Torbay Financial Services Devon Under 14 Girls Cup Final

Crediton Youth 1-3 Plymouth Aspire Youth

Tuesday 14^th May 2019

It was perfect conditions for a game of football, warm, dry, no wind, and a pitch in very good condition. As it turned out, Crediton and Plymouth Aspire played out a thoroughly entertaining game, which proudly advertised the Counties promotion of female football in Devon.

Aspire got the game under way and went straight on the attack, the first real chance fell to Crediton but Aspires keeper, Sophie George, produced an excellent save. Both teams looked very confident on the ball and were trying to link the play, with their short passing game. Sophie George saved very well again from a shot by Talitha Roach. Crediton took the lead in the 12^th minute when Jessica Sandlland burst into the box and prodded her shot into the far corner of Sophie George’s goal. Crediton continued to pile on the pressure and forced another corner but it came to nothing.

Aspire didn’t let their heads drop and in the 18^th minute they had a chance to equalise, when Rosie Train broke into the Crediton area, only for Crediton keeper Hollie Seward pulled off a great double save. In the 26^th minute, George was called into action again when she ran out of her area to clear the ball. In the last ten minutes of the first half  Aspire had the majority of the ball, but Crediton went into the break leading by 1 goal to nil.

Crediton got the second half under way leading 1-0,  but Aspire were in the mood for the second half. Seward was called into action yet again when Rosie Train to clear the ball, but she couldn’t stop the rebound from Ellie Sara, who slotted past Seward to level the scores.

The Aspire defence were playing very well, keeping the Crediton attack at bay, and 15 minutes into the second half, the Plymouth side went ahead as Rosie Train latched onto a through ball and blasted a powerful shot past the Crediton goalkeeper, to make it 2-1.

Aspire came close to extending their lead from a corner when Emma Thompkins headed just wide. Both goalkeepers were then forced into a string of saves within minutes of each other, as the game became stretched as Crediton searched for an equaliser. Aspire got their third when Ellie Sara smashed the ball home from the edge of the area extending their lead to two goals with five minutes left.

The fourth official indicated three minutes of added time, and unfortunately for Crediton they couldn’t force their way back into the game. Aspire had come from behind to win the Torbay Financial Services Devon Under 14 Girls Cup Final, by 3 goals to 1.

Player of the Match – Ellie Sara (Plymouth Aspire Youth)