The 2007/08 season was one of undoubted success both on and off the field for the Brentwood Town Ladies 1st Team. The capture of their first major trophy, along with the clubs best ever run in the Women’s FA Cup, went a long way to easing the disappointment of another hard fought league promotion campaign that once again came up agonizingly short by the smallest of margins.

The team took on its most ambitious pre-season programme to date which included high profile friendlies against Colchester United and Tottenham Hostpur Ladies as well as a trip to the prestigious Umbro International Cup Tournament in Manchester where the team performed admirably reaching the final of the Mayador Plate Trophy.

The extensive pre-season efforts proved well worth while as the season got off to an impressive start. In the Women’s FA Cup, Brentwood blew away Essex League opposition Rayleigh Raiders and Saffren Walden Town in the first two qualifying rounds before scoring an impressive away win against fellow Eastern Region League side Billericay Town. This set up a 3rd Qualifying Round match up against London Region Premier League outfit London Colney. In a heated, controversial, incident packed encounter at the Brentwood Arena, Brentwood were unfortunate to go out 4-2 and can consider themselves extremely unlucky not to have made the first round proper.

The cup drama continued in the Essex County Cup when the team were paired with four time defending champions Dagenham & Redbridge for the second season running in the first round. A thrilling match saw Brentwood take the lead three times only to be pegged back on each occasion by a team desperate to hold on to their title. The two sides could not be seperated in regulation and extra time bringing on the dreaded penalties. Brentwood took an early lead in the shoot out converting their first three kicks but the Daggers turned it around to prevail.

Their cup exploits failed to distract the team from their Eastern Regional League Div. 1 South campaign as the team went into the Christmas break unbeaten and in third place with games in hand. With two games still to come versus leaders Chelmsford the team was well placed to make a challenge for league championship or promotion honours.

The only blip in the first part of the season was when the team fielded a weakened side in the first round of the league cup resulting in a 2-0 exit at the hands of Arlesey Town. The loss however opened the door for a run in the League Plate competition which would ultimately prove a highly enjoyable experience for the team.

The second half of the season opened with a disappointing 2-1 loss away to Arlesey Town where the team failed to shake off the rust until it was too late. A subsequent good run of results however, including a hard fought 2-2 draw with leaders Chelmsford, kept the team’s promotion hopes alive.

The team also swept confidently into the final of the League Plate competition. A strong supporting contingent joined the team on the coach trip to Soham Town FC where the team took on Kings Sports of Luton. Aided by their vocal following, the team never lost control of the match. Goals from Sophie Lovell (2), Kerry Mills and Rhianne Slater gave the team a comfortable 4-1 victory. A fine team performance was capped by Lovell whose two goals were coupled with an impressive defensive display, earning her the player of the match accolade. Captain Olivia Worsfold hoisted the trophy marking Brentwood’s first success in a major cup competition.

Back in league action, the schedulers did the team no favours as they were forced to play their last 6 games on the road. Tough losses to Chelmsford City and Billericay Town effectively ended Brentwood’s title aspirations, but a scintillating 2nd half come back performance away to promotion rivals Stevenage Borough earned a valuable point and the campaign was rounded of with wins against Kempston Rovers and Sharnbrook to move Brentwood into second place. With the runners up spot carrying guaranteed promotion to the Premier League up for grabs, the challenges of Billericay and Arlesey fell by the wayside leaving Stevenage as the only team capable of catching Brentwood. A win against Sawbridgeworth Town moved them to within two points of Brentwood and a win at home to Kings Sports in their final game would bring them promotion. Kings held on gamely to a 2-2 score line late into the match but a dramatic winner came for Stevenage meaning that for the third year in a row Brentwood’s promotion hopes had been dashed at the final hurdle.

In truth Brentwood’s young squad may not have been quite ready for Premier League football but there is no denying much has been achieved in the past two seasons and the progress and maturation of the team as well as of the senior team set up is there for all too see. Great strides have been made off the field as well as on. The club was awarded Adult Charter Standard Club status to go along with its youth standing, Olivia Worsfold was vice captain and captained the Essex Representative side earning her County Cap and Bryony Lynch was also called in to the Rep squad. 1st team Manager and Coach Kevin Anderson successfully gained his FA Level 3/UEFA B License after his course was funded by the club. The club continues to enjoy a healthy and developing relationship with the Brentwood Town men’s club with increasing joint activities and access to facilities. The club is finalizing a kit supply deal with Vandanel in conjunction with the men’s club and also has a kit sponsor lined up for the upcoming season.

The club’s standing in the Essex women’s football community continues to be of the highest level and due in no small part to this the Ladies 1st Team has secured some impressive new signings for next year to supplement an entirely retained squad. Along with several exciting prospects coming up from the successful BTLFC U-17s, the team looks to be extremely well positioned for another run at the ERWFL Div 1 South title and if successful will be a vastly more seasoned outfit ready to tackle their long held goal of Premier League football.

Kevin Anderson
Ladies 1st Team Manager/Coach

Brentwood Town Ladies FC 1st Team 2007/08

Competitive Record:

Overall: Played 30 Won 20 Drew 5 Lost 5 For 106 Against 35

League: Played 20 Won 13 Drew 4 Lost 3 For 67 Against 20
FACup: Played 4 Won 3 Drew 0 Lost 1 For 15 Against 6
CCup : Played 1 Won 0 Drew 1 Lost 0 For 3 Against 3 (lost on pens)
LCup : Played 1 Won 0 Drew 0 Lost 1 For 0 Against 2
LPlate : Played 4 Won 4 Drew 0 Lost 0 For 20 Against 4

League Position: 3rd

Honours:

ERWFL League Plate Champions

Umbro International Cup Mayador Trophy Runners Up

Hawkwell 5-a-Side Tournament Winners & Runners-Up

Individual Honours:

Player of the Year: Olivia Worsfold

Player’s Player: Sophie Lovell

Outstanding Performance: Bryony Lynch

Most Improved: Rhianne Slater

Commitment Award: Kierra Gabriel

Leading Scorers: Bryony Lynch 28, Kerry Mills 16, Laura Brooks 13,Rhianne Slater 13.

Essex Rep Squad: Olivia Worsfold, Bryony Lynch