Bees Claim Points in Cup Final Rehersal

Queens Park Rangers 1 Barnet FC Ladies 3

South East Combination League

Sunday 10 April 2005

At Loftus Road

Barnet FC Ladies warmed up for their forthcoming Middlesex Cup Final with Queens Park Rangers, by defeating their local rivals 3-1 in a South-East Combination League fixture played at Loftus Road.

The Bees got off to a flying start when they took the lead in the opening minute.Danielle Richards was on hand to score against her old club after Stacey Sowden's effort had rebounded off the post.

There were further opportunities for Barnet before they doubled their advantage.A Stacey Sowden effort went just wide after 8 minutes, whilst minutes later Beth Curtis failed to trouble the home goalkeeper with a free-kick. However, after 13 minutes.Stacey Sowden latched on to Lizzie Goodwin's through ball to fire home her **th goal of the season.

The double set-back seemed to spur the home side into greater attacking intent with Barnet goalkeeper Jess Devoti being called into action twice on the half hour mark.Before half time, Beth Curtis had a trademark 20-yard effort saved, whilst Katie O'Donoghue headed just wide from a Curtis free-kick.

The home side emerged from the interval in positive mood and had by far the best of the action in the second period.Indeed, QPR pulled a goal back within a minute from the re-start, albeit as the result of a scrambled effort.

Barnet left back Jo Ginger, twice kept her side in the game with last ditch defending in the second half.Firstly, she pulled off a superb block tackle in the six-yard box after a QPR forward had rounded the goal-keeper and looked certain to score.Later in the half, she prevented a certain equaliser with a header off the line.

QPR also went close to scoring through Davina Smith and Camilla Ray, but it was Barnet who wrapped up all three points with a third goal in injury time.Katie O'Donoghue broke from midfield and crossed into the box.Hayley Johnson chested the ball down for Stacey Sowden to strike the ball home low to the goalkeeper's left.

The 3-1 win was Barnet's 8th league victory in its last nine matches and has given the Bees an outside chance of claiming runners-up spot if they defeat NorwichCity in their final league match next week and NorthamptonTown fail to take a point from the same opponents a week later.

Barnet FC Ladies Reserves are League Champions &&&&&

Barnet FC Ladies Reserves made certain of the South East Combination Reserve Section League Title, with two matches still to play, thanks to a 3-1 win against NorwichCity.

Requiring all three points to secure the title the Bees' took the lead in the first half through Kerry O'Connor, who was played in by the industrious Kerry Jones.However, the advantage was nullified shortly before the interval when the visitors equalised.

The Bees continued to probe in search of a winning goal, which eventually came when Jade Kite powerfully headed home Jane Thomasson's free-kick.

Kerry O'Connor scored her second and Barnet's third goal in injury time to secure not only three points but also the League Championship for Barnet.

Double Cup Final Date for Bees &&&..

Both Barnet FC Ladies First Team and Reserves will be involved in Middlesex County FA Cup Finals at North Greenford United FC on Sunday 24 April 2005.

The Bees' senior team will face Queens Park Rangers in the Women's Senior Cup Final at 11.00 am.Barnet recently completed a league double over QPR, but are under no illusion that they will face anything other than a difficult match with their local rivals.Barnet FC Ladies last won the Middlesex Women's Senior Cup in 2000/01 season.On their way to the Final Barnet have defeated Brentford and EdgwareTown

Barnet FC Ladies Reserves were also last successful in the Middlesex Junior Cup in 2001.This season they will take on Watford Ladies Reserves in the Final, in a match that kicks off at 2.30pm.In previous Rounds the Bees have defeated Enfield Town Reserves and Hampton & Richmond Borough.