Under 16s Girls Schools Make SEESFA Final
Essex 3-1 Kent, Friday 21st April 2017, Kick-Off 7:00pm, Shenfield High School, SEESFA Under 16s Girls Victoria Dodds Trophy Semi-Final.
Click here to see the action photos from this match on Facebook.
A hat-trick by Yaz Cowley helped Essex Schools Under 16s Girls book their place in the South-East England Schools FA (SEESFA) Final against Bedfordshire thanks to a 3-1 victory over Kent at Shenfield High School.
Great Baddow High pupil Cowley netted three times in the second half to steer the hosts past their old adversaries, with Lucy Egan also missing a penalty. Molly Agnew’s header had given Kent hope when she equalised with ten minutes remaining, but instead Essex will have the opportunity to win the Victoria Dodds Trophy for the third time in four seasons.
Essex began the game on top, and Cowley attempted an effort from the edge of the penalty area in the 3rd minute which dropped inches over the crossbar. 60 seconds later Ellie Barra delivered a right-wing corner to the near post that flicked off Kent defender Sophie Spencer-Webb and onto the top of the crossbar.
Midfielders Beau Parker and Egan were controlling proceedings from the centre of the pitch, and Parker’s 25-yard strike was saved by Kent custodian Grace Ware in the 13th minute before Egan set-up winger Courtney Parsons, who guided her effort from the edge of the penalty area wide of the far post.
Charlie-Mae Goad was the most threatening player for the visitors, and she drew a useful stop from Essex goalkeeper Grace Staunton in the 22nd minute with a stinging shot from the left-hand side. Parker and Egan then responded by combining well with a neat one-two before Philip Morant School’s Egan whipped wide of the left-hand upright.
The first half action ended on the half-hour mark when Parsons twisted and turned inside the penalty area before chipping across to Kelly Wealthall, who thumped against the woodwork from ten yards out. Cowley’s follow-up was then deflected out for a corner, but she would not be denied early in the second period.
Almost straight from the restart, Egan spotted the space for Cowley to run into and lofted the ball down the inside-left channel. The forward then forced the ball beyond Ware and bundled it over the line to put Essex in front before going on to become an even more influential figure in the tie.
In the 47th minute she led a breakaway following a Kent corner, picking out Barra for a daisy-cutter that was well saved by Ware and, with her next attack, she forced the shot-stopper to gather a 25-yard drive. Ten minutes into the second half, Cowley stabbed wide of the far post from Tilly Deacon’s excellent through ball.
Essex were moving the ball quickly up the field with swift passing movements as they sought to double their advantage, and substitute Hannah Smith’s right-wing cross was met by Parker, whose deflected attempt was saved by Ware, but the home side were presented with an even better opportunity to score in the 64th minute.
Cowley exchanged passes with Parsons, and it appeared as though the chance had dissipated when her skidding strike was saved at full stretch by Ware. However, the referee had spotted a push on the striker and pointed to the penalty spot, only for Egan to then fire off-target from twelve yards out.
Ware went on to deny Parsons, and Essex were made to pay for their profligacy when Agnew levelled in the 70th minute. A long throw was delivered into the penalty area from the right touchline and the Whitstable Community College schoolgirl glanced the ball over Grace Staunton to make it 1-1.
Parity lasted a mere three minutes. Despite Essex’s general proficiency in passing, again it was a long ball over the top that picked out the run of Cowley, who controlled the right-wing delivery and rounded Ware to tap into an unguarded net.
With four minutes remaining, Essex made sure of the victory as Cowley completed her hat-trick, linking up impressively once again with Egan, who dumbfounded the Kent defence with an angled through-ball. Cowley beat Ware to slide her shot into the goal and ease the hosts 3-1 ahead.
There were no further scares for the home team, who could have added a fourth goal when Parsons delivered a rasping shot that needed to be blocked by Ware’s legs. Essex will now be hoping to lift the Victoria Dodds Trophy for an eighth time when they face Bedfordshire later this season.
Essex: Grace Staunton (Sacred Heart), Lucy Edmeades (Shenfield High), Tilly Deacon (Fitzwimarc), Beau Parker (Barking & Dagenham College), Olivia Billson (Chelmer Valley), Maizi Garwood (Shenfield High), Kelly Wealthall (Bromfords), Lucy Egan (Philip Morant), Ellie Barra (Trinity Roman Catholic High), Yaz Cowley (Great Baddow High), Courtney Parsons (Caterham High). Substitutes (repeated): Holly Foley (Harris Academy Chafford Hundred), Hannah Smith (Plume Academy).
Kent (from): Grace Ware (Fulston Manor), Molly Agnew (Whitstable Community College), Paige Alford (St Simon Stock), Abbie Bean (Wye Free School), Alice Bussey (Highworth Grammar), Faith Cullen-Cooper (Westlands), Sydney Davis (Herne Bay), Charlie-Mae Goad (St Augustine’s), Katie McNamara (Tonbridge Grammar), Annie Pickhaver (Queen Elizabeth Grammar), Maya Reber (Hayes), Imogen Saunders (Rochester Grammar), Sophie Spencer-Webb (Rainham), Hannah Styles (Mayfield Grammar), Esmee Sword (Rainham Grammar), Monay Thomas (Bonus Pastor), Kaylie Wilson (Bexleyheath Academy), Rebekaa Cooper (Langley Park).
Bookings: None.
Referee: Peter Wilson (Chelmsford).
Assistant Referees: Taylor Reece (Romford) and Adrian Summerfield (Laindon).
A hat-trick by Yaz Cowley helped Essex Schools Under 16s Girls book their place in the South-East England Schools FA (SEESFA) Final against Bedfordshire thanks to a 3-1 victory over Kent at Shenfield High School.
Great Baddow High pupil Cowley netted three times in the second half to steer the hosts past their old adversaries, with Lucy Egan also missing a penalty. Molly Agnew’s header had given Kent hope when she equalised with ten minutes remaining, but instead Essex will have the opportunity to win the Victoria Dodds Trophy for the third time in four seasons.
Essex began the game on top, and Cowley attempted an effort from the edge of the penalty area in the 3rd minute which dropped inches over the crossbar. 60 seconds later Ellie Barra delivered a right-wing corner to the near post that flicked off Kent defender Sophie Spencer-Webb and onto the top of the crossbar.
Midfielders Beau Parker and Egan were controlling proceedings from the centre of the pitch, and Parker’s 25-yard strike was saved by Kent custodian Grace Ware in the 13th minute before Egan set-up winger Courtney Parsons, who guided her effort from the edge of the penalty area wide of the far post.
Charlie-Mae Goad was the most threatening player for the visitors, and she drew a useful stop from Essex goalkeeper Grace Staunton in the 22nd minute with a stinging shot from the left-hand side. Parker and Egan then responded by combining well with a neat one-two before Philip Morant School’s Egan whipped wide of the left-hand upright.
The first half action ended on the half-hour mark when Parsons twisted and turned inside the penalty area before chipping across to Kelly Wealthall, who thumped against the woodwork from ten yards out. Cowley’s follow-up was then deflected out for a corner, but she would not be denied early in the second period.
Almost straight from the restart, Egan spotted the space for Cowley to run into and lofted the ball down the inside-left channel. The forward then forced the ball beyond Ware and bundled it over the line to put Essex in front before going on to become an even more influential figure in the tie.
In the 47th minute she led a breakaway following a Kent corner, picking out Barra for a daisy-cutter that was well saved by Ware and, with her next attack, she forced the shot-stopper to gather a 25-yard drive. Ten minutes into the second half, Cowley stabbed wide of the far post from Tilly Deacon’s excellent through ball.
Essex were moving the ball quickly up the field with swift passing movements as they sought to double their advantage, and substitute Hannah Smith’s right-wing cross was met by Parker, whose deflected attempt was saved by Ware, but the home side were presented with an even better opportunity to score in the 64th minute.
Cowley exchanged passes with Parsons, and it appeared as though the chance had dissipated when her skidding strike was saved at full stretch by Ware. However, the referee had spotted a push on the striker and pointed to the penalty spot, only for Egan to then fire off-target from twelve yards out.
Ware went on to deny Parsons, and Essex were made to pay for their profligacy when Agnew levelled in the 70th minute. A long throw was delivered into the penalty area from the right touchline and the Whitstable Community College schoolgirl glanced the ball over Grace Staunton to make it 1-1.
Parity lasted a mere three minutes. Despite Essex’s general proficiency in passing, again it was a long ball over the top that picked out the run of Cowley, who controlled the right-wing delivery and rounded Ware to tap into an unguarded net.
With four minutes remaining, Essex made sure of the victory as Cowley completed her hat-trick, linking up impressively once again with Egan, who dumbfounded the Kent defence with an angled through-ball. Cowley beat Ware to slide her shot into the goal and ease the hosts 3-1 ahead.
There were no further scares for the home team, who could have added a fourth goal when Parsons delivered a rasping shot that needed to be blocked by Ware’s legs. Essex will now be hoping to lift the Victoria Dodds Trophy for an eighth time when they face Bedfordshire later this season.
Essex: Grace Staunton (Sacred Heart), Lucy Edmeades (Shenfield High), Tilly Deacon (Fitzwimarc), Beau Parker (Barking & Dagenham College), Olivia Billson (Chelmer Valley), Maizi Garwood (Shenfield High), Kelly Wealthall (Bromfords), Lucy Egan (Philip Morant), Ellie Barra (Trinity Roman Catholic High), Yaz Cowley (Great Baddow High), Courtney Parsons (Caterham High). Substitutes (repeated): Holly Foley (Harris Academy Chafford Hundred), Hannah Smith (Plume Academy).
Kent (from): Grace Ware (Fulston Manor), Molly Agnew (Whitstable Community College), Paige Alford (St Simon Stock), Abbie Bean (Wye Free School), Alice Bussey (Highworth Grammar), Faith Cullen-Cooper (Westlands), Sydney Davis (Herne Bay), Charlie-Mae Goad (St Augustine’s), Katie McNamara (Tonbridge Grammar), Annie Pickhaver (Queen Elizabeth Grammar), Maya Reber (Hayes), Imogen Saunders (Rochester Grammar), Sophie Spencer-Webb (Rainham), Hannah Styles (Mayfield Grammar), Esmee Sword (Rainham Grammar), Monay Thomas (Bonus Pastor), Kaylie Wilson (Bexleyheath Academy), Rebekaa Cooper (Langley Park).
Bookings: None.
Referee: Peter Wilson (Chelmsford).
Assistant Referees: Taylor Reece (Romford) and Adrian Summerfield (Laindon).
