A goal in each half saw Stevenage FCW Under 23s advance to the semi final stage of the Herts County Plate as they brushed Garston Ladies Mets to one side last weekend. With the first team game at Royston being postponed due to Storm Isha the focus fell onto the Under 23s to make it to the semi final stage of the inaugural county competition.
Boro’ started strongly and earned a free kick from Ella Mercer was turned behind for a corner that was punched away by Lauren Nolan in the Mets goal.
After Madison Bradbury saw her effort held by Mia O’Brien, Boro’ attacked and Nolan was called into action again as she was forced to tip a vicious shot from Ella Hayes over the bar. It took just two more minutes for the ball to finally ripple the net.
This time it was Hayes who turned provider as she squared the ball for Chloe Gregory to send the ball goalwards from around twelve yards out and beat a sprawling Nolan. It marked her first goal for the U23s having recently been called up to the starting eleven.
Boro’ were the only team really creating chances of note and were incredibly close to a second just six minutes later. Mercer fed Anaise Corrigan who sent a hard left footer high onto the underside of the bar. The ball bounced down and away from goal for Hayes to meet, but her effort was over the bar.
There was worries for captain Neave Wilson as she was caught in a heavy tackle, but with a light bench, she continued to battle on. There was no such luck when Ellie Merkis was struggling and she was withdrawn to be replaced by Lucy Fox – traditionally a goalkeeper.
Incredibly, just three minutes later, Fox was nearly on the scoresheet as the ball fell loose in the area. Her first shot was sliced and her second cleared off the line. The remainder of the first half passed by without major incident apart from a yellow card for Molly-May Double and a great save by O’Brien from Nicole Zerman on the stroke of regulation time.
The game lasted another eight minutes before the half ended, which was enough time to see Corrigan shoot wide across goal and Holly Southam heading the ball behind for a corner that landed behind the goal. It gave the impression of a goal which fooled a few Garston fans, something that has caught a few viewers at The County Ground before!
Boro’ started reasonably brightly in the early part of the second half and within ten minutes had seen Amana Oguntuga shoot at Nolan before Corrigan was fed a brilliant ball which she knocked around Nolan and slotted home to put daylight between the two sides.
Boro’ played with ten for a few minutes as Mercer received treatment and as she returned she sent a delicious curling effort towards goal that narrowly swerved wide of the far post. Mercer was on a mission and minutes later had been sent through. Her shot was past an advancing Nolan, but rebounded off the post.
Garston’s best chance arrived with twenty-one minutes remaining. Emillie Driscoll-Mooney had shown an unbelievable piece of skill seconds earlier as she controlled the ball with a backheel to get past the defence. However, when she came face to face with O’Brien, the Boro’ stopper came out on top before Driscoll-Mooney could pounce.
The rest of the game petered out as Garston ran out of puff and Stevenage dropped a few gears as well. Corrigan did have one more opportunity that was seized by Nolan, but the result was not in doubt and the game drew to a climax with the ERWFL Division One side coming out on top against the Beds & Herts WFL Division One leaders.
Manager Shaun Channer felt “We didn’t give the best account of ourselves, but it is a huge positive that we can win a game like this when we have more to give. The opposition made it difficult for us, which is good, and I hope we can continue this momentum going forward.” The League plate is just around the corner as another chance of silverware arrives, but in this competition, a home tie against St Margaretsbury awaits in February.
Stevenage U23 XI – O’Brien, Rice, Wilson, Southam, Hayes, Merkis, Matfield, Gregory, Mercer, Oguntuga, Corrigan
Subs: Fox
Goals: Gregory, Corrigan
Garston Mets XI – Nolan, Durkin, Double, Bradbury, Edmunds, Page, Rowe, Andrews, Griffiths, Driscoll-Mooney, Zerman
Subs: Turner, Shahini, Maloney, Veriiander
Booked: Double
You can see Stevenage FCW First Team in action at The Len Salmon Stadium against Bowers & Pitsea on Sunday 28th January. This will be an away fixture in the League Cup Quarter Final – keep your eyes on the social media platforms for more details - @stevenagefcw
The Under 23s will be in League Plate action as they travel to Stanway Pegasus on the same date.
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