Chesham United Football Club

Team:

Michelle Elrick,

Di Killey,

Andrews,

Williams,

Tash Sandalls,

Milton,

Shantall Woodward,

Freya Coombe (Seun Odeniyi)

Lauren Goodier,

Kate Bowers (Haw),

Mariah Mandalman (McClellan) 

Subs not used Amy Fisher, Smythe.

Chesham Ladies secured a 3-2 victory over Woodley Saints at Beaconsfield on Sunday – to reclaim the Women’s County Cup.  A crowd of over 200 turned up to watch, the highest for a women’s county cup final.  On paper Chesham were the favourites but Woodley have maintained an unbeaten record all season and were in confident mood.   Chesham dominated early possession and pressed into Saints half two chances fell to Mariah Mandalman and Kate Bowers and both flashed wide.  Saints had their moments too but Chesham’s back four looked solid and keeper Michelle Elrick dealt with any shots.    Freya Coombe curled a free kick on to the bar and Chesham looked like they may get frustrated when their possession was not resulting in goals. Finally the opening came when Shantell Woodward unleashed a great strike with the outside of her boot which found the top corner. 
Woodley didn’t sit back they put together some good attacking football but could not level before half time.
The second half started brightly, Chesham’s left wing was dominant 16 year old Tash Sandalls has made the left back place her own this season and that usually benefits whoever plays in front of her, today it was Kate Bowers and the pair linked together superbly to cause numerous problems for the Saints right hand side. Freya Coombe found Mandalman down the left and when she made it to the goal line, players were lining up for a cut back but the strikers saw the gap at the near post and slotted the ball under the keeper to give Chesham a two goal cushion.
Woodley made a few changes and the experienced duo coming on livened the match up,   immediately involved a shot clipped off Elrick’s cross bar and sent a few flutters across Chesham’s back four.  They pressed again and a mix up between Elrick and Andrews allowed Woodley’s striker in to pull a goal back.
Chesham bounced straight back they continued to push forward down the left hand side again, this time Bowers drove inside and curled her shot over the keeper for a well deserved goal.  
Chesham pressed again this time Lauren Goodier found Woodward sneaking in at the back post and she skied her shot from inside 6 yards. 
Woodley pressed again a shot was deemed blocked by Katie Milton’s hands the result penalty was duly despatched.   Chesham looked edgy but continued to attack.  Seun Odeniyi livened things up down the right her ball found Goodier racing through on goal and her shot was well stopped by the keeper.  The game entertained the spectators but Chesham would feel they made hard work of it, credit too Woodley for battling till the end.