Football: St John ladies retain Zenith crown

Captain Kelly Hughes scored what turned out to be the winning goal in a 3-2 success after Catarina Andrade had twice put rivals St Paul’s in front, only for Marta Ascenção and Jodie Botterill to score equalising goals.

An entertaining and flowing game may well have finished even had Eve Watson not hit the crossbar from a penalty kick with four minutes remaining.

Watson, who experienced the high of scoring the winning goal in the Island Games final against Aland in the summer, was also denied by the woodwork in the first half after an excellent run took her past three defenders.

The crowd of 162 witnessed an open game and despite both teams missing regulars, there was plenty of good football with St John playing a passing game while St Paul’s looked to profit from Andrade’s pace in attack.

St John manager Neil Baxter said: ‘It was a very tight game and both teams played well and it was a hard game to win.

‘We have a fantastic squad and hopefully this is the first of many cups this season.

‘The Botterill sisters were all excellent. It was a game with a lot of chances and we did ride our luck a bit; we could well have a couple more goals as well.’

St Paul’s president Mark Sheldon, who took the team with David Watson, said: ‘The girls are disappointed but I don’t think we can argue with the result.

‘We made a mistake for the first goal and overall St John put their chances away and we did not.’

St Paul’s went ahead when Andrade hit the target from 25 yards after holding off two defenders after cutting in from the left.

A mistake by St Paul’s goalkeeper Paula Alves led to a corner and from Jodie Botterill’s kick, Marta Ascenção used her left thigh to equalise for St John from five yards.

Alves atoned for her error by blocking Jess Vieira’s effort with her feet while at the other end the crossbar thwarted Watson for the first time.

Andrade restored St Paul’s lead eight minutes after the break by hooking home the ball from just outside the penalty area.

St Paul’s had chances to extend their lead but goalkeeper Sara Luce smothered the ball at Andrade’s feet while Gemma Daniel struck St John’s crossbar from a 30-yard free kick.

St John pushed Hughes and Lara Couvert further forward after half time and they were stronger despite going behind and they made it 2-2 when Botterill saw Alves off her line to beat her from 35 yards from out on the right.

Botterill, whose sisters Sophie and half-time substitute Chloe both performed well in St John’s defence, then slipped the ball into Hughes’ path and the captain made no mistake by side-footing St John 3-2 ahead.

St John were now in the ascendency and Rachael Bowker nodded the ball on to and over the crossbar while Jodie Botterill’s deflected shot was brilliantly pushed away by the alert Alves.

Couvert handled the ball for the late penalty kick but St Paul’s were left to rue their luck as they struck the crossbar for the third time in the game from Watson’s effort.

St Paul’s: Paula Alves; Sara Pita, Jackie Crick, Lisa Gray, Lauren Quémard; Elizabeth Fenlon, Gemma Daniel, Cecilia Vieira, Eve Watson, Andrea Pestana; Catarina Andrade. Sub used: KJ Murray.

St John: Sara Luce; Kelly Hughes (Chloe Botterill, 46), Sophie Botterill, Rachel Bowker, Nicola Barnes; Lauren Couvert, Marta Ascenção, Lisa Godinho, Shannon O’Neill; Jess Vieira, Jody Botterill. Sub used: Chloe Botterill.

Officials: Peter Smith, Paul Kemp, Connor Shirley, Luke Nerac.

St Pauls Lisa Gray & St John’s Lara Couvert