Jaguars make history with County Cup final success
GOTHERINGTON Jaguars girls celebrated the club’s 25th anniversary with victory in the GFA County Under-15s Cup final.
Teams from two leagues in Gloucestershire and Bristol take part in the competition and Gotherington Juniors FC had previously had one County Cup win, the boys Under-16 event in 2002.
Head of girls’ football Stewart Peters said: “it was with huge pride that we sent two girls’ teams to finals day at the Gloucestershire FA HQ”.
Jaguars sides competed in the Under13s and Under-15s finals, with the younger side, the defending Gloucester County League champions, losing 1-0 in a nail-biting match with St Nicholas, defending champions of their league.
The Under-15s were up against local rivals City of Gloucester FC, also defending league champions.
The first 10 minutes were fast, frenetic, and physical with City edging the contest but Jaguars grew into the game.
Captain Alice Jackson, having only just returned from injury, helped make the breakthrough with a ball through to Molly Bubb, who calmly found the net.
For the next 20 minutes the Jaguars were on top as Jackson hit the bar, while Bubb and Milly Ponting has shots saved by the City keeper.
The second goal came when Fernanda Vilson Bufi linked with Dora Yeates to find Jackson, and she slipped the ball to Ponting, who floated a high pass to Bubb, on the edge of the box with three City defenders around her, but she took a perfect first touch followed by a thumping shot.
The second half saw City put Jaguars under a prolonged period of pressure but Jackson forced a mistake to recover possession, beat a defender to loop a shot, from 10 yards outside of the box, over the goalkeeper’s head to secure a 3-0 win.
Peters said: “We are very grateful to Gloucestershire FA for putting on such a great tournament.
“I know that their workload has increased with the growth of the girls’ game, and what a wonderful thing that is.”
If you, your children or grandchildren would like to take up grassroots girls’ football, Gotherington Jaguars train on Saturday and play matches Sundays for Under-six to Under-15 sides – email playfootball@gotheringtonjaguars.co.uk.