ESSEX COUNTY WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

LEAGUE CUP FINAL

 Sunday 16^th May 2004

 Billericay Town 2 – 1 Chelmsford City

 CITY’S dream of a league and cup double disappeared on Sunday after they lost out by the odd goal in three in the League Cup Final.

    Billericay made the early chances but found City’s goalkeeper Carly Waters, in inspired form.  She denied Town twice in the opening nine minutes, firstly diving low to save a crisp drive in the third minute and moments later she turned a point blank shot over the bar following a corner.

    This was to be her last action as she was replaced on 20 minutes after sustaining a back injury which saw manager Vanessa Smith take over in goal.

    A good interchange of passes saw Lucy Garrett thread a fine ball through to Paula Drane who timed her run to beat the offside trap.  She calmly rounded the advancing keeper and side-foot the ball into the net to the delight of the large contingent of City supporters.

    At the other end, ex-City striker Maria Boyce got behind the City defence but saw her shot from the right go into the side netting.

    After 60 minutes a quickly taken free kick caught City’s defence napping which resulted in a striker having time to curl a shot over the keeper from the edge of the area to level the scores.

    City put sustained pressure on the Town goal for the first time in the game.  Emma Wells saw a near post header cannon off the outside of a post, Ridings had a shot straight at the keeper and moments later was inches away from heading a deep cross at the far post.

    City were then caught on the break and Billericay netted the winner when a shot cannoned off the woodwork only for the ball to strike Smith and agonisingly cross the line.

    Chelmsford pushed forward and Kerri Binks saw her superb shot from the edge of the area strike the underside of the bar then rebound down and the ball was headed behind by a defender.

    City must now pick themselves up for this Sunday’s title decider at home to White Notley at Barnston AFC, High Easter Road (Kick Off 2pm)

CHELMSFORD CITY: Waters (Smith), Marshall, Thompson, Binks, Bell, Wells, Brownlie, Cole, Drane, Ridings (Mooney), Garrett, Harman and Madlin.