The current top two teams in the Hereford and Worcester Womens County Football League met each other in the League cup semi final at Droitwich Spa on Sunday in cool dank conditions.
Evesham started down the slope with the wind slightly behind them and took the game to Droitwich. Nicole Maher cut in from the left wing and put in a shot for the visitors, which went just passed the post after five minutes. The midfield battle continued with both teams competing well technically and physically, without any clear cut chances. Droitwich broke a couple of times but generally Evesham were edging the first half and five minutes before the break earned themselves another of a group of corners. Katie Armento swung the ball in from the left and Rosie Johns, the Evesham Captain, met the ball at the near post to bullet a header past the Droitwich keeper.
Few changes were made by either side at half time as the intensity increased in a very close game of few chances. However Droitwich started to get more into the game with the wind at their backs. A break down the left from Hannah Maiden, the host’s midfield player, saw her launch a high cross towards the Evesham goal which caught the wind and flew into the far left corner to equal the scores.
Both teams then raised the pace as much as they could to try and find a winner in the sapping conditions. Evesham spurned a couple of half chances as the ball flashed across the Droitwich goal and the goalkeeper pushing one shot round the post. Sophie Griffiths the Evesham right winger got a shot past the Droitwich keeper only to see it bounce back into the keepers hands off the post. Droitwich then put a chance wide and with five minutes to go a snap shot from he hosts striker brought a good save from Jess Newman the Evesham keeper to keep the scores level.
With the clock ticking towards extra time Hannah Watts returned to the midfield to replace Kasey Corbett and shortly after she put a through ball between the defenders which Hannah Campbell was able to latch on to and one on one with the keeper coolly slotted it in to give Evesham the lead. After much celebrating the match resumed with only enough time for Evesham to move the ball down the field before the final whistle blew, sending the visitors into the final against Ludlow.
The game was played in a very competitive but equally respectable manner and everyone watching commented on the quality of play with 2 teams playing good football in sticky conditions.
Players of the Match were given to Beth Roberts and Kasey Corbett for Droitwich and Evesham respectively.
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