Monday March 15, 2010
County Ground, Lancashire Cup
Rovers Ladies 4-1 Salford (AET)
Nicole Foster enjoyed a dream debut as Blackburn Rovers Ladies lifted the Lancashire Challenge Cup for the sixth time in seven seasons.
After a totally one-sided final had ended one apiece, Foster came off the bench to score twice in extra-time, as Adam Lakeland's side eventually overcame Salford 4-1.
The lower league club took a surprise lead on 10 minutes with their first attack of the game. After rising above Nicole Emmanuel to win a header, Chelsea Scholes sent a dipping volley over Danielle Hill and into the roof of the net from 25 yards.
Rovers' response was immediate however, with Katie Anderton collecting a pass on the left edge of the box, before slipping the ball under the advancing keeper.
Anderton then struck the outside of the post, whilst both Nicky Twohig and Lynda Shepherd headed over when well placed, as Rovers ended the half in complete control.
Anderton ought to have doubled her tally just 10 seconds into the second half, but she somehow missed the target when clean through and the striker again miscued just before the hour mark after a brilliant ball in from Charlotte Heyes.
Salford rang the changes as their players began to tire and Rovers looked to take advantage. Twohig ballooned over from inside the box and Shepherd just couldn't connect with Nicki Harding's deep cross.
On 89 minutes, captain Amy Kane fired inches over from long range and in the third minute of stoppage time, Anderton again skimmed the outside of the post with a shot across the keeper.
The breakthrough was inevitable and it finally arrived nine minutes into extra-time. Fran Sullivan delivered a cross from the right and Foster - making her first appearance for the senior side - guided the ball past the keeper from close range.
Rovers added a third on 116 minutes when Danielle Sheen played in Anderton down the left and the striker centred for the unmarked Foster to bag her second of the game at the back post.
Victory was secured a minute from full time, with Anderton again the provider, this time squaring the ball from the right for Sheen to confidently slot home.
Lakeland said: "The disappointment of losing last year's final on penalties was a big incentive to win it back this season and so I'm delighted we did.
"We've played a lot of young players throughout the competition, who have showed plenty of promise and potential.
"I'm especially delighted that young Nicole has come on and made a name for herself by scoring two goals in a cup final to effectively clinch the trophy for us.
"The players did everything right on the night, the only disappointing aspect was that we couldn't kill off a very well organised and disciplined Salford side in normal time.
"We were far superior, we played some good football, we've hit the woodwork and the keeper's made some good saves.
"They made it very difficult for us to break them down, but our fitness levels and quality shone through in the end."
ROVERS: Hill, Emmanuel (Sullivan 20), Carroll, Twohig (Flynn 106), Heyes (Foster 85), Kane, Shepherd, Forster, Harding, Sheen, Anderton.
Subs not used: Munro, Roberts.
SALFORD: Phillips, Scholes, Abrehart, Harrop, Wynn, Price (Tierney 77 (Hughes 106)), Havelin, Daly, Mundell, Wakefield (Newman 70), O'Connor.
Subs not used: Winder, Warburton.
