The website dedicated to women's football across the country, at ALL levels of the game

@en

Back to home page

Wells lift Cup following six-goal thriller

Wells City lifted the Dawn Prior Memorial Trophy for the first time via a penalty shootout following a six-goal thriller with Pen Mill at Glastonbury, to round off the Cup Finals Day in the Somerset County Women’s League.

Wells were on the front foot from the start with Caitlin Baker firing a free kick narrowly off target and they got the ball forward quickly to utilise the pace of their front two.

That tactic paid off in the seventh minute as Millie Knight chased a pass played over the top of the Pen Mill defence by Lucie Nurse and held off a defender before lifting the ball over Rosie Hoyles for the opening goal.

Wells continue to push for a second and Knight almost got in under pressure for Amy Jones and this time her shot was blocked by Hoyles who did well to get back and keep out Sophie Hart from the rebound. The resulting corner was not dealt with by the Pen Mill defence and Hoyles came to the rescue again, blocking Abigail Locke's shot with her legs.

 

Pen Mill then hit back with their first meaningful effort, a strike from distance from Charlie Lewis which was turned over the bar by Nurse for a corner, which was headed just wide by Letty Templer at the near post.

Knight had an opportunity to double Wells' lead but this time she shot wide with only Hoyles to beat after being picked out by a cross from Hart and a minute later, Pen Mill were back on level terms. A good move down the left released Evie Stamp who whipped in a dangerous cross and although Chloe Demouy did well to prevent Leah Strawbridge from scoring, Templer was on hand to tuck home the loose ball for the equaliser.

The game was now very evenly contested with the goal having settled Pen Mill down following the early storm. Strawbridge had a shot saved by Nurse and Leonie Hobbs was becoming a bigger influence in midfield but at the other end, the Wells front two continued to be a handful and as half time approched, they went back in front.

Kitty Molineux broke forward from midfield and as she broke into the area, she was clipped by Jenna Evans and a penalty was awarded. Molineux picked herself up and duly beat Hoyles from the spot to restore City's lead.

Pen Mill had strong shouts for a penalty on the stroke of half time when Molineux appeared to handle the ball but play was waved on and Wells took their one-goal advantage into the break.

In humid conditions, it was inevitable that the pace of the first half would slow down after the break. Ten minutes after the restart, Pen Mill got the leveller they craved from a corner on the right, Jones' delivery was met by a towering header from Hobbs who rose highest above the defence and directed the ball beyond the reach of Nurse to bring her side back on terms.

That goal ignited the match once more as both sides furiously battled to get themselves in front. Once again it was Wells who went ahead for a third time, the impressive Knight getting past a couple of challenges before firing a shot from the edge of the area which Hoyles got a hand to but could not keep out.

Pen Mill were left chasing the game once more but yet again, they came up with an answer. First of all, Templer latched onto a through ball from Hobbs and rounded Nurse but Demouy was on hand to clear her shot off the line and Rosie Jones was able to complete the clearance.

Minutes later, Templer again made her way into the area with a jinking run which took her past three opponents before sliding the ball across goal for Hobbs who did well to bundle past Nurse for her second goal on the day.

Both sides continued to push for a winner in the later stages but both defences stood firm and the match went into a penalty shootout.

Hoyles fired Pen Mill in front with the first half, which was cancelled out by Baker, and the first six kicks were executed emphatically. Hobbs stepped up next for Pen Mill but saw her shot come back off the bar and after Demouy successfully converted the next kick for Wells, it left Lesley Spearing needing to score but she lifted her shot over, meaning Wells were the winners.

It was a pity that one of the teams had to lose that way but a closely fought match had been anticipated and that is how it turned out to be, with two lively forward lines helping to produce a very good game, fitting for the well organised occasion by the league.

Wells City: Lucie Nurse, Shannon Lockey, Chloe Demouy, Emily Brown, Lucy Pitman, Rosie Jones, Kitty Molineux, Vickie Groody, Millie Knight, Caitlin Baker, Sophie Hart. Subs: Abigail Locke, Jessica Lott, Kate Veale, Anna Walker.

Pen Mill: Rosie Hoyles, Jenna Evans, Evie Stamp, Lauren Poynton, Amy Jones, Niamh Campbell, Leonie Hobbs, Jess Casey, Letty Templer, Charlie Lewis, Leah Strawbridge. Subs: Lesley Spearing, Mya Butcher, Claudia Guida, Elissa Blake, Maddie Downey.

After having been runners-up in the League Cup for the past two seasons, Paulton went one better in the Chairman’s Cup Final when two goals in the last fifteen minutes took them to victory against a spirited AEK Boco Development side in warm conditions at the Abbey Stadium.

It was Paulton who took the lead midway through the first half as a long kick forward from Emily Quinn was latched on to by Jasmine Ford, who calmly tucked the ball past the oncoming Jenna Bedford for the opening goal.

Paulton remained in control of matters, with Alice Dwyer and Alice Ford prompting things from the central areas, but Boco were far from finished and with eighteen minutes remaining, they grabbed themselves a lifeline via a long range free kick by Shelby Lacey which found the roof of the net.

Paulton's response was quick, and an emphatic one as Kirsty Sheppard unleashed a 25-yard volley which dipped over a helpless Bedford to put them back in front, within two minutes of the equaliser.

Boco tried to respond again with Carmela Mancinetti going close from a corner and Ella Langdon looking lively up front but any hopes of a comeback were killed off when Alice Ford drilled home a powerful low strike from 20 yards to make it 3-1.

Paulton won a number of corners in the dying minutes as they sought to further increase their lead but Boco - who play a division below their opponents - ensured there was no further damage.

Paulton Rovers Res: Emily Quinn, Kelsey Woodland, Alice Dwyer, Darcy Baber, Georgia Vause, Alice Ford, Kirsty Sheppard, Meah Curtis, Holly Tanner, Hannah White, Jasmine Ford. Subs: Libby Newton, Sophie Thelwell, Charis Derrick, Lydia Reeve, Colette Grady.

AEK Boco Development: Jenna Bedford, Jodie Fitzgerald, Tiegan Holcombe, Isobel Laker, Jess Bailey, Shelby Lacey, Georgia Slowley, Alex Douglas-Bailey, Caeley Adams, Anisa House, Ella Langdon. Subs: Lily Chorley, Rebecca Jones, Carmela Mancinetti, Robyn Manning, Lacey Wescott.