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WOMENS REP TEAM
 
 

EAST ANGLIAN COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIP
Womens Division 
Hertfordshire    1  v  2    Essex

Tuesday 26th February 2008, Letchworth County Ground
 
Essex Women battled from a goal behind to clinch victory with a 2-1 win in Hertfordshire as super-sub Laura Brown grabbed the winner with her very first touch.
Andrea Wright had previously levelled for the County in the first half, breaking the hearts of Hertfordshire who, only a minute earlier, had edged themselves in front with their first goal of a difficult season.
 
"The way we have battled tonight has been fantastic," said Essex boss Kim Coster, toasting her birthday, after the game. "We scored two great goals and could have had a few more as we created some decent chances and hit the post just before they got their goal."
 
"It was a fantastic goal from Laura to win it," continued Kim. "To calmly lob the keeper like that with your first touch is fantastic! Andrea Wright's goal was really well taken too and I think we deserved the win. We did soak up a bit of pressure at times but our defence coped well and I'm really pleased."

Herts, searching for their first East Anglian points of the campaign, started well and on twelve minutes Natalie Adams wasted a fine chance to put the home side ahead, firing over the crossbar after Steph Cripps' low cross had squirmed out of the grasp of Essex goalkeeper Michelle Bridgeman.

Just three minutes later, though, only some impressive defending denied Essex the lead as Nicola Carty ended her fine run with a shot flicked past 'keeper Amy Carr that was brilliantly cleared off the line by Anita Cox. Jo Rutherford, enjoying a fine first half, zipped a twenty-yard shot just over the crossbar before hitting a low shot which was well held by Bridgeman.

On 29 minutes Essex were cruelly denied by the foot of a post after Carty had neatly turned and fired goalwards and just two minutes later the home county were ahead, Miranda Hall chipping a fine fifteen-yard finish over the advancing Bridgeman.

Essex responded perfectly, forcing themselves back on level terms within sixty seconds, Andrea Wright beating the offside trap before coolly finishing past Carr into the top corner.

It was Essex who enjoyed the best of the early play after the interval and, after a neat Carty through ball, Wright smashed a shot inches over the top from a most acute angle.

Steph Belcher slid a low effort wide of the near post for the home side but the visitors continued to press and Liane Prior's great run forward saw her stab wide after latching onto Lynsey Bowman's clever pass.

The winner arrived on 70 minutes. Chelmsford City striker Brown had been on the pitch a mere eighty seconds when she spotted Carr off her line and brilliantly executed a lob that dropped just underneath the crossbar.

It was the last real action of the game, but Essex showed great organisation and determination to keep Herts at bay as they the home side enjoyed much of the late possession and, despite some five minutes of stoppage time, the county held on for their second victory of the season.

Hertfordshire: Amy Carr (Arsenal) (Trippoli Witney [Tring Athletic], 85), Kelly Hughes (Watford), Anita Cox (Watford), Laura Jackson (Watford), Natalie Cole (Hemel Hempstead Town), Danika O'Riordan (Watford) (Kath O'Toole [Watford], 46), Natalie Adams (Hemel Hempstead Town), Miranda Hall (Watford), Steph Belcher (Welwyn Garden City) (Gaby Macis [Watford], 74), Steph Cripps (Hemel Hempstead Town), Jo Rutherford (Watford). Unused Substitute: Nicole Harvey (Watford).

Essex: Michelle Bridgeman (Dagenham & Redbridge), Kerri Binks (Chelmsford City), Antonia Vassallo (West Bergholt), Liane Prior (Barking Ladies) (Bryany Lynche [Brentwood Town], 87), Olivia Worsfold (Brentwood Town), Vanessa Wilson (Billericay Ladies), Lynsey Bowman (Braintree Town) (Laura Brown [Chelmsford City], 68), Nicole Manning (Dagenham & Redbridge) (Laken Duchar-Clark [Braintree Town], 82), Nicola Carty (Dagenham & Redbridge), Zoe Rushen (Braintree Town), Andrea Wright (Saffron Walden Town). Unused Substitute: Kiran Hare (Colchester United).

Referee: Paul Brownsell (Hatfield).

Assistant Referees: Brian Robson (Welwyn Garden City) and David Bailey (Stevenage).