Date | Sunday 2 March 2014 |
Match | Watford Ladies v Royston Town Ladies |
Competition | Herts FA Women's Cup: Semi-Final |
Result | Won 3-1 |
Royston Scorers | Rutherford(2), Gannaway |
Royston Town Ladies booked their place in the County Cup Final after an outstanding team performance against a very talented Watford side.
From the very start Royston played a high tempo pressing game and they were unlucky not to take the lead in the second minute when striker Jo Rutherford broke through the hosts defence only to be denied by a great blocking tackle. However Rutherford made amends when on 10 minutes she hit an unstoppable 30 yard volley into the top corner of the net.
With Royston’s midfield of Heather Parete, Paige Rolfe and Hannah Mardell dominating proceedings the visitors continued to create chances and a storming run and cross from Emma Phipps saw Rutherford nearly make it 2–0.
A lapse in concentration saw Watford equalise from a corner on the half hour but undeterred Royston kept up the pressure and Rutherford beat the offside trap to neatly side-foot passed the advancing Watford keeper to give the visitors the lead going into half time.
If the first half belonged to Royston it was clear that Watford were in no mood to let that continue and they mounted wave after wave of attacks and it looked certain they would equalise. However, the Royston defence of Rebekah Frisk, Katie Seymour, Amy Cooper and skipper Gemma Barlow put in a brilliant performance and on the few occasions they did create chances they were denied by some great goalkeeping from Grace Leslie.
The defining moment came with six minutes left when Amy Shepherd, playing her last game for Royston before leaving to coach in the USA, played a killer past inside the box to Georgia Gannaway who showed great composure to increase Royston’s lead.
On the final whistle Town’s Manager Lewis Endacott commented "I couldn’t have asked for anything more from my players who, against a very good footballing side, delivered a magnificent team performance. I’m very proud of them all."