There was a choice of two cup finals featuring Southern Region sides this weekend. The League Cup Final between Winchester City Flyers and Ascot United was being played at Reading City's Scours Lane ground, but my choice was the Oxfordshire FA Women's Cup Final at Thame United's ASM Stadium. The game was between Premier League Oxford City and Division One North side Kidlington Youth. City were last season's beaten finalists, when they lost out to Oxford United by a goal to nil (Everyone's A Winner). They were, however, attempting to win the trophy for a record sixteenth time. Kidlington were appearing in their first final.
The road to the final for both teams had seen them score plenty of goals and concede very few. In fact, of the 61 goals scored across the entire competition, the two finalists were responsible for 40 of them. Both teams had only conceded two goals in the process.
In Round One City disposed of Thames Valley outfit East Oxford with a resounding 12-2 away win, watched by BotP (Makin The Grade). On the same afternoon, Kidlington saw off the challenge of Longford Park with a 6-0 home win. The Second Round saw Kidlington make thew short journey to Headington United, edging through with a narrow 2-1 victory. No such problem for The Hoops though. They were comfortable 7-0 winners against near neighbours Barton United. In the semi-final, both teams eased through with some style. Kidlington won 6-1 at Thame United whilst City beat Easington Sports 7-0. Three players were coming into the final having scored in every round so far. For City, Ellie White (6) and Lucy White (4), and Kidlington's Sara Pinna (3).
City's Premier League status combined with their undoubted fire-power made them favourites to take the trophy. However, Kidlington are nothing if not fighters and are not short of a goal or two themselves.
It was slightly disappointing that the FA didn't produce a programme for the final this year. It would also have been good if they had put the team sheets up on the whiteboard that Thame have just outside the kiosk.
The road to the final for both teams had seen them score plenty of goals and concede very few. In fact, of the 61 goals scored across the entire competition, the two finalists were responsible for 40 of them. Both teams had only conceded two goals in the process.
In Round One City disposed of Thames Valley outfit East Oxford with a resounding 12-2 away win, watched by BotP (Makin The Grade). On the same afternoon, Kidlington saw off the challenge of Longford Park with a 6-0 home win. The Second Round saw Kidlington make thew short journey to Headington United, edging through with a narrow 2-1 victory. No such problem for The Hoops though. They were comfortable 7-0 winners against near neighbours Barton United. In the semi-final, both teams eased through with some style. Kidlington won 6-1 at Thame United whilst City beat Easington Sports 7-0. Three players were coming into the final having scored in every round so far. For City, Ellie White (6) and Lucy White (4), and Kidlington's Sara Pinna (3).
City's Premier League status combined with their undoubted fire-power made them favourites to take the trophy. However, Kidlington are nothing if not fighters and are not short of a goal or two themselves.
It was slightly disappointing that the FA didn't produce a programme for the final this year. It would also have been good if they had put the team sheets up on the whiteboard that Thame have just outside the kiosk.
Kidlington attacks were limited It was a warm afternoon at the ASM Stadium, perfect weather for the swarms of bugs that in habit this corner of Oxfordshire, probably due to the adjacent water treatment plant. In all seriousness, if you plan to watch a game there in the Summer, take tropical strength bug repellent. There are clouds of the pesky little biters everywhere.
On the pitch, Oxford set about the game as you would expect, immediately pressing Kidlington back. Having said that, it was also probably part of Kidlington's game plan. They started the game with both Kiera Isaac and Grace Craven in wing-back positions, with Courtney Sumner ploughing a lone role up front.
If City needed a reminder that Kidlington weren't just going to roll over, they got it in the 8th minute when Kiera Isaac put in a thundering, but perfectly fair, challenge on Emily Harris. No prisoners taken there, for sure. City's response to that was to win the ball back and feed Kaitlyn Crouch, who pulled her shot wide of the mark. Three minutes later, City were almost in again, Ellie White being played in this time. However, Emily was quick off her line, forcing the striker to put her shot wide. Crouch was causing some issues for the Kidlington defence. She had another effort high and wide in the 12th minute before, almost immediately, dispossessing Beth Dunbavin before shooting narrowly wide again. Murphy's goal was being peppered but, thankfully for Kidlington, City had not got their sights in, yet. That changed in the 14th minute. Emma Donohoe, way out on the right some 25 yards away from goal, cut back onto her left foot before sending a curling, dipping effort over Murphy into the far top corner. Cross, shot or a little of both? It doesn't matter. 1-0
Six minutes later, with City still having the lion's share of possession, they increased their lead. A hopefully ball into the heart of the Kidlington box saw Murphy and a defender collide, allowing Kaitlyn Crouch to get a toe to the loose ball, lofting over everyone into the net and leaving Murphy flat out. 2-0. Thankfully, after some treatment, the goalkeeper was able to continue. An already patched up Kidlington squad could certainly not do with losing their goalkeeper.
The Hoops continued to dominate the ball and, up to this point, City keeper Kiera Maskell had barely touched the ball. When Kidlington did mange to get the ball up front, it wasn't sticking. Either the passes were misguided or the midfield couldn't get up the field quickly enough to back up the lone striker.
Just past the half-hour, Ellie White once again sprung the offside trap but lifted her sot clear of the bar. Crouch was next to get clear, this time thwarted by a superb covering tackle by a Kidlington defender. Billie Bough-French then got in on the act, fizzing a free-kick just wide of the post before White was again denied, this time by a brilliant one-handed save from Murphy, pushing away the striker's volley. Finally, just before the final whistle, White got on the end of a deep cross, lifting the ball back over Murphy only to find Sara Pinna in a1 position to head the ball off the line.
HT Oxford City 2 Kidlington Youth 0. As expected, City dominated the ball with Kidlington sitting in and protecting their goal as best they could. It could easily have been a lot more than two, but for some wasteful finishing, good goalkeeping and solid defending.
On the pitch, Oxford set about the game as you would expect, immediately pressing Kidlington back. Having said that, it was also probably part of Kidlington's game plan. They started the game with both Kiera Isaac and Grace Craven in wing-back positions, with Courtney Sumner ploughing a lone role up front.
If City needed a reminder that Kidlington weren't just going to roll over, they got it in the 8th minute when Kiera Isaac put in a thundering, but perfectly fair, challenge on Emily Harris. No prisoners taken there, for sure. City's response to that was to win the ball back and feed Kaitlyn Crouch, who pulled her shot wide of the mark. Three minutes later, City were almost in again, Ellie White being played in this time. However, Emily was quick off her line, forcing the striker to put her shot wide. Crouch was causing some issues for the Kidlington defence. She had another effort high and wide in the 12th minute before, almost immediately, dispossessing Beth Dunbavin before shooting narrowly wide again. Murphy's goal was being peppered but, thankfully for Kidlington, City had not got their sights in, yet. That changed in the 14th minute. Emma Donohoe, way out on the right some 25 yards away from goal, cut back onto her left foot before sending a curling, dipping effort over Murphy into the far top corner. Cross, shot or a little of both? It doesn't matter. 1-0
Six minutes later, with City still having the lion's share of possession, they increased their lead. A hopefully ball into the heart of the Kidlington box saw Murphy and a defender collide, allowing Kaitlyn Crouch to get a toe to the loose ball, lofting over everyone into the net and leaving Murphy flat out. 2-0. Thankfully, after some treatment, the goalkeeper was able to continue. An already patched up Kidlington squad could certainly not do with losing their goalkeeper.
The Hoops continued to dominate the ball and, up to this point, City keeper Kiera Maskell had barely touched the ball. When Kidlington did mange to get the ball up front, it wasn't sticking. Either the passes were misguided or the midfield couldn't get up the field quickly enough to back up the lone striker.
Just past the half-hour, Ellie White once again sprung the offside trap but lifted her sot clear of the bar. Crouch was next to get clear, this time thwarted by a superb covering tackle by a Kidlington defender. Billie Bough-French then got in on the act, fizzing a free-kick just wide of the post before White was again denied, this time by a brilliant one-handed save from Murphy, pushing away the striker's volley. Finally, just before the final whistle, White got on the end of a deep cross, lifting the ball back over Murphy only to find Sara Pinna in a1 position to head the ball off the line.
HT Oxford City 2 Kidlington Youth 0. As expected, City dominated the ball with Kidlington sitting in and protecting their goal as best they could. It could easily have been a lot more than two, but for some wasteful finishing, good goalkeeping and solid defending.
Ellie White tucks away the third After a much needed break from the biting bugs, it was soon time to get back out for the second half and, like the bugs, Oxford were soon back at it. Within a minute or so of the restart, Isobel Bradley burst down the left before sending over a cross that was inches too high for the newly introduced Lucy White. Then, in the 48th minute, the two Whites, Lucy and Ellie, combined for Ellie to break into the box where she was felled by a tired looking challenge. Penalty. Ellie White dusted herself before sending the ball low into the corner with Murphy going the opposite way. 3-0
Isobel Bradley then got her head to a cross which was cleared off the line again by Sara Pinna. Three minutes later Ellie White was played in again, holding off a defensive challenge before sliding her shot just past Murphy's left-hand post. However, on the hour mark, White made no mistake, bursting clear again before deftly flicking the ball past Murphy. 4-0
Oddly enough, the fourth goal seemed to lift a weight off Kidlington shoulders. Maybe knowing that the game was out of reach, they relaxed. Whatever the case, they suddenly seemed to be enjoying it. Just past the hour a Courtney Sumner turn and volley from the edge of the box, was on target but fairly comfortable for Maskell. Then, with just under 20 minutes to go, Maskell was called into serious action for the first time. A good passing move from Kidlington saw Emily Keal played in on the right side of the box. Maskell was quick to narrow the angle, blocking the winger's strike well.
Two minutes later Sara Pinna was celebrating a hat-trick when she made yet another goal-line clearance to deny Oxford a fifth. Excellent defending. A minute after that, Lucy White was denied a goal in the final by yet another Emily Murphy save. The keeper then blocked French's free-kick with her feet, before, in the final minute, also saving well from Emily Harris after the winger wove her way into the penalty area.
FT Oxford City 4 Kidlington Youth 0. A deserved, record-breaking 16th Oxfordshire Women's Senior Cup triumph for City, who controlled the game from start to finish. They still have the Chairman's Cup Final against Abingdon United Development to come too (8th May. 19:30. Holloways Park). It was great to see the Kidlington players still smiling at the end. It was a tough game for them, in which they spent the vast majority chasing the ball. It's certainly no disgrace to lose to this very talented Oxford City team.
Oxford City: Maskell, Hume, Bough-French, Latimer, Donohoe, Tayman(c), Walecki, Bradley, Harris, E.White, Crouch. Subs: L.White, Gorman, O'Leary, Wellington-Faissal, Davis
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att:
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: N/A
Isobel Bradley then got her head to a cross which was cleared off the line again by Sara Pinna. Three minutes later Ellie White was played in again, holding off a defensive challenge before sliding her shot just past Murphy's left-hand post. However, on the hour mark, White made no mistake, bursting clear again before deftly flicking the ball past Murphy. 4-0
Oddly enough, the fourth goal seemed to lift a weight off Kidlington shoulders. Maybe knowing that the game was out of reach, they relaxed. Whatever the case, they suddenly seemed to be enjoying it. Just past the hour a Courtney Sumner turn and volley from the edge of the box, was on target but fairly comfortable for Maskell. Then, with just under 20 minutes to go, Maskell was called into serious action for the first time. A good passing move from Kidlington saw Emily Keal played in on the right side of the box. Maskell was quick to narrow the angle, blocking the winger's strike well.
Two minutes later Sara Pinna was celebrating a hat-trick when she made yet another goal-line clearance to deny Oxford a fifth. Excellent defending. A minute after that, Lucy White was denied a goal in the final by yet another Emily Murphy save. The keeper then blocked French's free-kick with her feet, before, in the final minute, also saving well from Emily Harris after the winger wove her way into the penalty area.
FT Oxford City 4 Kidlington Youth 0. A deserved, record-breaking 16th Oxfordshire Women's Senior Cup triumph for City, who controlled the game from start to finish. They still have the Chairman's Cup Final against Abingdon United Development to come too (8th May. 19:30. Holloways Park). It was great to see the Kidlington players still smiling at the end. It was a tough game for them, in which they spent the vast majority chasing the ball. It's certainly no disgrace to lose to this very talented Oxford City team.
Oxford City: Maskell, Hume, Bough-French, Latimer, Donohoe, Tayman(c), Walecki, Bradley, Harris, E.White, Crouch. Subs: L.White, Gorman, O'Leary, Wellington-Faissal, Davis
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att:
Entrance: £5.00
Programme: N/A
City lift the trophy
Galant runners-up
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