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Durham County Cup Final
South Durham & Cestria v Jarrow Ladies
Today the girls had their penultimate game of the season v Jarrow in the final of the County Cup. Jarrow had won their own league so we knew they would be up for it and would rightly fancy their chances.
SD&C lined up with 7 u17 outfield players, as they have done for much of what has been a successful season thus far, ably supported by 'veterans' Caz Ross, Jen Jennings and Becky Hanratty with Alex Saunders in goal. The u17's moving up from the successful Cestria Galaxy team were familiar with a lot of the Jarrow players from past skirmishes with Nissan and Tyneside who provide the bulk of the Jarrow team.
SD&C kicked off in glorious sunshine on the lush pitch but it was Jarrow who started the brighter. For the first ten minutes Jarrow were on top and camped out in the SD&C half. They really should have capitalised in this period of superiority and maybe gain a foothold in the game but fortunately the SD&C goal remained intact.
The first Cestria goal came in the 14th minute through the dangerous Rosie Young, proving to be a thorn in the side for the Jarrow team. For all Cestria's neat passing they had to wait till the 36th minute for the second goal to arrive, but what a goal it was. The ball ricocheted off Zoe Ness into the path of right back Meg Lawson lurking on the edge of the area who volleyed it straight in the top corner via the post, cue a mazy celebration run, complete with shirt over the head and sports bra out!
Further chances went begging to increase the lead but the score remained till half time.
HT SD&C 2-0 Jarrow Ladies
Cestria were determined to add to their tally and put the game beyond reach of their opponents and sure enough the third goal arrived through midfielder Beth Hepple who finished neatly after beating a couple of players. Rosie Young added her second and Cestria's 4th in the 55th minute and by now Jarrow were tiring after chasing shadows for much of the game and not really being able to keep any kind of possession. Megan Beel came on and scored twice in her cameo role, either side of a Becky Hanratty cracker after great work by Zoe Ness who provided the cross.
FT SD&C 7-0 Jarrow Ladies
Just one more game to go now against Huddersfield Town which, if we win, will see us crowned league champions. That would be some achievement for a predominantly u17 team in their first senior season.
Well played to Jarrow who have had a fantastic season and look forward to life a division higher next year. Maybe today was just a game too far in a long season.
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