Little did the Hampshire Football Association think that when they booked the Women's Intermediate Cup

Final at the Aerial Direct Stadium in Gosport that the finalists would be two Gosport clubs. One was the host club's own women's team, Gosport Borough Ladies, and the other was Gosport Falcons Ladies.

The Borough were cup holders and play in a Division above that of the Falcons and as a consequence they were favourites when they kicked off on Wednesday 5th April 2017, but little did both teams know how the evening would pan out.

It was the Borough who showed first with Lynsey Crewe forcing an early save from the Falcon's 'keeper Tash

Stallard.

In the next attack Laura Streeter found herself one on one with the 'keeper but she put her shot wide. It looked as if the Borough might take the lead when Streeter again found herself in the clear but her shot hit the side netting.

Despite the Borough's dominance it was the Falcon's who won the first corner of the game but the kick was cleared in the 17th Borough did take the lead when a great solo run by Kelly Baker saw her net from close range.

They went further ahead in the 26th minute when the Falcons failed to clear their penalty box and Baker was on hand to slam the loose ball home.

The Falcons started the second strongly and put the Borough under some pressure but good defending kept

them out. It was during one the Falcons' attacks that the evening turned into something of a farce – the pitch

sprinkler system unexpectedly turned itself on! Whether this was through poor communications within Gosport Borough Football Club or an equipment malfunction it is not known. As a consequence, however,

Referee Mike Misselbrook was forced to take the players off the pitch for what was a near 20 minute delay in the match.

In the meantime the impressive 326 crowd enjoyed the sequence of fountains erupting all over the pitch

rather in the manner of the 'dancing waters' attractions popular in seaside resorts in the 1980's, the only thing missing was the coloured lights of the old entertainment.

After the 'rain' the Borough got on with the task of winning the cup and forced Stallard into another good save and brought her into action again to tip over a fierce free kick from Lyndsey Crewe.

The decisive goal of the game came in the 81st minute when Streeter picked up the ball in her own half and ran for goal beating the 'keeper but hitting a post. Fortunately for her the ball rebounded back to her and she scored into an empty net.

The Falcons launched their own attack and their last chance to get back into the game disappeared when Megan Gratton his the bar and the ball was cleared.

To complete a brilliant match Borough's Baker won the ball on the edge of the Falcons' penalty area and completed her hat trick in the 88th minute which won her the Player of the Match award from sponsors the Hampshire County Women's League.

The Referee, Mike Misselbrook, was assisted by Dave Brunt and Terence Hobbs who had to make a hasty departure from the stadium at the final whistle to catch a ferry back to the Isle of Wight lest they were stranded on the mainland for the night! The Reserve Official was Tony Lane.

The match ball was sponsored by European Communications and Bluefin Insurance.

Squads:

Gosport Ladies Ladies : Roxanne McAuley-Roberts, Keeka Way, Sam Jennings, Sophie Kingsley-Smith,

Emma Pickering, Kayleigh Merrett, Jess Timbrell, Laura Street, Kelly Bakere, Fran Derbyshire, Charlotte

Lindsey, Lysette Russell, Laura Sallis, Charlotte Roli and Jess McAuley-Roberts.

Gosport Falcons Ladies: Tash Stallard, Emma Anderson, Bronwyn Jacobs, Jasmine Harvey, Sarah Darcy,

Betsy Wakefield, Hollie Tobin, Charlie Scott, Chelsea Osborne, Lauren Borjini, Jaz Huntington, Lauren

Harding, Megan Gratton, Charlotte Blackwell, Ellie Harty and Zoe Jessey.