Page 28 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.35 2022-23

Toby Ladies have carried off the Essex County Women’s League Division One title in some style,
having won every league match they have played this season.
In addition to this, Toby also reached the Essex Women’s Trophy Final, going down to
Southend United Community Sports Club from the division above, and got as far as the semi
finals of the League Cup.
The signs were promising right from the very start, as Toby won their opening four league
matches without conceding a goal. The weather and cup runs meant that they only played five
league games before Christmas, but kept on winning to maintain the pressure on the teams
above them in the table.
The majority of matches were played in the last three months but Toby still kept on
winning, eventually taking themselves to the top of the table and winning the title by a
comfortable margin of nine points.
Toby Ladies are managed by Mark Jones, with Ben Picton as assistant manager. Donna
Fletcher is captain whilst Ellie Jones took the accolade as top goalscorer, scoring 35 times in just
seventeen matches.
“When is comes to who played an important role in winning the title, we wouldn’t be able
to pick an individual player,” admitted manager Mark Jones. “Each player stepped up when
they needed to.
“That’s what makes our team so special - we play for each other and don’t rely on anyone.
Starting the season with a small group of ladies, to then forming the fantastic squad we have
today, it has really been unbelievable. We didn’t imagine in our first season together we would
win the League, make it to a County Cup Final and the League Cup semi finals.
“The most important and best performance by the ladies has got to be the League Cup
against Chelmsford City’s first team. Going from 1-0 down to bring it to 2-1 at half time, they
played incredibly well, going on to win 4-2.
“This gave the ladies the confidence and belief they could go all the way this season. After
that match, we were flying through games.”
Toby Ladies squad: Kiera Adcock, Taylor Adcock, Francesca Browne, Demi Cassie, Charlotte
Collins-Blaize, Donna Fletcher, Rebecca Gallacher, Enya Hayes, Connie Heather, Ellie Jones,
Jade Kavanagh, Rebecca Kemp, Charlotte Maher, Kirsti McLeavy, Emma Nielson-Gee,
Hannah Phillips, Jodie Sanderson, April Sykes, Kayleigh Thompson, Emma Walpole, Grace
Woolley, Kelsey Young.

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