The Galacticos of Southampton Saints and Fleet Town locked horns in the final of the Hampshire Youth U-14 County Cup at Winklebury Football Complex.
Fleet were hoping to derail the Saints’ chances of a clean sweep of silverware and Saints were out to retain the trophy they won 12 months ago in dramatic fashion against Portsmouth FC, but Fleets’ hopes were dashed as Southampton emerged victorious courtesy of a hard fought 3-0 win.
Saints took the lead when Grace Jenman latched on to a lobbed through ball from Lily Shergill and showed great composure to slot past the keeper.
Fleet showed just why they had reached the final as they tried their utmost to back into the game but Kia Anteney neatly rifled home into the back of the net to make it 2-0 after a great through ball from Jennifer King.
Jenman’s sheer persistence and hard work then resulted in making it 3-0 to cap an impressive first half performance from Southampton Saints.
It was a tense and at times tumultuous encounter in the second half, with both sides putting in strong tackles.
Fleet pressed forward continuously, while Saints remained a threat on the break. Fleet did come close to getting on the scoresheet when a goal-bound effort resulting from a corner was superbly cleared off the line by Hannah Burroughs.
The half ended goalless and it was the Saints who ran out 3-0 winners, with Jenman awarded Player of the Match for her first half performance up front and then in goal for the second half.
With the League Cup final still to be played against Crofton U-15s next weekend, an unprecedented back to back treble could well be on the cards for the Saints.
