English Schools' Football Association

Hillsborough, Sheffield Wednesday FC

After a nervous start from both teams, trying to feel one another out, the game began to open out on the lovely pitch. Kent applied the early pressure but couldn’t create an effort on goal.

A lapse in concentration allowed the Lancashire girl’s in on goal and after a miscued clearance Alice Adams rounded the keeper before Lucy Staunton Turner finished into the bottom corner to put Lancashire 1-0 ahead.

Lancashire looked lively and attacked again through Adams who set Natasha Fenton up for a long shot which flew over.

Alessia Russo was working extremely hard in the midfield for Kent as she played some excellent passes forward in an attempt to launch attacks. Kent caused problems with a string of corners, but couldn’t do enough to worry Goalkeeper Katie Maher.

Tricky winger Natasha Fenton came alive as the game moved on, using her skill to beat three defenders and draw a free-kick, which she took herself hitting a dipping effort just over the bar.

A great flick on from Ashleigh Brooks into striker Miri Taylor at the top of the box would have put her through on goal only for Centre back Katie Samuels to close her down and clear superbly to save a sure goal effort.

Kent had their best effort of the game just before the half time whistle, with Russo again providing the ball to set off the attack for Sammy Booker down the left wing to cross into the box and find Brooks unmarked at back post for a clear effort on goal which she couldn’t keep down.

End to a great half of football with only the slimmest of margins between both sides. Lancashire had perhaps started off stronger and looked more solid, but Kent have shown there is plenty of fight left in them yet.

Great start to second half as both teams came out trying to grab the upper hand.

Lancashire had the first true effort on goal after Brenna McPartlan chipped a lovely ball through to Katie Dudgeon who fired over the top of the goal.

Two minutes later lively substitute Becky Smith pounced on a defensive error and was a dead cert to score until Molly Povey in the Kent goal pulled off a superb save down to her left.

Left back Erin Staunton - Turner crossed dangerously from a free kick which landed at the feet of Becky Smith inside the box only for her to slice it wide of the post.

As the game opened up and bece stretched Lancashire took advantage and after some good play from Becky Smith it was Alicia Johnson who found herself in the box to fire and unstoppable shot past the goalkeeper putting Lancashire two goals clear.

Kent were not done yet, apart hitting back immediately as Rachel Harvey latched onto a lovely through ball and chipped the oncoming keeper, just to watch the ball crash off the bar and go out of play.

Kent got their reward for all their great pressure and determination as Rachel Harvey finally got her goal with a sweet left footed strike which went on off the inside of the post to half the deficit.

This was the last action of the final as the referee blew time of the game and confirmed Lancashire as champions.

Squads:

Kent CSFA: M Povey, S Bentley, S Booker, A Brooks, J Carpanini, A Hobbs, E Jeffkins, P Payne, B Powell, A Russo, M Taylor, K Gilligan, R Harvey, E Perkins, J Tinsley, M Wood, K Startup.

Lancashire CSFA: K Maher, C Appleton, E Staunton-Turner, B McPartlan, K Samuels, E Hilton, N Fenton, O Hooper, A Adams, Lucy Staunton-Turner, M Hester, K Dudgeon, J Elliot, A Johnson, B Smith, G Taylor.