Farnborough’s fairytale season finish!
What a beautiful end to an incredible first season for this new team. Winning the league and the Hampshire FA Women’s trophy is the result of passion, hard work, and amazing teamwork from all involved!
Can’t wait to see what next year brings!
The following report published by Women’s Soccer Scene describes Farnborough FC Women’s 3 – 1 win against Bursledon Ladies beautifully.
Farnborough ended their debut season as double winners, adding the Adopt South Hampshire FA Trophy to their County League Division Three title.
The Trophy title was achieved against Bursledon, the outstanding Champions of Division One, with a performance of astonishing skill, determination and maturity.
Bursledon started the match with real control, turning the defence several times with early through balls. Farnborough goalkeeper Morgan Palmer denied the Bursledon forwards on three occasions with timely and brave blocks on the edge of her area.
From 20 minutes onwards the encounter changed in nature as Farnborough took control, winning tackles and getting player of the match Ellie Stalley on the ball. She opened the scoring on 33 minutes with a long range strike which went in via the crossbar and nearly added a second two minutes later after a superb build up.
Bursledon applied plenty of pressure early in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser on 55 minutes. Kirby Anderson swung in a low corner and Palmer mistimed her punched clearance on the goal line.
Undeterred, Farnborough retook control and Ellie Stalley added a delightful second on 66 minutes. A throw in found the prolific striker running parallel to the 18-yard line fa seand she timed her low strike perfectly into the bottom left corner.
The Division One champions tried everything to get back into the game but skipper Leighann May and her fellow defenders were so strong and well organised that no real chances came their way.
Farnborough sealed the Trophy late on when Esme Parsons converted an Ellie Stalley corner in additional time for a deserved win, celebrated in style with a large group of travelling supporters to cap a fabulous first season for Craig Shields’ team.
Farnborough FC Women: Morgan Palmer, Leighann May, Georgina Stalley, Ana Pitts, Natalia Margilewska, Jade Nightingale, Esme Parsons, Ellie Stalley, Izabel Woodger, Leah Lakritz, Steph Poole. Subs: Katie Taylor, Ailsa Winter, Nellie Cooke, Rozie Slack, Mia Dempsey.
Report by Patrick Higgins (Women’s Soccer Scene)