Crystal Palace U16 Development Girls showed their resolve to overcome a spirited Fleet Town Hurricanes side and finish as winners of the U14 Girls Cup Final. 
The final game of the three finals taking place on Sunday 13th March, the match began with both sides sharing possession evenly and each having clear chances to take the lead. Initially from Tecla Ezeh for Palace and then Isabella Mead for Hurricanes both testing their opposition goalkeepers. 

As the half progressed, Crystal Palace seized their opportunity to go ahead as Fleet Town’s goalkeeper, Amelia Kipling, spilled a shot for Tecla Ezeh to pounce on and place into the roof of the net. 

The Palace celebrations were halted moments later, when the Hurricanes broke in behind and, despite some brave goalkeeping from Palace’s Amelie Evans, Isabella Mead jumped on a deflected ball to bring the scores level at 1-1.

Both teams continued to push one another in a competitive first half, but compact defending on each side of the field ensured that things stayed level up until the interval. 

In the second half, a swift attack from Crystal Palace saw them take the lead, as Hannah Willock was played in to coolly slot the ball into the bottom right of the net. Fleet Town looked to bring the score level but found themselves on the back foot as Palace continued to assert their control of the game.

Palace increased their lead when a cross into the box was taken down well by Tecla Ezeh, who turned and finished in the box to make it 3-1.

Hurricanes defence did their best to hold back against the oncoming attack from Palace, though Kayla Moggach was dispossessed on the edge of her box by Siobhan McMahon, who slipped the ball to Teclah Ezeh for her hattrick to take to steer the scoreline further in Palace’s favour at 4-1.

Unfortunately for Fleet Town, an own goal took the game even further away from them. Minutes later, Siobhan McMahon cut in on her right foot to strike an awkward shot that caught Fleet goalkeeper off guard as she palmed the ball into her own net to make it 6-1.

Approaching full time, Crystal Palace saw out their outstanding second half performance in style as Eloise Mitchell hit a fantastic strike that buried itself in the bottom left corner of the net to give Crystal Palace a 7-1 victory, to confirm them as winners of the U14 Girls Cup.