Throgmorton Devon Under 18 Girls Cup Final

Bideford AFC Youth 1 - 7  Dawlish United Youth

26/04/2018

Both these teams play in the inaugural season of the under eighteen girls division of the Devon Junior and Minor League but due to poor weather this season have yet play in the league. 

Referee Ben Goldsworthy got the game underway and Dawlish immediately went on the attack down the right wing where Erin Romanowski's dangerous cross fell to Daniella Tyson via the goalkeeper and from the ground Tyson was able to knock the ball into the open net to give Dawlish a dream start.

This could be the quickest goal of this season’s county cup finals, as it was scored in under 2 minutes. Note the start Bideford had hoped for but there was still plenty of time left.

Bideford responded well and won a free kick about twenty yards out. Hanna Neve lined up to take the kick but unfortunately the ball went straight into Dawlish keeper, Carmen Morrison's, arms. 

Bideford were beginning to look more confident and started to string some passes together in positive moves but just can’t breakdown the Dawlish defence who looked very strong. 

In the fifteenth minute, Bideford attacked through the middle and a strong shot by Sophie Gilles is well held by Morrison but the signs were looking better for Bideford. 

Three minutes later Dawlish doubled their lead against the run of play as an unfortunate deflection resulted in an own goal. In the twenty-first minute, Bideford got themselves back in the match with a brilliant solo goal by Gillies, she picked the ball just inside the Dawlish half and she cleverly wove her way through several Dawlish players attempting to tackle her before she broke into the area and confidently finished to score one of the best goals of the finals this season. 

With four minutes of the half remaining, Bideford went very close to squaring the match, when Alice Beresford great strike was well saved by Morrison to keep Dawlish2-1 in front.

At the start of the second half Dawlish made a pre-determined change when they changed their goalkeepers around and Morrison swapped with Sasha Mole, Manager Matt Hodgson showing confidence in both keepers. 

Bideford now looking to test the new Dawlish keeper out but unfortunately for them they were caught cold when in the forty-second minute Dawlish got their third when Freya Jackson struck high into the net to finish off a slick move. 

Bideford are now back in the position they were in for most of the first half at two goals behind. Dawlish were now looking to establish their dominance and they did just that when Daniella Tyson smashed a spectacular goal into the top corner from thirty yards to make it 4-1. 

There were some absolutely brilliant goals in this match and it proves how good and how far the female game has come in the last few years and long may it continue. 

A crowd of 200 were enthralled with the match and were very encouraging for both teams.

With nine minutes left Dawlish scored the killer goal, when Barbour-Gresham scored Dawlish’s fifth. It was a tough second half for Bideford who to their credit refused to give in throughout. 

Three minutes later Dawlish sealed victory as Morrison showed her ability outfield as she finished off a good move with a clever lob over the keeper.

In the seventy-ninth minute Dawlish attacked again and the ball was played into the area and a shot by Romanowski was well saved by Bideford keeper Amelia Dennis only for Lucy Rosser to follow up and score. 

The referee blew the final whistle after one minute of added to see Dawlish United Youth win the Throgmorton Devon U18 Girls County Cup. 

The next game at Coach Road will be this evening in the S&D General Maintenance Devon U13 Boys County Cup Final – Alphington Youth v Plymstock United Colts – 7:15pm KO, gates open from 6pm.

To see a full photo album from the game please click the link below

bideford afc youth v dawlish utd youth - match gallery

*All photos courtesy of Miracle PR & Photography