English Schools' Football Association

Durham U16 Girls Squad - Champions 2011

Nottingham Forest Football Club was the venue for this season’s ESFA Under 16 Inter County Trophy Girls’ Final on Wednesday 23 March. Kent flew out of the starting blocks and dominated the early exchanges, but failed to capitalise of their early superiority.

On 15 minutes, the ball broke to Kent’s Courteney Gibson inside the Durham penalty area, but she failed to control the ball and keeper, Charlotte Pelleymounter, was on hand to gather the ball.

Kent went close again two minutes later when Nicole Pepper cut inside from the left flank and curled a shot from 20 yards which sailed over the Durham bar. On 22 minutes, Kent’s Lauren Heria, drilled a long range effort from 25 yards which landed in the arms of a grateful Pelleymounter.

Kent continued to pile the pressure on the Durham goal and on 32 minutes another chance went begging when Lauren Heria hit wide of the target from inside the penalty area.

As the first half wore on, the Durham girls showed signs of coming back into the game. On 33 minutes, Abby Archibald, struck the side netting of the Kent goal from close range. Durham number 14, Amy Lynn, had the ball in the back of the net on 25 minutes, but the assistant referee adjudged the player to be offside.

The deadlock was broken during first half injury time, when Durham’s Zoe Ness, thumped an unstoppable header from Charlotte Wilson’s corner kick.

Kent did not have to wait long to draw level as Durham captain, Charlotte Wilson, scored an unfortunate own goal when the ball flicked off her boot over the helpless Pelleymounter.

Kent nearly took the lead on 45 minutes when Courteney Gibson went through, one on one versus Pelleymounter, but Gibson’s shot was thumped straight at the advancing keeper.

Durham then had two goal bound efforts blocked on 46 minutes, before Kent broke on the counter attack through Shannon Redhouse, but her shot was hit wide of the target from a tight angle.

On 53 minutes, Durham’s Amy Lynn was tripped in the Kent penalty area by goalkeeper, Courtney Shanly. Charlotte Wilson stepped up and despatched the ball hard and low to the keeper’s right to make it 2-1 to the team from the north east.

Kit Graham then hit the post for Kent just two minutes later. Durham quickly made it 3-1 when a long ball was turned home from close range by number 6, Zoe Ness.

Both teams then had several half chances before Kent’s Courteney Gibson set up a grandstand finish when she made it 3-2 in the closing stages of the game. Despite four minutes of injury time being added, Kent could not find an equaliser and Durham lifted the trophy which was presented by ESFA Vice-Chairman, John Appleby.

Match Stats:
 Durham v Kent 
6 Shots on target 6
3 Shots off target 11
2 Corners 1

Durham Squad: Charlotte Pelleymounter , Shannon Boddy, Katie Crooks, Charlotte Wilson (Captain), Charlotte Potts, Zoe Ness, Mellissa Simpson, Tyler Dodds, Meg Lawson, Lauren Briggs, Rosie Young, Jessica White, Amy Lynn, Abby Archibald, Alice Lindsay. Team management: Miss V Booth (Manager), Miss E Dobbie and Miss J Somers (Assistant Managers), Mr J Shippen (Physio).

Kent Squad: Courtney Shanly, Sam Burton, Hannah Carter, Lorraine Embleton, Sophie Gifford, Kit Graham, Lauren Heria, Victoria Holness, Rosie Laing-Paye, Kylie Manktelow (Captain), Hannah Mayhew, Megan Mulholland, Nicole Pepper, Shannon Redhouse, Zara Roots, Chloe Shields , Alice Singyard, Emily Simmonds, Courteney Gibson. Team management: Joanne Heath and Vicky Benbow (Team Managers).

A match DVD and photographs can be purchased by going to
www.rwt-photography.co.uk