Page 29 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.33 2021-22

Helston victorious in County Cup

Helston Athletic are crowned champions after winning 4-0 against Saltash United Women in this
year's Cornwall Women’s Cup Final.
Helston proved too strong for Saltash on the night, with a convincing 4-0 victory. The game
started lively for both teams but Helston found a breakthrough goal 19 minutes into the first half,
with Beth Prouse finding Sasha Sparkes who beat her opposite number, only for a covering Saltash
defender to make a last ditch tackle unfortunately knocking the ball past the Saltash goalkeeper and
into the back of the net.
In the final moments of additional time during the first half, a quick free kick from Helston
saw Eve Moore strike the ball into the top corner to make it 2-0.
Quick into the second half, Helston continued to push for another goal and were awarded with
a free kick. Sparkes’ inswinging delivery was punched away by the Saltash goalkeeper, only to be
bundled in by Helston’s Prouse. Despite this, Saltash remained resilient and looked to try and get
back into the game with several chances being denied by brave defending from Helston.
As the game progressed, Helston found a fourth goal with Sasha Sparkes finding space inside
the box to strike the ball into the bottom left corner.
(Source: www.cornwallfa.com)
West Exe have edge in Senior Cup
A single goal from Hollie Stone proved to be the difference between two very committed sides who
provided good entertainment for the supporting crowd of some 236 on a dry but chilly evening at
Coach Road, home of the Devon County FA.
West Exe kicked off but were immediately pegged back by some good attacking play from
Axminster down the left, Chelsea Petherbridge getting a low cross into the box that was cleared by
the West Exe defence who immediately put their team on the front foot. A long ball over the top
found Stone who played the ball onto Faith Aitchinston who, in turn, burst past three defenders and
returned the ball to Stone but her shot, from the edge of the box, was smuggled clear by Miki
Winkler at the back for Axminster.
Play immediately went to the other end where Petherbridge was tripped just outside the
penalty area, the free kick hitting the side netting of the West Exe goal. Both teams were showing
up well in attack but were unable to get a break-through. In the 6th minute Axminster’s Josie
Stebbings pounced on a poor clearance only to fire her shot over from the edge of the box. A minute
later Kitty Deem-Stone placed an inviting through ball into the box that Poppy Cloke, up front for
the Axes couldn’t quite reach.
The game had opened up and chances came and went as first Madi Walker for West Exe had
her shot from a corner cleared off the line by Axe’s Gemma Anderson. That was in the 13th minute
and two minutes later, at the other end, Sian Aslett had a shot from the edge of the box that flew
just wide of the near post. In the 20th minute Becky Holman drove in a 30-yard free kick which the
Axes stopper did well to push onto the crossbar, the ball falling to Stone who was offside.
There was little to choose between the two teams as the second half got underway. Axminster
started the brightest a 50th minute free kick floated into the box by Button taken out of the air by
Wilkins. West Exe seemed to be struggling to get on the front foot and all the pressure was coming
from Axminster. Button placed a left foot shot wide and on the hour mark Petherbridge’s cross from
the left was well taken by Wilkins, who still had only the one shot to save.
In the 65th minute, somewhat surprisingly, given the pressure they had been under, it was
West Exe who took the lead. A clearance from Wilkins was picked up by Sianne Wilkinson, just on
for Poppy Butt, who chipped a pass to Stone who proceeding race past two defenders before
slotting home from inside the box giving Dyer no chance. They had a good chance to increase their
lead in the 80th minute but Rachael Godfrey’s header from a corner went just past the post.
In the 83rd minute Stone raced down the right and had two chances find a teammate, her first
cross being blocked back to her, and her return cross taken out of the air by Dyer. Axminster were
getting no change out of the West Exe defence and in the 90th minute Jordon Bindon, on as a
substitute, should have made the game safe, racing through the centre of the Axes defence only to
be denied by Dyer.
(Source: www.devonfa.com)
Issue no. 33 - 5 May 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk