Women’s Under-19s exit PGA Cup following defeat to Arsenal

Our Women’s Under-19s were knocked out of the Professional Game Academy (PGA) Cup on Wednesday after a 6-0 defeat to Arsenal in the quarter-final.

Abi Conway capitalised on a quick counterattack to put the visitors ahead after 17 minutes and, despite Jhanaie Pierre and Nife Aramide having two very good opportunities to level the score shortly after, we ultimately found ourselves 3-0 down at the break with Bella Cowley and a stunning strike from Phoebe De Bohan extending the Gunners’ advantage.

Goalkeeper Sophie Jackson, who was back in the starting XI for the first time since early November, was in inspired form in the second period as she produced a number of key saves, but two goals in two minutes from Conway secured her hat-trick in the closing stages before Bryony Brodie rounded off the scoreline in stoppage time to end our run in the competition.

Facing an Arsenal side who are unbeaten in the league phase of the PGA League this term, we made a positive start at Hotspur Way and carved out the first opportunity of the game inside five minutes, Grace Bellwood sending a shot on the turn down over the bar after good work from Beatrice Cunnison and Heidi Hills in the build-up. Arsenal started to up the tempo as Jackson produced a huge save to deny former Spurs Academy player Cairo Antoine in a one-on-one.

Mia Dixon volleyed over the bar from Antoine’s cross as Arsenal continued to create chances and, in the 17th minute, the away side’s pressure eventually prevailed when a quick counterattack from our corner saw Abi Conway race up the other end and fire the ball across the body of Jackson and into the far corner. We responded well after that setback and should have grabbed a leveller two minutes later, Aramide’s pass setting Pierre through into the box, but she was unable to direct her effort past goalkeeper Chiemela Ude.

Shortly after that, we had another big opportunity to level the scores as Aramide hit a first time shot from the centre of the box, after Arsenal failed to clear their line, but that was deflected wide. Ultimately, we would rue those missed chances as, in the 35th minute, Arsenal doubled their lead as Dixon’s cross into the box was volleyed home by Cowley. Four minutes before the break, it became three and, to be fair, it was a fantastic finish from De Bohan, who picked out the top left corner from around 30 yards out.

With a big mountain to climb in the second period, we needed to search for a way back early on after the restart but, in truth, we struggled to test the visitors’ shot stopper and it was Jackson, at the other end, who had to be on top form to maintain the scoreline. First getting down low to save Conway’s driven shot, she followed that up by denying Anniyah Gordan in a one-on-one situation. Jackson once again frustrated Gordan with another big stop in the 69th minute before Conway forced the ball home on the rebound, but it was disallowed for offside.

Our young shot stopper was then at full stretch to palm away Brodie’s free-kick from an angled position on the far right while, shortly after, the away side should have added a fourth as a cutback found Dixon in the box, her initial effort was blocked by her team-mate before her second attempt was stopped on the line by Blue Bartlett-Antwi. However, in the 79th minute, Arsenal eventually found the breakthrough once again, Conway advancing behind our backline before slotting home into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later and it became five, with Conway wrapping up her hat-trick in the cup tie, forcing the ball home from close range after Gordan’s low cross. Then, in the first minute of stoppage time, the visitors completed the scoring as Brodie rolled home from just outside the six-yard box, after her initial low cross from byline on the right was cleared properly, into the far bottom corner to compound our misery.

Match data

Goals: Arsenal – Conway 17, 79, 81, Cowley 35, De Bohan 41, Brodie 90+1.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Bartlett-Antwi 84, Pierre 88.

Referee: Ryan Hetherington.

Weather: Spells of rain with strong breeze, nine degrees.