Tonbridge Angels Ladies (6) 7 Janes 1,9,11,45+3 Akehurst 30 Moran 45+1 (pen) Coombes 61
Diamond United Ladies (1) 3 Metland 6 Langstone 65,78
Attendance: 131
Donation: £2
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/7,793
Four first half goals from Becky Janes including an opening goal after just 15 seconds paved the way for Tonbridge Angels Ladies to reach their first ever cup final next month.
Ashford-based Diamond United were blown away in a devastating opening half-hour from the home side who flourished in the wide open spaces of Longmead Stadium.
Direct from the kick-off, Megan Akehurst sped clear down the right wing to deliver an inch perfect cross for Janes to glance a header past the visiting goalkeeper, Terri Bryant, who had remained rooted to her line.
To their credit, Diamond, who ply their trade in the division below the Angels, fought back to equalise after six minutes when Amy Metland fired a shot past Sam Wright with the referee allowing the crosser of the ball to play on despite the raising of a flag by the linesman.
Janes went close on eight minutes firing just wide of the post but, a minute later, curled an absolute beauty into the top corner from 20 yards to restore the Angels’ lead.
A fourth goal in the first 11 minutes came when a corner delivered by Alex Weston was headed home by Janes to complete a quick-fire hat-trick.
The Diamonds, backed by a noisy contingent in an impressive attendance of 131, were not lying down and stemmed the tide for a period before Janes turned provider sending Megan Akehurst clear to cooly convert past Bryant on the half-hour.
Diamond were very unlucky three minutes later when Jordan Langstone drove a shot across the face of goal and, after the ball was recycled, Olivia Macdonald smacked a shot against a post.
Chances fell to the Angels’ Akehurst and Janes before two goals in time-added effectively killed off the Diamond’s challenge. Becky Jarvis was bundled over in the box for Kelly Moran to convert from the spot and this was followed by Janes outpacing her markers to fire under the keeper for her fourth and Tonbridge’s sixth of the half.
The rolling substitutions took some of the momentum away from Tonbridge in the second half but they created chances with Janes being twice denied by the Diamond’s goalkeeper, who had played outfield in the first half.
The Angels went 7-1 in front just past the hour when Jody Coombes curled a free kick into the top corner.
With a six goal deficit it would be almost understandable if the visitor’s heads had gone down, but they should be given great credit for a stirring fightback that saw Langstone outpace the Angels’ defence to fire into the bottom corner after 65 minutes and then to repeat the act with 12 minutes remaining.
However, that was as good as it got for Diamond as the Angels closed out the game on the front foot with a couple of chances falling to Nancy Syrett and Coombes.
The final will be played at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium on Thursday, 17th May against the winners of the other semi-final between Thamesview and Petts Wood.
No comments:
Post a Comment