Taspinar on the left play the ball in field into Josland 30 yards out attempts to loft the ball in behind for Payne, Bryant wins the ball with her head for Essex. Payne plays the ball on for Gover making a forwards run late on getting into the box closed down gets a shot away the ball is blocked spins away to the left corner Gover retrieving sends a cross into the box, Essex's Piggott heading it away.
Half-time Essex FA Women 2-0 Hertfordshire FA Women
A dominant 1st half from Essex, settled into the game the quicker going 2-0 up inside the opening 20 minutes, using the width well, Kinsman holding the ball up well up front. The centre backs dealing with most threats up the other end. Hertfordshire having one clear chance to pull a goal back Prior making the save. Essex look comfortable at 2-0 but one goal back for Hertfordshire in the 2nd half and this all might change.
It's Hertfordshire to get the 2nd half underway the temperature has dropped decidedly lower during the half-time break. The visitors standing the 2nd half with a higher tempo looking to close the ball down. Essex get hold of the ball in the middle Fry playing it into Kinsman inside the D back to goal holding the ball up has Morgan to her left rolls the ball into her Morgan shoots her shot held by Bridgeman across to cover the post. Farmer gets forwards for Essex on the left playing the ball inside to Clarke outside the box back to goal spins and plays the ball in towards the penalty spot Sinclair winning the header for Hertfordshire.
Breckenbridge is clattered in the middle of the park the referee playing the advantage as the ball runs into Payne central, lays it out to Davies left continues on into the box calling for the return pass, Davies gets it into her feet but Payne is closed down quickly the tackle coming in before she can squeeze a shot away. Essex counter the ball on through the middle into Kinsman early in behind Bridgeman comes rushing out towards the top of the area sliding in makes the save as Kinsman pulls the trigger the ball rebounding out to the left inside the box Morgan's left foot strike flying across the face of goal comes to Whitehead outside the far post, the assistants flag is up for offside before she can fashion a shot.
Fry getting forwards for Essex hits a shot on the half volley from 20 yards out the ball looping up and in towards goal, Bridgeman is right behind it catches cleanly, the ball doesn't go far before Essex attack again McDonald into Clarke outside the area left her lobbed effort going wide of the top corner. Hertfordshire make a change Johnson coming back on to replace Owens soon after Clarke takes a knock for Essex and after receiving treatment on the pitch comes off replaced by Lyndsey Bowman.
Kira Fitzpatrick comes on for Essex in place of Whitehead with around 20 minutes of the game left. Taspinar getting away down the left plays a high ball in towards the near post, Prior takes the ball high spilling it as Payne going for the ball jumps into her, the free-kick awarded to Essex. Another pacey run from Taspinar on the left side delvers the cross earlier this time Bryant and Payne both going up for the ball, Bryant winning the header. Getting her foot on the ball in the middle of the park Fry drives forwards with it seeing space to the right moving into it takes on the shot from 30 yards out drills the ball wide of goal. Essex bring on Miagh Downey in place of Kinsman. Owens returns to the pitch for Hertfordshire with Johnson coming off. A free-kick for Hertfordshire 35 yards out central Breckenbridge goes for goal Prior able to see it wide of her goal.
Closing in on the last 10 minutes 2-0 still the lead for Essex, Hertfordshire are awarded a free-kick wide right inside their opponents half players flood the box as Wood-Thompson plays in a fantastic ball towards the far post runners attacking it Payne and Taspinar the latter heading the ball down towards goal, Prior makes a great double stop on her goal line blocking the initial header then getting in the way of the follow up in her six yard box.
Morgan receiving the ball on the left intent on running with it towards the area is forced into the early shot as Hertfordshire's Downey gets back on her preventing her going where she wants to the shot from distance angling away from the near post. Niamh Gamble comes on for Essex. Owens brings the ball on through the middle for Hertfordshire has Gover ahead of her they exchange passes before Owens puts the ball into the area cut out is cleared back to Davies as she comes forwards sends a lofted strike in towards goal is collect safely by Prior on her goal line.
GOAL! From one end to the other Essex counter attack in the 86th minutes the ball going long out to the left Morgan picking it up playing it into Bowman outside the box top left corner shifting the ball inside a yard before sending the ball in towards goal up and over the keeper to land in the back of the net beyond and make the result safe 3-0.
Essex keep possession in the closing minutes of the 2nd half one last attack as Morgan finds the energy to burst forwards shooting early the ball is deflected off a defenders leg into the path of Bowman getting into the box hits the shot early the ball flying wide across the goal mouth.
Full time Essex FA Women 3-0 Hertfordshire FA Women
Essex end their East Anglian Counties Championship this season with a 3-0 win 4 points from their 3 games. Started well taking the lead and looked comfortable throughout the game. At 2-0 Hertfordshire were never out of it having like the 1st half a good opportunity to pull a goal back, Essex finally making the result save late on. Hertfordshire have one more game left an away trip to play Kent FA Women who are in contention to win this years competition.
SWF Blog - Player of the Match
Tonight's SWF Blog - Payer of the Match goes to Essex's captain, Hayley Piggott. Good positioning all night reading the ball well cutting out alot of Hertfordshire's forward balls giving them little opportunity through the middle. Solid defensive partnership along side Charlotte Bryant.
My thank to Essex FA's Mark Wallis for his help with the team details tonight
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