BBC Essex Women's Cup Final: Big Match Preview
Will Billericay Town be able to hold onto their county cup crown? Can Hashtag United complete a cup double to cap off a fine first season in the third tier? Find out at the 2023/24 BBC Essex Women’s Cup Final on Thursday night (11th April), with a 7:45pm kick-off at Dagenham & Redbridge FC’s Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Members of the Essex grassroots football community will also be receiving their Essex County FA ten-year Long Service Awards pitchside from Essex County FA Director, Sheryl MacRae. These dedicated individuals have shown commitment to supporting, developing and facilitating football within their local communities, enabling children and adults to enjoy their football journeys.
Tickets for the clash between the two FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division sides are priced at £8 for adults, £4 for seniors aged 65+ and under 17/18s and £2 for under 16s. Billericay fans will be situated in the SD Samuels Stand, while Hashtag supporters will be in the Jax Sun Services Stand (Blocks 1-57). The Daggers are kindly supplying ball children to assist at the big match, and various special guests will additionally be in attendance.
You can still buy tickets by following this link. Enjoy all the build-up to the BBC Essex Women’s Cup Final on Twitter/X by following @EssexCountyFA and using the #EssexWomensCup hashtag, as well as by searching for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.
roads to the final
Billericay Town and Hashtag United
James Gibson's Billericay Town side have won this competition twice, last term with a 1-0 win over Hashtag United Reserves as well as in the 2018/19 campaign, where they ran out as 4-0 victors against C & K Basildon at the Len Salmon Stadium, home of Bowers & Pitsea FC.
The Blues entered at the quarter-final stage this year, and it was a repeat of last season's final as they locked horns with Hashtag's Reserves at New Lodge. It was also the exact same scoreline, with Chè Thomas netting the only goal of the game on 59 minutes. The following round saw Billericay take on their own Reserve Team.
This tie also occurred in last season's competition as Billericay's First Team secured a resounding 11-1 win. This semi-final wasn't as straightforward for Gibson's side, despite the 6-0 triumph. Debutant Louise Davis opened the scoring on 21 minutes before further goals from Ella Houghton, Zoe Rushen, a Leanne Bell brace and another from Davis sealed Billericay's place in the final.
During their fourth season in this competition, Jason Stephens’ Hashtag United have been competing in the upper echelons of the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division table, as well as reaching the BBC Essex Women's Cup Final.
The Tags have been making waves in the women's game in recent years, notably clinching the FA Women’s National League Cup with a 2-1 win over Newcastle United in March at Luton Town FC’s Kenilworth Road. In county cup action, Hashtag secured a 4-1 win over Bowers & Pitsea as Georgia Griffin netted on two occasions, with further goals coming from Jade Keogh and Sophie Baigent.
The Tags’ progress to the semi-finals saw them welcome Essex County Women's League outfit, Chelmsford City. There was a clear gulf in class between the two teams as Hashtag ran out as 11-0 winners. Baigent found her ruthless streak as she netted four. Griffin and Sammy Rowland scored twice, with Emma Samways, Valentine Pursey and Hayley West also getting on the scoresheet.
