GIRLS CUP FINAL WINNERS REVEALED 

In our featured final, Costello Jaguars produced a clinical display to win the Girls’ U14 cup after a 12-0 victory over Stamford Bridge. There was seven different goal scorers overall in the match with Rosie Caley scoring five as Costello secured the prestigious trophy at the Roy West Centre.

The Jaguars opened the scoring in the opening minute as Caley rifled her finish into the bottom corner. Faith Brown then made Maya Baxter-McPhie produce a stunning save to deny the winger, while Zehra Can clipped the top of the crossbar with her effort moments later.

Baxter-McPhie then produced another good save to deny Can, before at the other end, Kelsey McInerney’s great run was stopped by defender Lila Abbott as the striker shaped up to shoot. And Abbott’s challenge proved to be vital as her team  went straight up the other end and Lily Cockerill finished a clinical counter attack to double Costello’s lead. Baxter-McPhie then denied Can again, pushing her effort over the bar, before Costello scored their third.

Caley showed great skill to skip past two Stamford defenders before drilling her effort into the bottom corner. Two minutes later and it was 4-0 as Kayleigh Peters finished with a lobbed effort from the edge of the penalty area before Costello scored their fifth before half-time. Baxter-McPhie saved well from Can’s initial effort, but the loose ball was fired into the empty net by Caley as she secured her hat-trick.

In the second half, it took Costello three minutes to score their sixth through Cockerill as she finished from a tight angle following on from Peters’ initial effort which clipped the post. Esme Young then got her name on the scoresheet as Baxter-McPhie produced a fantastic save one-on-one to deny Olivia Hutchinson, but the rebound fell to Young’s feet who finished from close-range.

Baxter-McPhie was by far the busier keeper and she saved well to deny Young, who beat the offside trap, while Ellie Woodward tackled well to deny Caley. The Costello forward should have done better after she dragged a effort wide following her dispossessing Laura Found high up the pitch.

Costello then showed a clinical display in the latter stages of the match, scoring five goals in seven minutes. Can saw her low shot come off the inside of the post before rolling into net while Caley scored her fourth through a clinical finish. Brown then made it double figures as her low shot found the bottom corner, before Caley scored her fifth after a mix-up in the defensive line. Millie Hairsine then scored Costello’s twelfth goal in stoppage-time as she finished from a tight angle as her side secured the U14 Cup.

TEAMS:

COSTELLO JAGUARS U14: 1. Maicee Meikleham (GK), 2. Evie Walker, 3. Rosie Caley, 4. Lila Abbott, 5. Amelia Oregland, 6. Zehra Can, 7. Millie Hairsine, 8. Brooke Corlass, 9. Ruby Jackson, 10. Kayleigh Peters, 11. Faith Brown. Rolling Substitutes: 14. Esme Young, 15. Lily Cockerill, 17. Olivia Hutchinson.

STAMFORD BRIDGE U14: 1. Maya Baxter-McPhie (GK), 2. Emma Bettles, 3. Lily Collins, 4. Laura Found, 5. Cassie Staines, 6. Heidi Fothergill, 7. Corry Thornton, 8. Hattie Ellia, 9. Maddie Smales, 10. Luci Dempster, 11. Kelsey McInerney. Rolling Substitutes: 12. Lilly Dunn, 14. Ellie Woodward, 15. Aimee Hagar, 16. Lucy Look.

MATCH OFFICIALS: Mark Hemsworth (Referee), Stephen Spruce & Craig Stancer (Assistant Referee’s), Mitchell Waller (Fourth Official)

 Costello Jaguars Assistant Manager Kris Abbott:

“The girls have had a good season and with COVID it all stopped and that broke it, but we knew we got to the final and it looked like it wasn’t going to happen and the guys in the league and East Riding FA have done well to get the game on and the girls were really excited for it. Overall, we’re delighted to come out of the game winning it quite comfortably and keeping a clean sheet.

“We started the game in the same vein as how we always start games. The girls were fully committed and it started in the first fifteen minutes were quite tight. Second half obviously the team didn’t give up and full credit go to Stamford Bridge as they did not give up at all. The scoreline is one thing, but the game didn’t definitely reflect that result and their goalkeeper, Baxter-McPhie, made some fantastic saves and she made at least eight or nine very good saves to deny us.

“The girls have had a couple of very successful years and that was no given going into today’s game. We’re now looking to continue for the upcoming season with the age groups slightly changing into single age groups for next season and it will be a bit smaller, but it’ll be challenging and it’s mine and Phil Peters’ to continue their development.”

Stamford Bridge Manager Tony Dempster:

“I thought it was a well deserved win for Costello Jaguars. We always love the long and through balls and they were able to capitalise on that and there was a good number of strikers who were happy to take their opportunities and they scored some great goals. Costello are a great team to play against and it was a nice flowing game and our girls gave it one hundred percent and it just didn’t go our way today.

“I think it was great effort by my team as it’s the third ever eleven v eleven game that we’ve ever had. All of the games we have competed in the league is all nine v nine so it’s only these cup games that they’ve ever played on a full pitch with a full team so it’s a testament to the team that they’re adaptable.

“Maya is without doubt the best keeper in our league respectively and that’s not only coming from me, that’s coming from the other coaches. She’s a fantastic keeper and she’s had to step up in the bigger goal today, but she’s up there at a really good level and she showed it today with some stunning saves.

“On the back of these cup matches at eleven v eleven, we’re leaving the City of York Girls League and we’re actually going to the West Riding League and we’re going to be in Division Two and that’s going to be eleven v eleven and it’s going to allow the girls to continue playing the way they are playing and they’ve loved these cup games and it’s about keeping the momentum.”