Women’s first-team named Tiptree Cup Champions

Words by: Simon Horne

Sunday 8th May 2022, saw Beacon Hill FC host the final of this year’s Tiptree Charity Cup between ECWFL Premier League side, Chelmsford City, and ECWFL Division 2 Champions, Stanway Pegasus.

Chelmsford reached the final by virtue of beating Hutton Reserves 5-1 and Frontiers 3-0, whilst Stanway defeated Southend United and Beacon Hill Rovers, both with 2-1 victories.

Everyone involved with these two teams expected a tough clash and the Clarets did not take their ‘new’ opposition lightly, knowing full well that only a name change prevented them from being seasoned campaigners and ex-premier league rivals, Silver End Utd.

The game got off to a fiery start with Stanway’s Rosi Webb lucky to escape a booking in the open seconds as she hauled City’s Rosie Coe to the floor.

With just 6 minutes on the clock, City’s ‘keeper Hannah Streetley had to deal with a weak back pass that allowed Stanway’s number 10 to run through on goal.

As Streetley made the challenge, the Stanway striker fell to the floor and despite there being no contact between either player, a penalty was awarded.

Up stepped former Claret, Sarah Jolly, who’s well struck penalty was saved by Streetley, diving to her right, the ball then arcing over her before crashing off the cross bar and bouncing down in front of the line before spinning to safety.

City took a while to settle and had to be patient in the face of some particularly strong challenges from Stanway but in the 25th minute they took the lead with a delightful finish from Rosie Coe.

The ball was worked down City’s right and Coe was able to pull it down with her left foot before sending a right-footed looping shot from the edge of the box over the head of the ‘keeper and into the top left corner to cue celebrations.

Understandably, this rattled Stanway and they looked to get back straight from the kick off but couldn’t find a way past the persistent pressing of Helen Alder and the resilience of the City defence.

City went close to doubling their lead on at least three occasions before the break as Abi Woollvin out paced the Stanway defence but couldn’t quite get the touch she needed before Emma Rushen had penalty appeals waved away as she burst through on goal and was pulled back and then adjudged to have committed the foul.

The second half started much as the first ended. City played excellent possession football and dragged Stanway out of shape. Woollvin was continually able to the better of their back line and was on the receiving end of some rough treatment as a result.

With little threat from Stanway in this half, it wasn’t until the 76th minute that City’s nerves were settled.

City worked the ball out from the back via Vernon who found Holland whose clever pass into Rushen allowed a first time ball into the feet of Alder. Alder opened up the taps and flew past her marker before chipping home from wide on the left of the box.

4 minutes later the result was put beyond doubt. Amelia Murphy had caused Stanway’s left back no end of bother since replacing Shannon Kelly with 25 mins of the game remaining and her perfect first touch from Coe’s pass enabled her to spin her marker and race toward the bye-line where her pull back was met by Woollvin to divert the ball into the net with her first time effort.

Stanway kept looking to score and produced a shot on target from a late corner, but Streetley was more than equal to it, snatching it out of the air with a dive to her left.

The resulting clearance found it’s way up-field to Kaci Crook who managed to take down a pass from the right hand side, show great composure on the turn and slot the ball under the keeper and into the bottom corner.

Sunday’s result is testament to the extremely hard work EVERY player involved with this squad has put in this season.

We came back after two COVID ravaged seasons determined to stamp our mark and this is what are doing.

I’m so proud of the girls for the way they stood up to Stanway’s style of play. They never lost their cool and let the football do the talking with a resounding victory that sets us up as we aim to complete a treble winning season.

On behalf of the girls I’d like to thank Beacon Hill for hosting a fantastic afternoon, and also our supporters and mascots from the U11s and U16s.

Simon Horne
Manager, Chelmsford City Women & Girls FC

Chelmsford City Women: Streetley, Brisley, Loble, Freedman (C), Vernon, Holland, Coe, Alder, Kelly (Murphy), Rushen (Palmer), Woollvin (Crook), Richards, Burton

Goals – Coe, Alder, Woollvin, Crook

Players’ Player – Coe
Managers’ Player – Alder