A 13-minute second-half hat-trick from Grace Bellwood ensured an emphatic 5-2 quarter-final win over London Bees in the Capital Cup on Thursday evening to set up a semi-final tie with Fulham later this month.
Although we were on top in the first half, creating a number of good opportunities including Jhanaie Pierre striking the woodwork, we initially found ourselves behind after Sandy Martins fired the visitors into the lead in the opening quarter-of-an-hour.
However, after the restart, we came out looking like an almost completely different side. Cruz Fuller-Fagan grabbed a much-deserved equaliser on 52 minutes before Bellwood continued her excellent run of form in front of goal, netting a hat-trick in 13 minutes – making it eight goals in her last six games – to give us a 4-1 lead with 20 minutes to go.
While the Bees pulled a goal back through an own goal by Holly-Mae Elmes, we reinstated our three-goal advantage through Grace Breen to earn us a statement win over senior opposition and progress to the last four of the competition for the second year running. We’ll travel to Fulham in the semi-final, which is set to be played on 19 April.
Looking to stamp our mark against an experience side who are competing in the fourth tier of Women's football, our young side started well in the early stages at Cheshunt Football Club but it was our shot stopper Eleanor Heeps, who was once again able to provide a senior leadership to the group after featuring in the victory over Dulwich Hamlet last month, who was called into action first in the encounter, getting across to her front post to deny Martins from the right side of the box.
However, minutes later, the Bees forward would eventually find the back of the net as she found herself one-on-one with Heeps and Martin showed composure to calmly pick out the bottom corner to open the scoring for her side. Despite the setback, we responded well and controlled the proceedings for most of the first half where we carved out a number of good opportunities, Jhanaie Pierre striking the underside of the crossbar with an effort from distance while her excellent ball across the face of the goal was unable to be converted at the back post by Fuller-Fagan.
The visitors still posed a threat on the counter and we had to bet alert, with goalscoer Martins a lively outlet, but Pierre’s curling effort from the edge of the box that went over the bar was the final chance of the first period, where we remained a goal down despite a strong first half showing. So, it was no surprise that just seven minutes after the restart, we eventually got the equaliser that we rightly deserved.
Ruby Mace’s free-kick from the left was deep but inch-perfect as it allowed Fuller-Fagan to charge on to at the back post to tap home from close range. Two minutes later, the game had completely turned into our favour when Pierre, with space on the far left of the box, raced to the byline before lifting the ball into the six yard box and, with her back slightly to goal, Bellwood managed to direct a first-time volley into the roof of the net.
We scored a key third goal just after the hour mark to put the daylight between the sides, Rania Oukriss’ initial effort was blocked but Bellwood was there to scoop up the loose ball on the edge of the box, worked it on to her right-foot and sent a low curler into the bottom corner for her second of the night.
Then, six minutes later, the hat-trick was completed by Bellwood. Having been brought down inside the box by goalkeeper Emma Roberts, after she capitalised on a lapse of miscommunication, Bellwood calmly converted from the penalty spot, firing low into the bottom left despite the Bees’ shot stopper guessing the right way.
The Bees managed to pull a goal back on 73 minutes when Hayley Hoare’s free-kick took a slight deflection off Elmes and into the back of the net. We were then indebted to a big save from Heeps, getting a strong hand to deny Sam Lanza as she got behind our backline, before we went up the other end to reinstate our three-goal lead as Pierre delivered an in-swinging cross from the left which saw Breen rise highest and send a looping header towards goal that Roberts was unable to keep the ball crossing the line.
Both sides came close to adding to the scoreline in the closing stages, Pierre’s powerful left-footed strike from the left side of the box was pushed around the post by Roberts, but it remained 5-2 as the referee blew the full-time whistle. An excellent night for our Academy to topple another senior opposition in the competition and reach the semi-final for a second year running.
'This shows a real reflection on the programme as a whole, I’m super proud of them'
Reflecting on a brilliant evening for our Under-19s, Nick Hardy said: “It was brilliant. This shows a real reflection on the programme as a whole; the group and the hard work that the players put in, day in, day out, the staff and their support network around them. I’m super proud of them.
“We had enough entries in that first half but just lacked that cutting edge in the final third and purpose in and around the box, so that’s what we exactly asked of them at half time. We said those moments will still come about if we show that intent, play with our style and the final third behaviours – and that’s exactly what they went out and did. They were direct with a purpose, creative and relentless and even when we went 2-1, you could see that they wanted more. I’m super pleased for them all, it’s exactly what we asked for that second 45 minutes. But, as I said to the group at the end, we go into that semi-final wanting to compete. We’re one step away from where we want to be which is the final and competing for silverware.”
Midfielder Mace also reflected on a memorable evening in the Capital Cup, she said: “I don’t really have words for it. These moments are the reasons you want to play football. In the first half, we kept ourselves in the game, maybe had a few moments, but I think after the half-time talk, we came back into the second half and we were unrecognisable. We took our chances well and the togetherness on the pitch was unavailable, which I thought won us the game along with the teamwork and desire.”