South East Counties Womens Football League - 1/4 Final League Cup
Hassocks 2 Haywards Heath Town 1 (Cath Diffey)- 10th Feb 2008
Hassocks and Haywards Heath served up a fine League Cup quarter final in the sunshine with Div 1 side Heath just being edged out in a thrilling match that was a fine advert for the Womens game . Having beaten Premier Div sides Petts Wood and Bexhill to reach this stage Heath knew that they could compete against another Premier Div side and so they proved as they attacked from the start . After just 8 minutes however Hassocks broke through and scored. Heath were not going to capitulate and as the half wore on, they got stronger and more confident, and the half ended with no further goals.
Heath came out in the second half and shocked Hassocks with their pressure and it was no surprise when within a minute, after Mel Bramley had gone close, Cath Diffey latched on to a through ball from Caz Walters , and calmly steered the ball in the corner to level the score . Heath were now clearly on top and for the next fifteen minutes took the game to Hassocks and looked the likely winners. However as in the first half, Heath were caught by a through ball and the Hassocks striker scored in the 28th minute of the half. Heath were shocked but came back well and both sides had chances to score, Heaths Lou Creasey being well placed to clear off the line from a Hassocks corner and Mica Saunders nearly equalised with the last kick of the game.
This was an excellent game played in a tremendous spirit by all the players and well supported by fans on both sides. Heath's striker, Jo Ashworth, was voted player of the match for another excellent game. All Heath's players however deserve a mention for this outstanding performance but special mention must go to Gemma Paull , playing for the 1sts for the first time this season, who came in at the last moment after Michelle Winnard pulled a hamstring in the warm-up. Heath travel next week to play local rivals Lindfield at Victoria Pk in Haywards Heath in a league game in good heart.
Team: Rachel Virgo; Gemma Paull; Debbie Johnson; Julie Hawthorne (Capt); Penny Gittins; Fran Pritlove; Caz Walters (Donna Onslow 85 mins ); Mel Bramley (Kim Donno 80 mins ); Lou Creasey; Cath Diffey (Mica Saunders 70 mins ); Jo Ashworth. Subs not used: Keveena Mosen, Michelle Winnard.
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