Hethersett Athletic

Hethersett Athletic's vice-chairman Sue Milne reports on the inaugural Easton Challenge Cup which took place at Easton College on Wednesday 23rd August, 2006 and featured ladies teams from Arsenal, Ipswich Town, Barchester United and Hethersett Athletic.

Hethersett Athletic hosted the first ever 'Easton Challenge Cup' competition which took place at Easton College. Joining Hethersett Athletic in the competition were: Arsenal, Ipswich Town and Barchester United.

Hethersett have a very young and talented squad this season who have been training extremely hard during pre-season, under the guidance of coach/manager, Tom Parke.

The team had already seen rewards for all their hard work, a few weeks earlier when they travelled to Essex University and came runners up in the Essex 11-a-side tournament having made a name for themselves by beating Crystal Palace ‘B’ and Brighton and Hove Albion to reach the final. Hethersett gave a fantastic display of football against their opponents Crystal Palace, who are in the second highest League in the country, and gracefully accepted runners-up place having narrowly lost 1-0. The Hethersett squad is photographed below.

The Easton Challenge Cup saw yet another marvellous display of football from all four teams involved. Once again Hethersett reached the final having won all three matches and not conceding a single goal. Hethersett beat Barchester 1-0, Ipswich 1-0 and Arsenal 1-0. The final saw Hethersett and Arsenal meet for the second time. The match remained 0-0 at full time and went to penalties. After five penalties each the score remained level and the teams were exposed to the dreaded sudden death nightmare. Arsenal had the rub of the green and proudly became the first winners of the Easton Challenge Cup 2006. The Hethersett team is pictured below.

Hethersett Football Club would like to thank all participants, officials, ball boys and girls, spectators and sponsors for all their hard work and support. Thank you to Easton College for their hospitality. Without the support of college principal, David Lawrence, the tournament would not have been possible. A very big thank-you goes to, special guest, Nicola Hobbs. The club is proud to have a connection with Nicola as she played in goal for the club three seasons ago. Nicola, (19 years of age), currently plays with Lincoln Ladies and has recently made both clubs history by becoming the first player to represent her country at senior international level, being called up by England manager Hope Powell after a successful U21 campaign in the Nordic Cup. Nicola is an excellent example to all and is the perfect role model for all the young players at the Easton Challenge Cup.

Nicola said: “The Easton Challenge Cup is an excellent showcase for young upcoming talent in Ladies football, and I am delighted to be part of it”. Nicola is pictured below with Hethersett's present 'keeper Chelsea Salmon.

Full Results and squads for the Easton Challenge Cup were as follows:

Group Matches

Hethersett Athletic	1	Barchester United	0
Arsenal	1	Ipswich Town	0
Hethersett Athletic	1	Ipswich Town	0
Arsenal	0	Barchester United	0
Hethersett Athletic	1	Arsenal	0
Ipswich Town	1	Barchester United	1

Group Table (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 1 point for each goal scored)

	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Points
Hethersett Athletic	3	3	0	0	3	0	12
Arsenal	3	1	1	1	1	1	5
Barchester United	3	0	2	1	1	2	3
Ipswich Town	3	0	1	2	1	3	2

Third/Fourth Place Play Off

Barchester United 1 Ipswich Town 5

Final

Hethersett Athletic 0 Arsenal 0

(Arsenal won 5-4 on penalties)

SQUADS:

Arsenal Ladies: Becky Spencer, Alice Beckley, Cally Rowell, Gilly Flaherty, Christie Turner, Abbie Prosser, Natasha McConnville, Leigh Holes, Leah Cowan, Vicky Smith, Sarah Wiltshire, Cara Beckenridge, Dominique Hume, Ashliegh Goddard, Lauren Williams, Jade Holes.

Barchester United: Keighly Ellwood, Jemma Bothington, Tash Evans, Gemma Hamilton, Chelsea Shorten, Nikki Leese, Lyndy King, Jemma Hallam, Kyly Barber, Bex Cox, Lauren Ryder, Jodie Fawkes, Chloe Simmons, Cara Skinner, Dee Hunt.

Hethersett Athletic: Chelsea Salmon, Laura Hodgson, Jodie Allard, Logan Shepherd, Jodie Rettie, Jemma Smythe, Lisa Ferdani, Leathe Tucker, Emily Coates, Donna Bonnett, Kate Parsons, Panayiota Pambi, Amy Brooks, Hazel Shepherd.

Ipswich Town: Lucy Cornelius, Krystal Monaghan, Annalise Ryan, Laura Bright, Kelly Taylor, Amanda Everett, Hannah Wiese, Kim Rex, Paige Leeder, Jenny Cole, Christy Haynes, Carly Allum, Leanne Topper, Becky Thrower, Chloe Merritt.

Golden Boot Award for most goals: Amanda Everett (Ipswich Town) - 2

Player of the Tournament Award: Sarah Wiltshire (Arsenal)

Sarah Wiltshire of Arsenal Ladies receives her player of the tournament award from Stuart Dracup, Chair of Norfolk FA.

The tournament was sponsored by : Stephen Parke Electrical Contractors, In Trim Hair Design, Peter Frank Photography, Belton Glass and Windows, GB Digger Hire, Soanes Signs, J and T Plumbers, Bennets and Fosters Solicitors.

Guest of honour Stuart Dracup, chair of Norfolk FA, paid tribute to Hethersett Athletic for organising the event. "A lot of people have given up their time to help organise this event. Hethersett Athletic is a Community Charter Club and they have gained that status because of the way they operate and promote football for everybody - men, women, youths and girls. They deserve the accolades for what they have organised today."

Event organisers: Tom Parke, Sue Milne, Ray Milne and Andy Coe.