Under 14's progress to Middlesex County Cup Final

Today the under 14s faced league rivals Kinja in the Semi Final of the Middlesex County Cup. After the girls got told by their manager to go for it the girls started very positively. After the first minute Katie Akerman put a ball through to Kayleigh Currivan who hit the side netting. The Denham girls carried on very strongly dominating the game, with the defence of Charlotte Parrett, Chloe Smith, Reanna Isaacs and Jess Stickley keeping it very tight and the midfield winning every ball. After 15 minutes the management changed the system which progressed onto Denham getting a free kick 25 yards out which Kayleigh floated in for Katie to head in to give Denham a well deserved 1-0 lead.

Denham carried on dominating and after 31 mins Kinja had a one off breakaway which they got a lucky toe on the ball to level the score. 1-1. The girls were unlucky not to take the lead when Kayleigh's 2nd free kick just went over the cross bar.

At half time the girls got told to carry on playing how they were playing as they were the better team but also got told to get their shots off on goal a lot quicker and the goals would come. However they started the second half slowly but grew into it again. They nearly took the lead again when Charlotte coming back from a corner got hold of the ball and took a shot on goal only for the goal keeper to just get her fingertips on it to tip it over the bar.

Kodi Spencer was also unlucky not to score when her shot was also denied by Kinja's keeper. However, On 14 minutes Denham got a corner and Katie tricked the defence by staying down, Kayleigh took a short corner to Katie who in turn drilled it in to hit the back post and into the back of the net to bring the game to 2-1 Denham. Kinja tried pushing on but with Maddie Vilday, Julia Thurauf, Kodi Spencer and Jess Carter holding the Midfield, together with Charlotte, Chloe and Jess Stickley holding the defence solidly especially Charlotte having their main striker in her back pocket Kinja found it hard to get through. However a mix up between our goalie and centre back allowed Kinja to score an easy goal to bring the score level again 2-2.

Goal Keeper Gracie Perkis who other than the two unlucky goals had very little to do until the end of the game when she pulled off a fantastic save and brought the game into extra-time. Extra time started with Chloe pushing on from the right of defence and Jess Stickley pushing down from the left Denham soon took control of the remaining extra time. With Denham pushing for the winner and playing some great football winning everything in the air, the girls got their reward when another corner was whipped in by Kayleigh and this time Katie was there to power in the winning goal with a great header and get her well deserved hat trick. There was no individual player of the match as everyone of the girls gave a fantastic performance.

Manager Mark Currrivan and Coach Gary Perkis said the girls played outstanding football and showed real strength of character against their league rivals and fully deserved the win. The Kinja Manager also came over to the girls and praised them for their performance. The girls now face either Qpr or Tottenham in the Final.