All the goals came during a first half dominated by the Premier League South outfit but Writtle, three divisions beneath in Division 1 of the Eastern League, battled throughout and came close to a second-half consolation. “I think we could’ve easily had more goals in the first half but, to be fair to Writtle, they battled well in the second half. It was a good footballing game,” reflected C&K boss Steve Tilson.
“Our stand-in ‘keeper [Sophie Blowers] had to make some good saves in the end,” he smiled, adding: “It was a game with no silly fouls, but it was a good, tough game. We are obviously very pleased to win. At the start of the season we set out to secure safety in the Premier League and win the Essex Women’s Cup. We’ve achieved both of those, so it’s been a successful season.”
C&K’s survival – comfortably – in their division has cemented Tilson’s side’s place as the highest-ranked female outfit in Essex, but he reveals that the club isn’t going to settle for what it’s currently achieved. He said: “We want to keep on progressing and there are a few things we need to get in place.”
“Importantly, we need to establish a reserve side so the players can all get regular football. There are some good clubs in our league, like Brighton & Hove Albion, and we want to emulate them. If we can strengthen our squad we can compete for promotion and I know the club has ambitions of Women’s Super League football.”
C&K’s bid to win a third Essex Cup inside four seasons got off to the best possible start when Rodney lobbed home beyond Writtle goalkeeper Rhianna Farr after just 4 minutes to give the favourites the lead. Amy Nash’s curling shot brought a fine save from Farr just moments later, the Writtle ‘keeper then pushing Rodney’s effort onto a post. It was 2-0 on 15 minutes.
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Lucy Mellors’ audacious, spectacular 40-yard lob dropped inside the far post. There were further C&K opportunities as Claire Lacey nodded Nash’s free kick over the top and Nash herself fire just wide. But the third goal arrived on the stroke of half time. Mellors initially saw her low effort pushed away by Farr, but the rebound was squeezed home from an acute angle.
A resilient Writtle side pushed C&K all the way in the second period. An early C&K second-half chance saw Mellors’ header pushed wide by Farr before Writtle’s first effort on target arrived. Blowers kept out Courtney Clarke’s drive following good play by Amelia Murphy. Writtle ‘keeper Farr also tipped Zoe Rushen’s 20-yard effort to safety via the crossbar, but that was the closest C&K would come to increasing their lead.
Spirited Writtle enjoyed the better of the latter stages. Abigail Fry’s long-range effort was pushed wide by Blowers prior to a neat move seeing Clarke feed Charlotte Walker, who also tested Blowers. That was virtually the last action of the game as C&K kept a clean sheet, claiming the trophy for the second successive season.
Attendance: 198.
Photos – www.ponderosapics.photoshelter.com
