Elmore strike wins FA Girls' Youth Cup for Liverpool

Kess Elmore scored the only goal of the game as Liverpool edged Merseyside rivals Everton in The FA Girls’ Youth Cup Final.

The England youth-teamer latched onto a through ball early in the second half, kept her cool and prodded her shot beyond Sandy MacIver.

Matty Campbell’s Reds were deserving victors, having created the clearer opportunities throughout the 80 minutes, and probably should have won by a wider margin, but the one goal was enough to claim success in this competition for the first time.

The first opening came in just the seventh minute when a scramble in the Everton box led to Natasha Rothery heading goalwards, but former England U17 goalkeeper Kirstie Levell claimed at the second attempt.

And just 60 seconds later the Levell beat Jess Davenport to a well-contested 50-50 when the forward was clean through on goal.

Liverpool had hitherto shaded proceedings although Paul Delahunty’s charges served notice of the threat they can pose when captain Faye Bryson cracked an effort just over the top of Rachel Darbyshire’s goal.

Their local rivals came again, however, and other than a speculative effort from the Toffees’ Sasha Rowe, they ended the half the strongest with Rothery and Davenport shooting wide when well-placed and Mollie Green crashing an angled shot against the post from distance.

Liverpool began the second half the way they ended the first – on the front foot.

Elmore burst down the inside right channel, into the box and delivered a low cross to the back post which found fellow England youngster, the impressive Mayumi Gillam. Everton’s substitute goalkeeper MacIver got down smartly to gather her flicked effort.

But just a few moments later, Elmore poked home what proved to be the winning goal.

MacIver’s goal kick was collected by Reds substitute Lizzie Earle, who pumped the ball back into the Everton half. Elmore was quickest to react and guided the ball beyond the on-rushing MacIver.

Everton midfielder Ellie McDonough tried to get her side back into proceedings with an effort from range but it didn’t trouble Darbyshire and went wide.

Bryson et al. poured forward as they sought the equaliser that would have taken The Final to penalties, but the goal never materialised, allowing the red half of the city to celebrate.

Everton
1 Kirstie Levell, 3 Alice Thompson, 6 Chelsea Jukes, 8 Ellie McDonough, 9 Faye Bryson (C), 10 Laura Mitchell, 12 Megan Finnigan, 14 Natalie Clark, 15 Rosie Embley, 16 Sasha Rowe, 17 Zoe Tynan

Substitutes: 13 Sandy MacIver for Levell (40), 4 Bailey Orndahl for Embley (56), 5 Charlotte Healey for Finnigan (60)

Substitute not used: 11 Louisha Doran

Liverpool
1 Rachel Darbyshire, 2 Natasha Rothery, 4 Summer Smith, 5 Olivia Fuller (C), 6 Rachel Robinson, 7 Jess Davenport, 10 Mollie Green, 11 Blue Pendlebury, 14 Mayumi Gillam, 18 Kess Elmore, 19 Beth Evans

Substitutes: 12 Lizzie Earle for Evans (46), 8 Hayley Taylor for Smith (68)

Substitutes not used: 3 Francesca Curteis, 9 Emily Curteis, 13 Jess Carberry, 15 Charlie Johnson, 16 Eleanor Threlkeld

Referee: Chelsey Andrews