South London Blues produced a thoroughly “professional” performance in landing the under 16s Girl Cup as they dominated Petts Wood Chicks early on, eventually edging a cagey first half and when the crucial third goal was needed, showed nerves of steel from twelve yards.

Emma Welsh and Chloe Obando scored the goals that had the Blues in front at the break before skipper Ellie Cole kept her cool and composure drilling home the games clinching goal from twelve yards. Overall, the Blues with Obando key to most good things they did going forward were fully deserving of their win.

Blues boss Joe Fazzino was full of praise for his players when he spoke to KSN. “They played really well and go the ball down and played – fair play to Petts Wood, I thought they were outstanding – but in the end I think just a bit of class told in the end! You saw at the end when the girls helped the injured Khyri (McKenzie) up to get her medal, its what the clubs all about. There’s a strong unbreakable bond and that got us through today.”

Steve Tingey, the Petts Wood boss, knew the importance of the first goal. “The girls have done brilliantly – eight of the fourteen are playing a year up and so we’ll be hoping to come back and do it again. But the best team won today – South London – we gave them a game second half but maybe one or two of the girls froze a little bit in the first half and it was a bit too much to get back. We knew the first goal would be important – we’ve played them four times now and when we’ve scored first, we’ve beaten them,” Coach Tingey shrugged his should and added, “But I’m incredibly proud of them and they’ll come again”

The Chicks goal had an amazing let off early on when Khyri McKenzie’s looping shot came back off the bar before Chloe Obando’s follow up came back off the post and into the grateful arms of keeper Zoe Wright- Cook. Obando then continued the Blues lively start testing the finger tips of keeper Wright-Cook, who did well to tip over a fierce drive.

The Blues eventually deservedly took the lead when Welsh outpaced a defender to a bouncing ball and managed to beat the onrushing keeper to prod the ball home – the final rolls almost apologetically into the Chicks net!

The lead was doubled when Welsh turned provider with a superb ball in from the left which was side-footed home brilliantly at the front post by the fast arriving Obando.

After the opening to the second half was played out with a lot of huffing and puffing from both sides without any real conviction, Blues third duly arrived from a penalty following hand ball on the line after a corner wasn’t dealt with before Captain Cook placed underneath the keepers dive.

Try as they might, the Chicks couldn’t get back into the contest and the final whistle meant that the Blues had their hands on the Counties top silverware. This was a final played in a great spirit and friendship between the two sides which was highlighted at the Trophy presentation where first the injured McKenzie was carried forward by her team-mates to receive her deserved medal and then after the presentations, both teams merged into one for an under 16s picture – great to see and a credit to both sides.

PETTS WOOD CHICKS – Zoe Wright-Cook, Addie Codling, Tanna Jackson, Isobel Buchanan, Francesca Nelson, Lani Bakewell, Ella Williams, Erin Wilkinson, Rebecca Tingley, Neve Wilkinson, Hannah Steven

Subs – Rochelle Mayne, Maddie Horton, Abigail Steven & Codie Davis

SOUTH LONDON BLUES – Maisie O’Halloran, Chelsea Skinner, Amani Shafi, Sydonnie Fazzion, Ellie Cole, Sophie Clarke, Chloe Obando, Amy Hodgetts, Emma Welsh, Keeley Harding-Smith, Khyri McKenzie

Subs – Martha Smith, Vinaya Dussooa, Thalia McDougall, Ellen Chaplin, & Tiana Rhodius

REFEREE – Charlie Wealands

ASSISTANTS – Callum Moore & Jacob Henwood

FOURTH OFFICIAL – Kieran Bradley

Pictures supplied by PSP Images