Harriers Ladies contest the County Cup Final this weekend – here’s what you need to know
By Matty Paddock - 25/04/2018
Posted 8 years ago
HARRIERS Ladies must dig deep to rediscover some of their form from earlier in the season as they bid to put recent defeats behind them ahead of this weekend’s County Cup Final.
The reds meet Cookley Sports in the final of the Worcestershire FA Sunday Women’s Cup in Worcester this coming Sunday.
The team will be looking to bounce back in in some style. Since a mammoth 12-1 victory over Rugby Town, James Astle’s girls have lost their last three league and cup matches – the most recent a chastening defeat to Coventry Sphinx. Another goal from top scorer Alex Nicklin proved to be a mere consolation for a Harriers side who were hit for five at COSE – far from ideal preparations for the weekend ahead.
There is much to be positive about, however. After a tricky start to the new league season in the West Midlands Regional League, Harriers swept most teams aside during the winter months. Prior to the blip in form, the side had won eight of their last nine games – home wins over Droitwich Spa, Solihull United and Solihull Sporting among them.
With 21 in all competitions, Nicklin’s goals have been a huge boost to the Harriers this term. She has been ably assisted, among others, by the likes of Amie Savva and skipper Amber Lawrence who have frequently been among the goals.
Positive
The season – Astle’s first as manager – ought to be considered a positive one irrespective of the outcome of Sunday’s game. The former Wolves chief will see his side achieve a respectable finish in a new division following promotion last time around. They’ll do so in good scoring touch as well – Harriers have, to date, been out-scored only by top-of-the-table Gornal, the reds having netted on 62 occasions in league action.
As well as a County Cup Final, Harriers also reached the semi-final of the League Cup, where their progress was ultimately halted by Coventry Sphinx.
Sunday’s opponents, Cookley Sports, have enjoyed a solid enough season of their own in the Midwest Counties Regional Football League -the division from which Harriers won promotion last season.
They banished an opening-day defeat to TDMS Ladies to wallop Areley Kings 10-0, a result that sparked a run of five wins from seven games. Their place in the final was secured with a win against, ironically enough, TDMS Ladies – though they needed a nail-biting penalty shoot-out to clinch it.
Influential
Harriers, meanwhile, dispatched Droitwich Spa Ladies 5-0 in their semi-final, played back in November. Skipper Lawrence was influential with a hat-trick on that day, while Kirsty Roberts also netted a brace.
The game between Harriers and Cookley Sports takes place on Sunday, 29th April 2018 with a 1:30pm kick-off at the County Sports Ground, Claines Lane, Worcester. (WR3 7SS). Admission is £3 for adults, £2 for concessions and £1 for children (under 5 years old free).
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