St Nich girls are runners-up in national tournament
CHIPPING SODBURY'S St Nicholas Youth did Gloucestershire proud after reaching the final of the Tesco U-16 Girls Cup English National Final at Leicester City's Walkers Stadium.
Amy Jefferies' superb solo strike gave the Gloucestershire County Girls League a 2-1 victory against Birmingham's Leafield Athletic in the semi-final.
But they came up just short in the final as Hertfordshire's Bedwell Rangers were 2-0 winners to head as England's representatives to the Tesco Cup UK Final.
And after sealing the league with a 10-0 thumping of Yate Town, manager John Seymour insists his side can hold their heads up high.
He said: "We are very proud of them and they will pick themselves up even though it hurts now.
"We clinched the league so it has been a fantastic season and coming here just rounds it off.
"It has been brilliant and I am sure it is something they will never forget.
"It has been an awesome experience and hopefully they can come back next year to go one better.
"Leicester City manager Ian Holloway is my idol because I am a Bristol Rovers fan. It has been great giving a team talk in the same dressing room he has and standing on the same bit of turf as him."
In the semi-final St Nicholas slipped behind when Charlotte McLeish gave Leafield an early lead.
Kaycie Underdown's fine 20-yard strike drew them level and in extra time Jefferies' jinking run and cool finish put St Nicholas in the final.
Bedwell Rangers proved much harder opposition in the final with Rebecca Day's double putting them in control.
St Nicolas keeper Abigail Evans pulled off a series of fine saves to keep the score down and was handpicked by England's most capped player Peter Shilton as his keeper of the tournament.
And Shilton - who won 125 caps for his country - was full of praise for Bristol City Academy pupil Evans' display.
He said: "Abigail did very well in the semi-final and she was kept busy in the final.
"There were one or two outstanding saves in there and she can be very happy with her performance.
"Overall St Nicholas did extremely well in very hot conditions. Playing in a stadium like this will stay with them for a long time."
4:34pm Wednesday 14th May 2008
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