WEALDSTONE U13 ROSES PROGRESS IN GIRLS’ U14 CUP
The 3rd round ties of the Middlesex Harold Horskins Girls’ U14 Cup were contested last Saturday, 8th February and your roving reporting team chose to visit the match between Denham United Ladies Youth U14s and Wealdstone Youth U13 Roses Girls. This game took place at The Den, Denham United’s splendid venue in Oxford Road, at the western end of Uxbridge.
The Harold Horskins U14 Cup was first played for in the 1995-96 season, when it was won by Watford Town Girls. It was subsequently discontinued but was reintroduced in season 2021-22, following the growth of the girls’ game, to replace the Capital Girls’ Cups, which had involved teams from several County FAs. The first winners, following the cup’s reintroduction, were Hinton & Finchley Revolution Haringey. The current holders are Queens Park Rangers Women, who won this trophy for the 2nd consecutive season, by overcoming Ruislip Rangers in last year’s 5-4 goal-fest.
37 teams entered this season’s competition.
Both clubs received a bye in round 1. They were then both drawn at home in round 2. Denham United beat Ealing Trailfinders U13 11-0 and Wealdstone won 4-1 against CB Hounslow & Abbots U13 Girls.
Denham United play in the Hertfordshire Girls Football Partnership League and Wealdstone are members of the Capital Girls League.
The duration of the games in this competition is 70 minutes.
The match was played on a dull, overcast and eventually wet morning but the enthusiastic supporters of both teams were treated to a keenly contested and interesting match, which diverted their attention away from the miserable conditions. The players exhibited a high level of skill and sportsmanship and were a credit to their clubs and coaches.
The teams were very evenly matched and the result was in doubt until the very end. Wealdstone were in the ascendancy in the early stages and took the lead in the 5th minute. Denham United fought their way into the game and equalised almost immediately after the half-time interval. Neither side was then able to make another decisive breakthrough and the tie went to a penalty shoot-out, which was won by Wealdstone.
Wealdstone went onto the attack from the start. Ayla Clark cut in from the right and brought a low save from Joanna Rowntree.
However, Ayla put Wealdstone ahead in the 5th minute, following good approach work by Charlotte Kelly.
Charlotte then had two scoring attempts. She made a run through the middle and was thwarted by the goalkeeper’s legs. She then fired a shot narrowly wide.
Denham got into the match, with Jenna Brown prominent in their attacks. She twice shot narrowly wide and then her low shot was saved by Georgia Simpson.
Charlotte Kelly broke through the Denham rear-guard but Joanna Rowntree saved at close range with her legs.
Ayla Clark made some dangerous forays for the visitors as the interval approached.
Half-time score: Denham United 0 Wealdstone 1
The weather now deteriorated as a mizzle set in for the second half.
38 seconds after the resumption, Jenna Brown took the ball through the Wealdstone defence and equalised from close range.
Then Lily Mae Sharpe shot narrowly wide for Denham and Blossom Tanswell’s drive was saved by Georgia Simpson.
At the other end, Joanna Rowntree saved twice from Iona Gwaley and then from Charlotte Kelly.
A penetrating run and shot by Jenna Brown brought a close range save from Georgia Simpson.
Score at full-time: Denham United 1 Wealdstone 1
The rain now became heavier, as the penalty shoot-out started badly for Denham, with Lily Mae Sharp shooting tamely past the post. Orlaith O’Donoughue converted her kick to put Wealdstone ahead.
The second pair of penalties saw Leila O’Neil Kumar (Denham) and Ayla Clark (Wealdstone) both converting their kicks.
Denham captain Ciara Haase converted her side’s 3rd kick by hammering the ball over the keeper’s hands and then Joanna Rowntree saved from Wealdstone’s Charlotte Kelly to level the scores at 2-2.
However, Georgia Simpson saved from Willow Arrol and Florence Murphy restored the visitors’ advantage by netting her kick.
Teigan Halligan netted Denham United’s 5th penalty but Aiofe-Rose Duffy converted her kick to put Wealdstone through to the quarter-finals.
Penalty shoot-out score: Denham United 3 Wealdstone 4
TEAM LINE-UPS
Denham United Ladies U14: Joanna Rowntree, Sophie Timms, Darcie Sharpe, Leila O’Neil Kumar, Jenna Brown, Blossom Tanswell, Ciara Haase (capt), Lily Mae Sharp, Willow Arrol, Dea Laba and Teagan Halligan.
Rolling substitutes: Charlotte Smith, Gracie Widdows and Daisy Mae Marks.
Manager: Andy Stewart.
Wealdstone Youth U13 Roses: Georgia Simpson. Florence Murphy, Izzie Lillie, Eleanor McGrady, Aiofe-Rose Duffy, Katie Hankshaw (capt), Ayla Clark, Cara Traynor, Orlaith O’Donoughue, Amelie Keating and Charlotte Kelly.
Rolling Substitutes: Iona Gwaley and Tiana Brown.
Manager: Bart Murphy
Assistant Managers: Nick Simpson and Lisa Galvin.
Referee: Andreas Zographides, who handled the game very well. He was calm and assured throughout. He should make good progress through the refereeing ranks.
Other results in this round:
| Hinton & Finchley Revolution Haringey | 2 | Watford Ladies Wasps | 1 |
| Vicky Park Rangers | 3 | St Albans City FC Academy | 1 |
| Ickenham Youth Raptors | - | Ruislip Rangers Clarets | w/o |
| Alexandra Park North | 2 | Brook House Reserves U13 | 2 pens 4-3 |
| Bury Rangers U13 Lions | 0 | Watford Ladies Warriors | 9 |
Report: Jim Taylor
Photography: Chris Benn