On the evening of Wednesday, 18th December, the Middlesex Ladies representative team resumed its defence of the Southern Counties Women’s Competition title, which it won last season. We visited Aveley FC, to play Essex FA Ladies for what was, for both Associations, their second game in this season’s competition.

Both squads had made a winning start. On the 20th November, Middlesex had entertained Jersey at their Rectory Park HQ and had recorded a 10-0 victory. Then, a week later, Essex made an exciting second-half recovery to turn a 1-2 half-time deficit against the Army FA into a 4-2 victory.

The two sides last met on 13th March, at Rectory Park in the final match of last season’s competition, which like this season’s, was played in a league format. The game had provided a splendid finale to the competition’s first completed season since its resumption after the enforced Covid 19 break. The arrangement of fixtures had meant that the winners of that game would take the trophy. The match lived up to expectations. Middlesex went ahead in the first minute and despite Essex having more possession, had increased their lead to 3-0 before the interval. Then Middlesex survived a spell of Essex pressure and then added two more goals in quick succession, to lead 5-0 ten minutes into the second half. Some even more intense Essex pressure then paid off and they started to reel in our lead, eventually making the scoreline 5-3. It was open to conjecture what might have happened if time hadn’t run out.

Middlesex have now won the Competition 5 times since it started in the 1998-99 season. Essex joined in 2017 and were declared joint winners in 2020. The tournament was divided into 2 groups at the time. Essex had won the Northern Group and Kent the Southern Group but Covid 19 defeated all attempts to stage the final.

Wednesday’s match was Middlesex Ladies’ 98th in total. They had won 53 of the previous 97, drawn 16 and lost 28, scoring 264 goals and conceding 97.   

We had only previously played Essex 4 times and had won 3 times and lost once, scoring 13 goals and conceding 9.

The two teams produced an entertaining game on a wet and windy evening. They both played attacking football and there was plenty of goalmouth action, with the ball rarely remaining in midfield for very long. The hosts went ahead midway through the first half but Middlesex scored twice in the last 10 minutes of the half to lead 2-1 at the interval. They soon added to this lead but Essex netted again almost immediately. Middlesex made the score 4-2 just before the hour and despite some close calls at both ends, there was no further scoring.

Middlesex suffered a setback in the 4th minute, when influential midfielder, Aimee Durn had to retire from the match, with a leg injury. She was replaced by Mai Louvrier.

Both keepers were kept busy during the early action.

Essex took the lead in the 20th minute through Laura Bunton, who netted after Emma Vigolo had parried her close-range shot and her follow up effort had been stopped on the goal-line by Rachel Keightley.

Middlesex hit back and Shakira Kafero-Roberts fired past the post from the edge of the penalty box. Shakira then burst through and her shot from 10 yards was saved by home keeper, Emily Mackler.

A shot from Middlesex’s Guisy Carnevale was blocked for a corner. Then Kasha Petit went close for the visitors, after her penetrating run through the middle.

Middlesex equalised in the 37th minute through Jenny Nagle, who netted from Shakira’s low cross.

Good approach work set up Mai Louvrier, who tested the keeper from outside the penalty area.   

Lindsey Morgan fed Laura Bunton, who brought a diving save from Emma Vigolo. Emma then saved with her feet from Daisy Canny.

In the added time, Anya Kinane headed home from Alissa Down’s corner to put Middlesex ahead.

Half time score: Essex 1 Middlesex 2

Alissa’s long freekick was headed just wide by Shakira.

Mai Louvrier, who was prominent in the attack, extended Middlesex’s lead in the 52nd minute by shooting high into the net from around 25 yards, following good approach work by Shakira Kafero-Roberts and Jenny Nagle.

Ashley Cheatley burst through the middle and Emily Mackler made a fantastic double save, firstly from Ashley, diving to her left and then from Jenny Nagle, who had seized upon the rebound.

Essex scored a 2nd goal in the 56th minute, through Daisy Canny’s header from Olivia Harris’ cross.

Two minutes later, Shakira crossed to Ashley Cheatley, who hit the ball home to restore Middlesex’s 2 goal advantage.

Emily Mackler then saved Jenny Nagle’s low drive from Ashley Cheatley’s cross.

Jenny Nagle hit the home cross bar.

Essex netted from a cross from the right but the score was ruled out, because the ball had previously gone out of play over the bye line.

Essex changed goalkeepers in the 78th minute and replacement, Kirsten Lane was immediately in action, beating Jenny Nagle to a high ball.

Alissa Down’s shot bounced on the top of the home crossbar.

Final score: Essex 2 Middlesex 4

We were grateful to the Essex officials for their warm welcome and excellent hospitality. Representative Teams’ Secretary, Mark Wallis produced an informative 12 page match programme. It contained details of the teams and the competition and some Essex FA news. It was a splendid advert for the County and also a great memento for the players. 

During the post-match proceedings,  the Middlesex  FA President, Barbara Bivens and Team Manager, Craig Nicholson presented Jenny Nagle with her County Cap to mark her 6th appearance and Guisy Carnevale and Shakira Kafero-Roberts with medals for their 4 appearances.

TEAM LINE UPS: 

Essex: Emily Mackler (Southminster United), Lauren Butcher (Chelmsford City), Abi Clarke (Hutton), Nicole Farmer (Luton Town) (capt), Niamh Gamble (Colchester United), Daisy Canny (Hutton), Lindsey Morgan (Colchester United), Laura Bunton (Barking), Charlotte Bryant (Lawford), Whitney Locke and Olivia Harris (both Bowers & Pitsea).

Rolling Substitutes: Kaci Crook (Chelmsford City), Amy Powell and Darcy Drewitt (both Bowers & Pitsea), Kirsten Lane (gkpr) (Toby) (replaced Emily Mackler in 78th min) and Donna Fletcher (Southminster United).

Manager: Howard Mackler   

Coaches: Donna Fletcher and Jozef Dymond   

Physio: Robin Williams.

Middlesex: Emma Vigolo, Hannah Duncan (both Ashford Town (Middlesex)), Anya Kinnane (Farnham Town) (capt*), Rachel Keightley (Denham United), Giuseppina Carnevale (Ashford Town (Middlesex)), Aimee Durn (London Bees), Alissa Down (Brentford), Renai McCrea (Queens Park Rangers), Shakira Kafero-Roberts (Haringey Borough), Kasha Petit (Queens Park Rangers) and Ashley Cheatley (Brentford).

*Alissa Down took over the armband at half-time, when Anya retired from the action.

Rolling Substitutes: Mai Louvrier, Yasmin Dixon (both Queens Park Rangers),  Jenny Nagle, Kayleigh Currivan (both Denham United) and Lucy Potter (Brentford).

Manager: Craig Nicholson   

Coaches: George Wells and Jacob Ballheimer   

Physio: Scott Everley.

Referee: Adam Lane   

Assistant Referees: Lacey Armstrong and Craig Blunt. Lacey Armstrong, who was a late appointment, had a very impressive game and assisted the referee in some important decisions.

Report: Jim Taylor

Photography: Chris Benn

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