HAMPSHIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION LADIES TROPHY FINAL

Sponsored by Hampshire County Women's Football League 

Eversley and California Ladies 1 – Bournemouth Sports Ladies 1 – E&C win 4-3 on penalties

On a cold, windy and wet evening on 21st May 2021 the final of the Hampshire Football Association's Womens' Trophy 2019-2020 final ended some 572 days after the start of the competition in a tense penalty shoot-out at Winklebury Football Complex in Basingstoke.

The match was a classic game of two halves with Eversley on top in the first and Bournemouth making a comeback in the second.

Eversley started strongly when Bournemouth's 'keeper Becky Clarke anticipated well, and came off her line to clear . In the next attack Laura Comerford looked as if she would score when she collected a long ball and found herself in the clear but sliced wide.

Clarke was called into action again a few minutes later and saved a good shot from Rebecca Nibblett. It was Nibblett who opened the scoring however, when a shot from Rebekah Pantony was rebounded out to her and she netted from close range (20th minute).

The best chance of the half fell to Bournemouth's Amber Madkour who was put into the clear but sliced her shot with only 'keeper' Jodie Gray-Piazza to beat.

Eversley came back and just before half time Comerford the 'keeper came off her line to thwart a clear chance.

Bournemouth started well with Madkour looking dangerous well supported by Lucia White and Sarah Stocker but could not force a goal as Eversley defended well.

The game settled to an end to end encounter as neither side could force that vital goal and with time running out it seemed as Eversley had settled for a win when Bournemouth's Hollie Shaw put in a good run and shot which rebounded to Madkour who tucked away the equaliser in the 80th minute.

This goal eventually resulted in the dreaded shoot-off to decide the winners of the cup. Eversley went one up but the next three penalties were not converted before Bournemouth equalised and the next four hit the back of the net which resulted in a 3-3 draw thus initiating the sudden death competition in which Eversely scored and Bournemouth did not!

Attendance 113. The Referee was Paula Wyatt, assisted by Rachel Richards and Donna Warrener, and the Fourth Official was Colin Hopkins.

The match was sponsored by the Hampshire County Women's Football League who selected the Player of the Match Award which went to Bournemouth's Amber Madkour.

The Squads

Bournemouth Sports Ladies – Becky Clarke, Emily Gard, Tonia Gomez, Abi Orton, Becky Yeo, Hollie Shaw, Lucia White ©, Sarah Stocker, Irene Corredera-Espejo, Amber Madkour, Lauren Brewer, Natalie Barton, Rebecca Knapton, Kerry Weeks, Sarah Plummer and Demi Curtin. Manager – Ricky Barton, Head Coach – Vincent Marmion, Goal Keeping Coach, Lee Westron, Assistant Coach – Fred Nelson and Sports Therapist - Dave Harley.

Eversley and California Ladies – Danielle Jones ©, Jodie Gray-Piazza, Chloe Lovell, Megan Averill, Laura Comerford, Rebekah Pantony, Natasha Elcox, Chantelle Lawrence, Rebecca Nibblett, Francesca Boekbinder, Gemma Lunn, Lauren Nibblett, Chloe Proctor, Emma Pointon and Katie Hougham. Manager – Martin Elcox, Assistant Manager Joe Pantony.