Maidstone Lift the U14 Girls Cup!

Maidstone United FC 2 - 0 Danson Sports FC

A double from Margret Adekunle was enough to win the Kent Under 14 Girls Youth Cup for Maidstone United on a sunny Sunday morning at the Gallagher.  But Danson Sports can count themselves unlucky to come across a defensive unit so on their game that they literally put an Amber and Black wall across the Gallagher Stadium pitch.

At the other end, Adekunle was the goalscoring heroine prodding home from a first half corner, and then racing clear late on to seal the win, but it was the performance as a defensive unit of Francesca Stannard, Tegan Whitten and player of the match Emily Moss who were the real stars for Maidstone.

 “What more could we have done?” asked Sports boss Ron Box – bitterly disappointed at the result yet so full of admiration for his sides efforts.  He told KSN, “They did fantastic; first half went by a bit quick for us although second half I think we improved.  I was thinking we could get a draw but maybe we pushed forward a bit too much looking for an equaliser.  It was one of those days but its been a great day for the club!”

After a tight opening, the first goal was something of a surprise as the Danson defence allowed a corner to go right to the back post where an unmarked Adekunle hammered the ball home.

It could have been two nil had Macey Hall not missed her kick when well placed before Danson rallied and Thea Willmore whistled a drive the wrong side of the Maidstone left post.  The move of the half came as the first half ended – Chelsey Box did really well for Danson down the right before finding Sophie Boyns but her first time shot went straight at keeper Isabelle Wright.

Danson opened the second half more brightly and were desperately unlucky not to draw level when Erin Shelbourn’s shot smashed against the Stones cross bar and rebounded to safety.  Moments later Box sent a swinging dipping almost lob in which just didn’t dip enough and dropped agonisingly onto the outside of the Maidstone net.

Emily Adamson was next to go close for Danson who were pulling Maidstone all over the Gallagher pitch but couldn’t find a way through – Adamson’s shot deflecting on its way through, but still needed a smart save from Wright diving to her left.  Wright was becoming increasingly busy and did well to hang on to a Box cross that almost escaped her grasp as Hadessa Samuel waited for the mistake.

Then totally against the run of play, the lead was doubled – Adekundle held off a couple of defenders before shooting into the bottom corner beyond the despairing dive of Sports keeper Lola Hearn and into the net.

Not even Hearn’s appearance at the other end at a corner could breach the Stones back line of Stannard, Whitten or Moss which held firm magnificently and were the primary reasons why the Cup was destined to stay at the Gallagher Stadium.

MAIDSTONE UNITED FC – Isabelle Wright, Francesca Stannard, Tegan Whitten, Emily Moss, Aysia Chopra, Chloe Fin, Magret Adekunle, Emily Kloppers, Macey Hall, Charlotte Butterworth, Grace Sallis
Subs – Erin Canga & Scarlett Goad

DANSON SPORTS FC – Lola Hearn, Emily Adamson, Emel Huseyin, Freya McKenzie, Erin Shelbourn, Hadessa Samuel, Thea Willmore, Manuella Aghogho, Chloe Boyns, Sophie Boyns, Chelsey Box
Subs – Ellie-Paige Robinson & Olivia Edwards

REFEREE – Beth Dunkin
ASSISTANTS – Imogen Ellis & Isabelle Quinney
FOURTH OFFICIAL – Rhiannon Morgan