Maddie Archer gave Writtle the lead inside the opening minute of the match, and that advantage was doubled on 24 minutes when Jenna Dinnes converted an Ellie Bowdidge corner. But Sasha Vail halved the deficit on the stroke of half time and Duncan Archer’s side had to hold on to claim the silverware.
After losing to Assandun Vikings in the final twelve months ago, Manager Archer was delighted to see his squad win 2-1: “It’s been a long year to avenge last year’s cup final defeat. I thought we played well today; it was a tough game and they certainly made it difficult for us but we came through in the end to win.”
Writtle took the lead with their first attack of the match, Bowdidge delivered a corner to the back post and, as the set-piece wasn’t cleared, Holly Connell set-up Archer to chip home with aplomb from ten yards out.
The response from Ramblers was impressive, with Hope Strauss, Connie Mashford and Amber Denton going close but Leigh were dealt a further blow from a flag kick at the opposite end as Bowdidge delivered and this time Dinnes was positioned inside the six-yard box to convert.
Leigh were handed a lifeline on the stroke of half time, when Vail swept home a long Megan Downes throw.
Having watched his side become just the second team after West Ham United to win both the U-14s and U-16s Essex County Cup competitions, Writtle Minors’ Archer said; “Leigh kept coming, and they had a couple of really good players who we tried to mark out of the game, but it was tough. The early goal helped us and settled us down. Leigh made it difficult, and letting a goal in just before half time wasn’t good, and in the second half we just consolidated and held out in the end.”
Photo: (Robert Craven/www.essexfa.com)
