Richmond v Letherhead U15 Girls Cup Final

Thorpe Park U15 Girls County Cup Final: Richmond Park 3-1 Leatherhead

Ortega-Peraita shines in cup win!

In a thrilling County Cup final, Richmond Park emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over Leatherhead, thanks to a resilient performance and an outstanding display from goalkeeper Jimena Ortega-Peraita.

Both teams started the match with high intensity, quickly settling into the game. In the 11th minute, Leatherhead came close to taking the lead when a powerful shot from close range rattled the post, eventually cleared for a corner. From the resulting set-piece and a goalmouth scramble, Tracey Afosah found the back of the net to put Leatherhead ahead.

Richmond responded positively and gradually grew into the game. In the 14th minute, Ortega-Peraita made a crucial save to deny Leatherhead a second goal. Three minutes later, Richmond's Lucy Hamps showcased her skill with a great run and shot, signalling Richmond's intent.

The breakthrough for Richmond came in the 22nd minute when Aphie Clements scored to level the game, much to the delight of the Richmond supporters. Momentum shifted, and in the 33rd minute, Sofia Sheikh unleashed a stunning strike from outside the box to give Richmond a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Leatherhead came out fighting in the second half and tested Ortega-Peraita again in the 45th minute with an in-swinging corner, but the Richmond 'keeper dealt with it confidently. Just three minutes later, Richmond extended their lead as Leilani Jones hammered home from a corner to make it 3-1.

Leatherhead pushed hard to get back into the game, but Ortega-Peraita was in inspired form. In the 54th minute, she produced a brilliant double save, followed by more crucial stops in the 59th and 65th minutes as Leatherhead dominated possession.

Despite their relentless effort, Leatherhead couldn’t find a way through. Their frustration was compounded when they struck the bar from a corner in the 80th minute, perfectly summarising their luck on the day.

As the final whistle blew, Richmond Park celebrated a well-earned 3-1 victory, with Jimena Ortega-Peraita rightfully named Player of the Match for her heroic goalkeeping display.