English Schools' Football Association

The English Schools’ FA’s seventh final of the week at The Ricoh Arena in Coventry saw Nottinghamshire County Schools’ FA take on Essex County Schools’ FA for the crown of National Champions in the Under 16 Inter County Trophy for Girls.

Could Essex retain the trophy for a second year or would Nottinghamshire stand in their way and take it back with them?

The game kicked off on a perfect playing surface and the early chances came from Nottinghamshire as a free kick was taken on the edge of the penalty area and was hit through a crowd of players who just couldn’t reach the moving ball to score.

18 minutes into the game and Essex get a break through as Katie Pounder runs through onto the loose ball but the charging Nottinghamshire keeper, Olivia Walker, just beats Katie to the ball to prevent the first goal of the day.

Essex looked the favourites to score with chances from Evie Clarke and Katie Pounder but again the Nottinghamshire keeper came to the rescue to stop both shots from close range.

Nottinghamshire then came back into the game as Ashleigh Plumptre crosses the ball and Tiffany Elliott puts the ball just wide of the post.

On the 27 minute mark Nottinghamshire get another great chance to go ahead as Molly Higgs strikes from the centre of the box only to see the Essex keeper, Imogen Riches, save the ball.

Right on the half hour mark we have our first goal of the day, Nottinghamshire’s Alina Tebbutt gets the goal after the keeper charges out to make a save but couldn’t collect it after pressure on the ball and it drops to Alina’s feet to hit it hard into an empty net.

8 minutes later and Essex could have gone ahead as Mia Downey strikes at goal from the right hand side but again the Nottinghamshire keeper makes a diving save to put the ball just around the post.

Essex wanted a goal before half time as the pressure was really being put on the Nottinghamshire defence but they stayed strong to hear the referee end the first half.

After half time it took Essex only seconds to get a shot on goal as Katie Pounder strikes hard but puts the ball wide.

5 minutes in and Nottinghamshire could have gone 2 up after Alina Tebbutt crossed the ball into the Essex box to see Essex clear the ball but only to Kelsie James who makes an excellent turn on a defender and strikes high to force Imogen Riches in goal to tip it just over the bar.

15 minutes into the second half and Essex are really pushing for their goal from a corner. Lotte Wubben-Moy crossed the ball in and Essex have a few shots at goal but Nottinghamshire defend well but then it falls to Evie Clarke from 6 yards hits it hard but again the Nottinghamshire keeper keeps them out.

Later in the half Nottinghamshire have a free kick and is taken just like before when they got their goal. The Essex keeper comes out to collect but this time she collects to prevent the same incident again.

10 minutes to go and Essex really turn the pressure up on Nottinghamshire but they stay strong at the back making sure nothing gets through to cause the keeper a problem.

Lotte Wubben-Moy takes the ball from the middle of the pitch and goes on a solo run beating several players to get a shot on goal but again Olivia Walker takes the ball off her to keep the score at 1-0.

A minute later and Olivia makes another point blank save to keep Nottinghamshire in the lead. Evie Clarke then struck again for Essex but Olivia did not look like she would be conceding at all.

The referee then ended the second half and this confirmed that Nottinghamshire County Schools’ FA were National Champions for 2013-14.

Both teams were presented their medals by ESFA Chairman, David Woollaston, on the field of play then Nottinghamshire were presented with the trophy.

Team Line-ups:

Nottinghamshire County Schools’ FA

Olivia Walker, Bethan Bough, Cala Thornton, Molly Higgins, Lucy Belz, Charlotte Steggles, Alina Tebbutt, Ashleigh Plumptre, Esme Crosby, Zoe Gretton, Holly Chalmers, Natalie Archer, Alana Crawford, Tiffany Elliott, Kelsie James, Ellie Brazil. Team Management: Ian Fidler (Manager), Louise Wray (Assistant Manager), Tom Reid (Coach).

Essex County Schools’ FA

Imogen Riches, Kelsey Kylie, Lucy Jones, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Maddi Scheffer, Emily Baker, Katherine Gee, Sophie Jones, Hannah Humphreys, Evie Clarke, Katie Pounder, Mia Downey, Shellie Sumpter, Elisha Turner-Powell, Kelsey Smith, Ellena Finneran. Team Manager: Emma Burden (Manager), Jo Sibley (Manager), Sheila Macauley (Physiotherapist).

Match Officials

Daniel Pattison (Referee), Macaulay Pimley and Jamie Mortiboys (Assistant Referees), Rory Douglas (Fourth Official).

For all photos and a match DVD please visit RWT Photography.

ESFA U16 Inter County Trophy for Girls Fixtures and Results.