The under 16 football team secured their place in the County Cup Final after a 2-1 win (AET) against a strong Cheney side.

DGS started off the stronger team, testing Cheney's goalkeeper early on but unable to convert any chances. However, this quickly changed and Cheney dominated across the pitch for the vast majority of the first half. Stand-in goalkeeper Grace Beardsley was exceptional in goal, denying Cheney on a number of occasions and dominating her box. 

At half time, we knew we had to do more if we were going to earn our place in the final. While there were good individual performances we weren't linked up as a team. 

We looked much more like ourselves during the second half, working together to close the ball down and distribute the ball quicker. 

But in the 60th minute Cheney pounced on the counter-attack and slotted the ball into the corner to make it 1-0.

With 10 minutes left, it was time to gamble. We put Lily Norton in goal so we could unleash Grace Beardsley to her natural position of striker. Our gamble quickly paid off with some fantastic play from the midfield to our strikers before the ball got laid off to midfielder Amelia Stock to equalise. We quickly switched goalkeepers back and the score was 1-1 at the end of normal match time. With the light fading, we played 5 minutes each way of extra time. DGS dominated the first half, looking the more likely to score the win but nothing came of their efforts until the second half of extra time. With 3 minutes to go, Linda was brought down on the edge of the box. Up stepped the Queen of free kicks, Amelia Stock, who lobbed the goal keeper in her usual trademark fashion finishing the game 2-1 to DGS. 

A huge congratulations to the squad: 

Grace Beardsley, Freya Corcoran, Izzie Giesberg-Bamford, Imi Hooper, Sammy Beaton, Kira Ranxha, Amelia Stock, Summer Hawkins, Bethany Davies, Lily Norton, Linda Kahlari, Lily Black 

We look forward now to the final; opposition team to be confirmed.