Dorset 0-4 Essex, Saturday 8th February 2014, Bournemouth Sports Club, Kick-Off 2:00pm, English Schools FA Inter-County Under 16s Competition Quarter-Final.
By Beth Blacklock
England striker Evie Clarke netted twice and Katherine Gee and Beth Blacklock also converted as Essex’s Under 16s Girls secure a Semi-Final spot in the national cup with a comfortable four-goal victory away at Dorset.
Starting the game off with an attitude to win, the girls dominated the pitch and forward Miagh Downey had three shots on goal inside the opening 15 minutes. Leading up to half time, there was no score on the board until Clarke decided to ensure the team’s hard work paid off by sliding the ball past the goalkeeper into the bottom of the net after a one-on-one thanks to a fantastic through ball from Captain Emily Baker.
A goal ahead, but will hail stones falling from the sky at full blast, the pressure was on Essex to hold their game as Dorset started the second half with more aspirations to win. However, winger Gee chipping the ball beautifully over the ‘keeper and into the back of the net to give Essex back the fire they started with.
With two goals as their cushion, and with a hunger for the Semi-Finals, Essex kept on top of the game, controlling the central midfield and overpowering their opposition’s defence and strikers. Their persistence soon paid off with a long distance goal over the custodian’s head from right-back Blacklock. The late goal spurred the team on towards another goal and, with four minutes left, Clarke added a fourth to seal the win.
Essex 2013/14: Beth Blacklock (St Benedict’s Catholic College), Elisha Turner-Powell (King John), Ellena Finneran (Notley), Emily Baker (Great Baddow), Evie Clarke (St Martin’s), Hannah Humphreys (Abbs Cross Academy), Imogen Riches (Moulsham), Katherine Gee (William Edwards), Katie Pounder (Shenfield), Kelsey Kiely (Ockendon Academy), Kelsey Smith (Marshalls Park), Lottie Wubben-Moy (Anglo European), Lucy Jones (St Bernard’s), Maddie Scheffer (Woodlands), Miagh Downey (Philip Morant), Shellie Sumpter (Hassenbrook Academy), Sophie Jones (King John).
