Manager Rob Elmes was delighted with his team’s second half performance as his team won 5-0 to win the Essex U18 Girls Trophy.

After a slow start to the game, Bowers & Pitsea U18 Red had their notable chance of the game in the 28th minute, as Billericay ‘Keeper Millie D’Ath pushed an Olivia Harris shot wide of the post. Shortly after that, Harris worked D’Ath again as she stung the gloves of the ‘keeper with another effort.

As half time approached, Bowers broke the deadlock with a quickfire double, first with Erin Williams finishing an angled run with a low shot inside the far post, followed by Chloe Bardsley stabbing the ball home from close range after a corner had bounced around the 6-yard box.

Shortly after the restart, Bowers scored again as Williams fired into the roof of the net at the near post to score her second of the game to make it 3-0. In the 63rd minute, she then secured her hat-trick with a long-range effort that flew in.

Billericay tried to get back into the game, with an effort from Mia Robins that bought a good save from Hannah Stone in the Bowers net. The game was wrapped up a minute later in the 76th minute, with Bowers adding a fifth as Bardsley tapped home a low cross from close range.

Manager Rob Elmes was happy with his team’s performance after a ‘slow start’. “Our girls turned up in the second half and an early goal in the second half, we were superb from then, passing the ball, keeping the ball, playing out from the back and the keeper, it was superb. Every single player was brilliant.”

He is also hoping to continue to allow the players to develop and get them in the first team. “Some of the girls have already played for the first team in friendlies, but the plan is to get them into the first team for league games and in an ideal world take the whole team forward.”

Billericay Town Squad: Abbie Harding, Maisie Buckland, Ruby Gillman, Chloe Diss, Masie Lewis, Hayley Saddler, Ozzy Doman, Jessica Stagg, Chloe Scales, Suz Dyson, Tilly Jones, Mia Robins, Louisa Sambell, Lexi Wade, Millie D’Ath

Bowers & Pitsea Red Squad: Hannah Stone, Ella Ford, Lucie Wickham, Amber Brown, Naomi Sheffield, Emily Pepper, Libby Cooper, Abi Brown, Darcy Drewitt, Maria White, Megan Elmes, Olivia Harris, Erin Williamson, Chloe Bardsley 

Referee: Anthony Abbs

Assistant Referees: Graham Austin and Daniel Axente

Fourth Official: Christopher Hockett

Attendance: 114