Derbyshire Schools FA U16 Girls Rep Squad Crowned Champions
Match Report by Holly Percival
Derbyshire County Schools FA (DCSFA) played in the final of the U16 Inter County Trophy for Girls where, after goals from Naomi Lawrence and Sheniel Lymer, they lifted the trophy.
The game started out with a rapid pace, with both teams trying to show their dominance, however it was DCSFA that quickly began to take control of possession.
DCSFA broke the deadlock half way through the first half after a long through ball found Lawrence, who went shoulder-to-shoulder with Sussex County Schools FA (SCSFA) centre-back Charesse Amatey, and she was able to slot the ball past goal keeper Lauren Graves.
Being 1-0 clearly had a positive impact on the Derby girls. For the remaining 20 minutes of the first half, they continued to dominate possession and had multiple goal scoring opportunities.
One chance opened-up for Ellie Marshall as her shot from 20 yards rose and skimmed off the top of the cross-bar, inches away from doubling their lead before the half time whistle.
The start of the second half saw SCSFA come out fighting and they were determined to find an equaliser to put them back into the game.
This however, was made difficult by Derby’s left back Lymer. After a long run up the left-hand side of the pitch, she cut inside and shot from 30 yards out. The ball dipped and hit the underside of the crossbar and into the goal, doubling her team’s lead just 50 minutes into the match.
The game lost its high intensity slightly after SCSFA substitute Olivia Walker was helped off the pitch with a knee injury just minutes after being brought on.
For the remainder of the game Sussex had a couple of chances, with one of their strikers, Tilly Gray, posing a small threat with a couple of shots on target, but it was nothing too strenuous for Derbyshire goal keeper Rosie Hodges.
DCSFA managed to hold out for a 2-0 win to become national champions.
They could also lift a second trophy of the season as they have made the Midlands Cup Final which will take place later this month, in which they will take on either Nottinghamshire County SFA or Staffordshire County SFA.
To see match highlights from the U16 Inter County Trophy Final click the link below:
