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The Bullettes claimed a brilliant three-nil victory and solid clean sheet last Sunday at Bromyard Town's Delahay Meadow against 5th placed Long Itchington FC Women heading into the local derby against Hereford Pegasus Ladies in the Zzoomm HFA Women's County Cup Final at The SSAFA HFA County Ground on Wednesday night.
We have met each other twice this season in the West Midlands Regional Women's Football League Division One South which we won 5-0 at Hereford Pegasus back in October and drew the other after being 2-0 down back in February again at Hereford Pegasus due to the MandM Edgar Street Stadium being unavailable.
Hereford we're looking to retain the trophy for the third consecutive season after playing the same opposition in the Final last season at the MandM Edgar Street Stadium which saw the Bullettes come out on top 3-1 before claiming their first title in the 2023/2024 season beating Ross Juniors 5-1.
For the Final the Bullettes made two changes to the side that beat Long Itchington with Ffion David and Maisie Evans coming in for the cup-tied Keira Brain and Megan Boardman.
The Bullettes started on the front foot early on with a free-kick on the left which was played in by Molly Camden but was headed away by Martha Formby before Matilda Harris had an effort from the right side of the box with her right foot which went narrowly wide of the left post.
Hereford continued to push from the get go with a good long ball by Molly Camden towards Maisie Evans on the edge of the box but Hereford Pegasus goalkeeper Emily Morgan was quick off her line to clear the danger.
After a foul about 30-yards out on Mylie Jordan by Sarah Bishop, Robyn Mear saw her powerful strike well caught and held by Emily Morgan.
Their was good play by Mylie Jordan on the right side of the box as she proceeded to drive into the area before playing the ball towards the penalty spot where Robyn Mear was waiting but she couldn't quite make a clean enough connection with the pass and it went just wide.
Hereford Pegasus’ first chance of the Final was from a corner on the left which was pumped to the back post by Rosie Clay which Martha Formby connected with but her header tricked narrowly wide of the target before Sarah Bishop then had a curling right foot strike from the edge of the box which was comfortably nto the arms of Hannah Pritchard.
Hereford continued to keep the pressure up with Molly Camden's ball from the right side of the area going just wide of the left post only needing someone to get on end of it to convert.
With 25 minutes gone Hereford we're mainly controlling the majority of the play but Hereford Pegasus did have chances of their own and we're always dangerous on the break.
Mylie Jordan did brilliantly after being fouled by Martha Formby on the edge of the box on the right, Molly Camden stepped up with her strike having power but whistling narrowly over the left hand stanchion.
On 30 minutes the Bullettes Mylie Jordan had another good chance which her lobbed strike from around 35-yards going narrowly over the crossbar.
However against the run of play Hereford Pegasus opened the scoring on 35 minutes from a set-piece when they had another corner this time on the right, Scarlett Ratcliffe-Perris delivered right footed towards the penalty spot which was headed in by Sarah Bishop from 5-yards out.
The Bullettes went back on the attack looking for an equaliser with a corner on the right, Robyn Mear lifted the ball to the back post towards Tianna Chant but she unfortunately missed her connection.
Shortly afterwards substitute Amelia Griffiths had a curling drive which narrowly missed the left post, before she took a free kick near the left touchline but was headed clear by Millie Griffiths before Mylie Jordan had a right foot strike from the edge of the box which was initially fumbled by Emily Morgan but she collected at the second attempt.
Corner from the right by Robyn Mear which skimmed the head of Ffion David and went out for a throw-in on the left for Hereford Pegasus.
Former Bullette Yssie Pearson then brought down Sheree Smith near the left touchline which Amelia Griffiths delivered but was again headed away by Millie Griffiths.
Sheree Smith went on a good run before laying the ball off to Mylie Jordan with her strike from 25-yards which was saved by the right foot of Emily Morgan.
On the stroke half-time Hereford Pegasus had a chance when Lauren Griffiths won the ball off Molly Camden midway inside the Hereford half on the left before she advanced towards the edge of the box but her left foot strike was comfortably into the arms of Hannah Pritchard.
The Bullettes had the better of the first-half but Hereford Pegasus held the slender lead with the set-piece goal going into the break with it all to play for in the second half.
Half-time: Hereford Pegasus Ladies 1-0 Hereford FC Women
Into the second-half and it started with both sides trading possession before the first chance of the half coming Hereford’s way after a good ball by Ffion David into the feet of Tianna Chant just inside the box who with a good first touch with her left to bring the ball under control before hitting the ball first time with her right but her shot went just wide of the target.
Hereford Pegasus’ first chance came from a corner on the left which Scarlett Ratcliffe-Perris delivered finding the head of Martha Formby but it was wide.
The Bullettes had their first corner of the half on the right which Robyn Mear swung in looking for Ffion David but Sarah Bishop cleared the danger.
Shortly afterwards Tianna Chant had the first great opportunity of the half with a strong drilled right foot shot from inside the area on the right which Emily Morgan just got the top of her right arm to putting it out for a corner.
Hereford's pressure finally told getting back on level terms after a good ball by Robyn Mear from the right side of the box took a nick off Martha Formby at the front post and bounced past Emily Morgan.
We went back on the front foot looking to take the lead with Amelia Griffiths crossing from the left finding Tianna Chant who managed to get her foot to the ball but she couldn't direct it on target.
Hereford Pegasus had a chance of their own with a driven first-time strike from Scarlett Ratcliffe-Perris as she ran onto the ball but it flew just past the left post.
With the bit now between their teeth after the equaliser the Bullettes we're continuing to push and applying pressure to Hereford Pegasus looking to take the lead with Tianna Chant seeing her rasping drive well blocked by the right foot of Emily Morgan.
With 15 minutes to go Hereford had a corner on the right with Robyn Mear delivering to the front post where Sheree Smith was waiting but she could only hook the ball over the bar, at this point centre-half Katy Huntbach was doing well battling on after picking up a knock.
The Bullettes we're very unfortunate not to take a deserved lead after Mylie Jordan found space on the left of the box, taking a touch before seeing her right footed drive crash off the crossbar.
Hereford Pegasus then had a corner on the right, Sarah Bishop took it which found the head of Maisie Wood but she could only head the ball down into the ground and Hereford managed to clear.
Molly Camden then found Mylie Jordan who took a right foot shot from just inside the box which was well held by Emily Morgan before Hereford Pegasus we're awarded a free-kick on the left side of the area after a harsh foul given against Mylie Jordan, Scarlett Ratcliffe-Perris drilled the set-piece towards goal which Hannah Pritchard did well to palm out with the rebound kindly finding it's way to Rosie Clay but her drilled effort was well blocked by Amelia Griffiths and she cleared.
On the stroke of full-time Tianna Chant tried her luck with a good half volley from just inside the box which whistled just over the bar which resulted in the tie going to penalties.
With the tie going to penalties Rosie Clay for Hereford Pegasus took the first spot-kick which she despatched before Mylie Jordan saw her effort saved by the legs of Emily Morgan followed by Sheree Smith dragging her right foot shot narrowly past the left post setting up Hereford Pegasus goalkeeper Emily Morgan to convert their 4th to seal a 4-1 victory on penalties seeing the Zzoomm HFA Women's County Cup return to K.G.D Stadium Old School Lane.
Penalty Shootout:-
Hereford Pegasus Ladies:-
1st Rosie Clay scored
2nd Yssie Pearson scored
3rd Sarah Bishop scored
4th Emily Morgan scored
Hereford FC Women:-
1st Mylie Jordan saved by Emily Morgan
2nd Sheree Smith missed
3rd Molly Camden scored
Full-time: Hereford Pegasus Ladies 1-1 Hereford FC Women with Hereford Pegasus Ladies winning 4-1 on penalties
Goal scored by Martha Formby (Own Goal)
Hereford FC Women Starting XI:- 1 Hannah Pritchard, 3 Darcie Smith, 4 Katy Huntbach, 5 Matilda Harris ©️, 7 Robyn Mear, 9 Sheree Smith, 11 Tianna Chant, 12 Molly Camden, 14 Maisie Evans, 18 Mylie Jordan, 24 Ffion David.
Substitutes:- 13 Chelsey Fulcher, 15 Amelia Griffiths, 16 Ava Lou Morris, 21 Maya Brookes.
A gutting 4-1 penalty-shoot defeat in the Zzoomm HFA County Cup Final meaning we couldn't retain and claim our 3rd straight County Cup but the ladies can hold their heads up high, playing some scintillating football and battled hard throughout the cup tie, unfortunately it wasn't to be with Hereford Pegasus being more clinical with their spot-kicks and that was ultimately the difference.
The Bullettes are back “home” at Bromyard Town's Delahay Meadow on Sunday when we take on ninth placed Halesowen Town Ladies FC where in the reverse fixture at the Dell Stadium back in March we ran out commanding eight-three winners in an eleven-goal thriller. COYW
Words by Sam Cummins