Hertfordshire league cup semi final.
Bishop Stortford 1 - Kinja Rockets 1
Bishop Stortford win 6-5 on penalty kicks

Kinja rockets made the long journey back to Bishop Stortford for yet another cup semi final against Bishop Stortford on Saturday morning and were very unfortunate not to reach another final against their strong opposition.
With Bishop Stortford you are guaranteed an exciting game as they are very well organised and a very hard working group of young ladies and this fixture provided the excitement that the previous 2 fixtures had conjoured up.
With the wind behind their backs the rockets started at an electrifying pace with Joya, Nicole and Kasey all being denied by the impressive Storford goalkeeper. Joya had the clearest opportunity to score when she twisted and turned in the area and as she wriggled free from the last defender she was just about to shoot but lost her footing on the wet grass and the ball was cleared to safety.
The rockets took a deserved lead on 14 minutes when the rockets forced a corner, Lillian took the corner and as the ball fell to Kasey she took a swing at the ball and missed but loitering behind her was Joya who smashed a shot high into the roof at the front post with the keeper rooted to the spot in the middle of the goal.
The impressive Alex was very unfortunate not to score 3 minutes later when she travelled 30 yards with the ball and hit a sweet left footed drive from 20 yards which looked a certain goal until a brave bit of defending saw the ball whistle wide after a deflection and a corner was awarded, the resulting corner saw Nicole have a goalbound effort blocked and the ball was cleared upfield.
As in previous encounters with Bishop Stortford it was clear to see that the wind always had a major say in who dominates the game and again this was evident as with the wind behind the rockets they created countless opportunities, had plenty of shots, forced several corners and forced many saves from the goalkeeper and the score stayed 1-0 to the rockets going into halftime.
The 2nd half began and with the wind behind them Bishop Stortford started brightly and pressed high up the field but there was no real danger on the rockets goal and anything that made it past the central defensive rocks (Riley and Mia G) was dealt with easily by Anna in the rockets goal.
With 10 minutes gone in the 2nd half Kasey almost doubled the rockets lead when after good link up play with Nicole she hit a shot from about 20 yards out and the ball hit the crossbar full in the face with the keeper a mere spectator and the ball was again cleared to safety.
Straight after that effort Nicole had a great opportunity to score after Kasey won the ball in midfield and was forced out wide but she was able to send a lovely cross to the far post where Nicole drifted in and fired inches wide.
Lillian,Joya,Guste and Nicole all had further chances to score but were unfortunate not to.
With the minutes passing away the rockets continued to look for the goal that would guarantee a final and Stortford were lookijng for the goal that would force extra time and with 3 minutes left they got their wish, A long ball over the top saw a Stortford attacker race away and as Anna came off her line she poked the ball past her for the extra time forcing goal.
2 periods of 5 minutes each way could still not settle the issue despite the fact that the rockets continued to press with and against the wind the winner never came and the game went to penalties.
Stortford scored their first 3 penalties and Mia B and Kasey both sent the keeper the wrong way with their efforts but Guste saw her effort saved.
Anna saved the next Stortford kick and Nicole stepped up but saw her effort also saved.
Stortford then fired their 5th kick over the bar which left Lindsey needing to score to force sudden death and she coolly slotted home to force sudden death.
Stortford fired all 3 of their sudden death kicks past Anna and Aimee and Joya fired theirs past the Storford keeper, Audrey stepped up but saw her effort saved and Stortford celebrated reaching the final
After the failed spot kick the whole team got together with Audrey but not to consol her but the celebrate her braveness and willingness to take a kick in a pressure situation, There were no tears, more like a celebration, The girls gave their all and we all knew it and we are so proud of each and every single one of them.
All at Kinja FC wish Bishop Stortford the best of luck in the final.
Team
Anna,Audrey,Riley,Mia G,Alex,Nicole,Guste,Mia B,Joya,Kasey,Lindsey,Aimee,Lillian.