Cup Final Success

WOMEN’S COUNTY CUP FINAL

Sunday 20th April 2008

Oxford City Ladies (0) 2 (Michelle Robinson 61, Stephanie Mobbs 90)
Henley Town Ladies (1) 1

Steph Mobb’s injury-time strike ensured that City retained the County Cup after a hard-fought game with Henley in front of an excellent crowd at Kidlington F.C.

City started favourites, having beaten Henley twice in the league this season, but Henley battled for every ball and created most of the chances early on, taking the lead with a well-placed shot from the edge of the area in the 32nd minute.

City, playing into the wind in the first half, struggled to impose themselves and their long-range shooting did not trouble Henley. In an attempt to chase the game, Deanne Tomkins was introduced at half-time despite not being fully fit, and City piled on the pressure in the second period.

Michelle Robinson’s fierce shot took a slight deflection and beat the Henley keeper just after the hour. City continued to dominate, with Tomkins just failing to hit the target on more than one occasion, but extra time looked likely until an excellent pass from Olivia Rollings set up Mobbs deep into injury time. Her cool finish just evaded the keeper’s grasp and took the cup back to Court Place Farm stadium.

City team: Steph Kubat – Lauren Carnell (capt), Carol Harwood, Heidi Hiscock – Abi Smith (sub Louise Craig 73 min), Claire Bates (sub Olivia Rollings 63 min), Michelle Robinson, Hannah Smye – Katie Totton (sub Deanne Tomkins ht), Rachel Catling, Steph Mobbs.

Cup Final Success

WOMEN’S COUNTY CUP FINAL

Sunday 20th April 2008

Oxford City Ladies (0) 2 (Michelle Robinson 61, Stephanie Mobbs 90)
Henley Town Ladies (1) 1

Steph Mobb’s injury-time strike ensured that City retained the County Cup after a hard-fought game with Henley in front of an excellent crowd at Kidlington F.C.

City started favourites, having beaten Henley twice in the league this season, but Henley battled for every ball and created most of the chances early on, taking the lead with a well-placed shot from the edge of the area in the 32nd minute.

City, playing into the wind in the first half, struggled to impose themselves and their long-range shooting did not trouble Henley. In an attempt to chase the game, Deanne Tomkins was introduced at half-time despite not being fully fit, and City piled on the pressure in the second period.

Michelle Robinson’s fierce shot took a slight deflection and beat the Henley keeper just after the hour. City continued to dominate, with Tomkins just failing to hit the target on more than one occasion, but extra time looked likely until an excellent pass from Olivia Rollings set up Mobbs deep into injury time. Her cool finish just evaded the keeper’s grasp and took the cup back to Court Place Farm stadium.

City team: Steph Kubat – Lauren Carnell (capt), Carol Harwood, Heidi Hiscock – Abi Smith (sub Louise Craig 73 min), Claire Bates (sub Olivia Rollings 63 min), Michelle Robinson, Hannah Smye – Katie Totton (sub Deanne Tomkins ht), Rachel Catling, Steph Mobbs.

Oxford Utd

SOUTHERN REGION WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

Oxford City (3) 8 (Michelle Robinson 29, Lauren Carnell 40, Katie Totton 45, 73, Rachel Catling 61, 70, 82, 84)
Oxford United (0) 0

Oxford City kept up their unbeaten league record and stayed in first place with a comprehensive victory over United.

United were in determined mood after heavy defeats in League Cup and County Cup but had no answer to City’s pace and movement. United offered nothing in attack – Steph Kubat did not have a shot to save and United rarely even managed to cross the halfway line.

City seemed to be over-elaborate around the area early on and Rachel Catling, Hannah Smye, Claire Bates and Michelle Robinson saw shots saved before Robinson finally broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, bringing the ball down expertly and firing home from close range.

City spurned several more chances but did score two more before half-time; first Lauren Carnell volleyed home beautifully from a Catling corner, then Katie Totton lobbed the keeper expertly from the edge of the area.

Catling, who had come close to scoring on a number of occasions in the first half, scored four after the break. Her first and fourth showed her trademark close control and balance; the first in particular seeing her beat four defenders before shooting. Her second and third showed great anticipation to beat the keeper to crosses from Smye and Tina Higgs respectively.

Totton also added a second with an excellent finish from an Olivia Rollings pass. Rollings was unfortunate to hit the post twice; Carnell also hit the post with a header, and Bates and Smye also only missed by inches.

This was an excellent all-round performance and City dominated the game from start to finish.

Team: Steph Kubat – Louise Craig, Lauren Carnell (capt), Heidi Hiscock – Abi Smith, Claire Bates, Michelle Robinson, Hannah Smye (sub Tina Higgs 71 min) – Katie Totton (sub Rachel Mullard 75 min), Olivia Rollings, Rachel Catling.

City face Henley in the County Cup Final on Sunday at Kidlington F.C. (kick-off 2 pm).