Essex women win - but are denied East Anglian cup

7:27am Friday 2nd May 2008

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East Anglian Counties Women's Championship
Essex 2 Norfolk 1

Essex narrowly missed out on East Anglian Counties Women's Championship glory despite defeating Norfolk 2-1 at a rain-drenched Broad Lane, Nicola Carty and Lynsey Bowman netting the winning goals on the night.

The county were narrowly edged-out on winning the title when Suffolk failed to recover a two-goal deficit against Cambridgeshire elsewhere, but Essex boss Kim Coster was still delighted with her first campaign in charge.

"The girls have been superb," she declared, "not just tonight, but throughout the entire season. They have worked really hard for this, and it's brilliant to end the year unbeaten."

Essex completed the season with four victories and two draws and were the only county to take a point off of the champions.

"When I consider the base we started from, we have achieved a lot," Coster added.

"I hope I can retain this squad into next season and then we can push on for the championship."

Although Nicola Carty had an early effort saved by Norfolk goalkeeper Emma Fletcher, it was the visitors who created most of the early chances. Jemma Smythe's left-wing cross had to be palmed off the head of Gemma Farman by Michelle Bridgeman whilst Laken Duchar-Clark watched anxiously as her skimming header from another Smythe centre fizzed past her own post.

On the whole, the back line of Duchar-Clark, Olivia Worsfold and Antonia Vassallo held firm in front of Bridgeman, and Essex reaped the rewards with a stunning counter-attacking goal.

Laura Brown slid-in bravely to win the ball in midfield and Zoe Rushen threaded Carty in behind the defence. The Dagenham & Redbridge forward spotted Fletcher off of her line and crafted a lob into the corner of the goal.

Rushen was involved in front of her own net, nodding Smythe's header off of the goal-line, whilst at the other end Lynsey Bowman was unfortunate to see her swerving shot shepherded onto the outside of the left-hand upright by Fletcher.

Despite Norfolk holding the territorial advantage, and Smythe powering another aerial effort just wide, Essex asked plenty of questions on the break, with Brown seeing a shot deflected over and then touching the ball wide of the post, Fletcher narrowing the angle.

Deep into first-half stoppage time, Norfolk deservedly equalised. Bridgeman failed to claim Nicola Stolworthy's corner, and Kate Parsons and Nicola Bray both attempted to stab in, with the latter getting the decisive touch.

In torrential rain, Essex proceeded to dominate the second half, although they were made to wait for their winner. Chelmsford City striker Brown was denied in the opening seconds when Fletcher made an excellent block, before Carty's strong shot was also kept out by the Norwich City blocker.

Carty believed she had added her second of the evening when she stooped cleverly to nod in Rushen's cross, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

However, the same short corner routine proved effective at the mid-way point of the half when Bowman scored in spectacular fashion. Having been worked into a shooting position on the right-hand edge of the penalty area by substitute Jemma Beard, the Braintree Town winger whipped a curled effort just inside the far post.

Bowman could have scored a third for the county when Brown's intelligent reverse pass set her free on the left, but a disappointing shot dribbled across the face of goal.

Despite some nervous moments - Parsons headed wide and also sent a hopeful punt into Bridgeman's gloves - Essex held-on in torrid conditions to claim victory.

Essex: Michelle Bridgeman (Dagenham & Redbridge), Kerri Binks (Chelmsford City Jemma Beard (West Ham United), 46), Antonia Vassallo (West Bergholt), Marie Barker (Billericay), Olivia Worsfold (Brentwood Town), Laken Duchar-Clark (Braintree Town), Lynsey Bowman (Braintree Town Emma Wells (Chelmsford City), 90+1), Nicole Manning (Dagenham & Redbridge Carla Dickinson (Braintree Town), 79), Nicola Carty (Dagenham & Redbridge), Zoe Rushen (Braintree Town), Laura Brown (Chelmsford City). Unused subs: Kiran Hare (Colchester United) and Hollie Dimambro (Thurrock & Tilbury).