English Schools' Football Association

Hampshire Schools' Under 16 Girls will make their third appearance in 3 years in the ESFA U16 Inter County Trophy for Girls, sponsored by the National Union of Teachers) when they meet West Yorkshire in the Final on Friday 27 April at Northwich Victoria's ground kick off 1pm. This will be the ninth year that the ESFA has run the competition and this is the seventh final that Hampshire has contested, winning 3 times, sharing it once and being runners up twice. The management team of Vanessa Raynbird and Neil Cleaver took over four seasons ago and so have a remarkable record of 3 finals out of 4 attempts.

In yesterdays match against Kent at the Pfizer Sports Club, in Sandwich, the game was played on an excellent playing surface and in bright sunshine. The first half was dominated by strong defences and neither keeper really tested. Right at the start of the second half, Hampshire attacked and the ball was played in to Rebecca Jane (Aldworth) who decided to play keep-ups for 4 or 5 goes, then turned and volleyed the ball in to the top left hand corner, giving the Kent keeper Toni Allen no chance.

Rather than dishearten the Kent girls, it made them more determined and they began to dominate the game for long periods. After nine minutes, a firm shot from the Kent left went across the Hampshire goal mouth but Nicky Beck (Cowes) managed to dive to her left and keep the ball out of the net and her defence cleared their lines. Seven minutes later Hampshire created an excellent chance when Cherelle Khassal (Cowes) used her skills to beat the defence but the Kent keeper was equal to it and kept the ball out.

After 22 minutes, Kent were rewarded for their pressure when the left wing let go with a strong shot that sailed over the keepers arms to level the score. With all to play for and Kent looking to revenge their quarter-final defeat of last season at the hands of Hampshire, the tempo stepped up a notch or two but it was Hampshire who faired better when Rebecca Jane put another powerful shot in, from the right, that beat the out-stretched arms of the Kent keeper in to the top corner, eight minutes from the end.

Hampshire Squad

Daisy Allen - Priory
Nicky Beck - Cowes
Lauren Boswell - Springfield
Lauren Chesire - St Lukes
Sian Lodge - Toynbee
Rachel Snow - Toynbee
Molly Clark - St Lukes
Beth Connolly - Cranbourne
Becky Hunt - Portsmouth City Girls
Rebecca Ingram - Westgate
Rebecca Jane - Aldworth
Cherelle Khassal - Cowes
Lauren Murphy - Winton
Chelsea Owton - Regents Park
Chelsie Quinton - Sholing
Catriona Bausor - Robert Mays
Vicki Bernard - Portsmouth

Results