Boco Reserves gear up for cup final with hard fought win over Longlevens Ladies
AEK Boco Ladies Reserves moved up to 5th place in the GCWFL Division One table after beating Longlevens Ladies 5-3, getting themselves ready for next weekend’s cup final in the perfect way.
Goals from Sophie Allen and Issey Cannon had Boco two goals to the good, before Tianna Chant pulled one back for the visitors.
But Emilie Channing-Cone’s stunning effort saw Boco restore their two goal cushion, with the fourth goal in seven frantic first half minutes.
Shania Powell added a fourth just after the break, but Holly Cox reduced arrears almost instantly.
Cannon added her second of the piece just after the hour mark to give the hosts a three goal lead and Mike Parry’s side held on easily enough despite Liv Kosylowicz’ late consolation.
The win sees Boco leapfrog Bristol & West Ladies into 5th place, a position they are guaranteed to finish in with just one league game remaining.
Boco head into the Gordon Perrett League Cup final next weekend where they will meet Whitchurch Ladies – who secured the Division One league title with a win this weekend.
It would take a 20-goal defeat at Longlevens on Sunday 25 May to prevent them lifting the trophy.
Both sides started well, with Tianna Chant firing wide for the visitors, before Kosylowicz burst through only to be denied by a last gasp Jess Wilson challenge.
Issey Cannon went through in the sixth minute, but saw her effort kept out by Louise Jewkes.
Longlevens’ Izzy Kester had the first shot on target, on 15 minutes, but her long range effort was saved by Shannon Shiner.
And from there, Boco settled and took the lead on 21 minutes, as Sophie Allen won the ball on the edge of the Levens box and blasted into the bottom corner.
The dust had barely settled before it became 2-0, as Shania Powell intercepted a stray pass and crossed for Cannon to fire home.
Within seconds, Chant curled in a beautiful effort from the left corner of the box to make it 2-1, before Emilie Channing Cone let rip from 25 yards to add a third for Parry’s side.
It ended a crazy seven minute spell that saw the game open up and both sides really exploit the other’s back line.
Kester fired wide just before half time after combining well with Holly Cox on the edge of the Boco box.
Jewkes did well to keep out Cannon just after the restart, but there was nothing she could do to keep out Shania Powell’s lob on 53 minutes.
Powell showed great strength to shake off her marker before delicately lifting the ball over Jewkes to make it 4-1.
But credit Longlevens, they responded perfectly and quickly.
Kester carried the ball at the heart of the Boco back line and after her effort was palmed down by substitute keeper Freya Griffiths-Jones, Holly Cox was on hand to hook home from a tight angle.
Cannon blasted her second on 62 minutes to all but secure the points for her side, firing home after Sasha Ferris had her initial shot blocked just inside the box.
From there Longlevens pushed for a route back into the game and struck just too late in the end.
Kester, who impressed once again for Longlevens, clipped a ball into the Boco box and after battling for the initial header, the ball fell for Kosylowicz to lift an effort over Griffiths-Jones and give the visitors a slim chance.
However, Boco defended very well for the final ten minutes and will go into next weekend’s final full of confience.
After the game, Parry told Severn Sport he was “delighted to get the result. We managed to keep everyone fresh and get key minutes into everyone – setting us up for next weekend perfectly.”
AEK Boco Ladies Reserves: Shiner, Rides, Milton, Greig, Ackbar, Wilson, Allen, Channing-Cone, Powell, Smith, Cannon
Subs: Griffiths-Jones, Dixon, Bethall, Ferris, Bromiley
Longlevens Ladies:Jewkes, Valenzuela, Spragg, Gabb, Martin, Davis, Kester, Phelps, Cox, Chant, Kosylowicz
Subs: Poole, Fudge
C Martin Roofing Player of the Match – Issey Cannon (AEK Boco Ladies Reserves)
