A dominating performance for eighty minutes saw Long Lane win the under 16 Girls Kent FA Kent Reliance Cup in the second of the Ladies Day triple header at the Gallagher Stadium.

They were made to work for their crown though as Canterbury City came to spoil the party and they got close but the difference between the sides was the outstanding Aaliyeah Weiss-Forbes who ran the game scoring one and setting up the other two in  3-1 Long Lane triumph.

Long Lane took the lead when the desperately unlucky Daisy Harris couldn’t get out of the way of Weiss-Forbes shot – the ricochet creeping over the line as the assistant gave the goal.  Weiss-Forbes doubled the lead before the break with a shot that in cricketing parlons “yorked” keeper Lauren Vergo just before the break and Hannah Baker then made the result safe from Weiss-Forbes pass.  Ella Wilson did pull one back late on but it sadly wasn’t to be for City.

It was clear in the early stages that Canterbury would have to be at their very best to contend with their opponents and for quarter of an hour they did just that.  But then Weiss-Forbes got away down the left and her ball into the box hit the luckless Harris and as Canterbury tries desperately to clear the Assistants flag ruled the goal.  Worse was to follow for City as Weiss-Forbes shot seemingly didn’t bounce in front of keeper Vergo and almost apologetically squirmed over the goal-line to give Long Lane a 2-0 interval lead.

It was three just after the break with Weiss-Forbes turning provider with a powerful run that led to Baker firing home.  Three down and some teams would have wilted under the Long Lane pressure, but fair play to Canterbury as they came into the game as Zara Howard forced Keeper Chloe Wretham – who’s birthday Cup final day was – to tip onto the crossbar.  Frustration forced Libby Rowland to be cautioned before the same player was bravely denied by Wretham before Wilson fired over with the goal gaping!  She wasn’t to be denied though and finally managed to turn the ball into the net for the goal that City full deserved on the day that Long Lane deservedly won the trophy!

CANTERBURY CITY – Lauren Vergo, Maisy Walker, Zara Howard, Amy Tritton, Ellie Jordan, Cassia Pollard, Jodie Cain, Libby Rowland, Tiegan Stevens, Ella Wilson, Kloee Worboyes
Subs – Daisy Harris, Rosie Day & Isabel Day

LONG LANE JFC – Chloe Wretham, Francesca Turner, Shannon Donnelly, Taylor Jesney, Hannah Barham, Ciara Perry, Aaliyeah Weise-Forbes, Hannah Baker, Nnebuisi Douglas-Mogekwu, Natalia Filipek, Emma Macy
Subs – Robyn Paterson, Lily Newton, Sophia Cumberbatch & Faith Jones

Referee – Nicola Quayle
Assistants – Angela Hill, Adam Aylward & Kiara Gallagher