A BRACE from talented striker Charlie Wellings helped fire Birmingham City Ladies’ Development side into the FA WSL Development League Cup final as they saw off hosts Liverpool 4-2 on Sunday.
The semi-final was being replayed due to an incorrect application of the game’s laws by the match referee in the original tie the previous week, which Liverpool had won on penalties following a 2-2 draw in which Cheryl Edwards and Freda Ayisi had scored for the visitors.
Blues made no mistake second time around in Prescot as they won 4-2 after extra time after the match had finished 2-2 after 90 minutes, with Anna Wilcox and Jaymee Dudley also on target for the visitors.
Blues, who have been in red hot form in the league as they chase a league and cup double, will now face Sunderland in the final at Stratford Town FC on Sunday, May 31.
The team sit third in the FA WSL Development League Northern Division ahead of their next league fixture at Everton on Sunday. Blues are behind second placed Liverpool on goal difference and leaders Manchester City by a point, although both Blues and Liverpool have a game in hand on City.
Meanwhile, there was plenty of Blues Ladies involvement at the Professional Footballers’ Association 2015 Awards in London on Sunday evening.
Captain Karen Carney and her Blues and England team-mate Jo Potter were both named in the WSL 2015 Team of the Year, with Carney also one of the five nominees for the Women’s Players’ Player of the Year award which was won by Chelsea’s South Korean midfield star Ji So-Yun.
Blues defender Aoife Mannion and striker Freda Ayisi were among the five nominees for the Women’s Young Player of the Year accolade, which was won by Arsenal and England midfielder Leah Williamson.
There was more to smile about on Wednesday when the Solihull College girls’ team – coached by Potter and including Blues Ladies first team player Coral-Jade Haines – were crowned English Colleges Football Association 2015 Women’s Premier Cup national champions thanks to their 3-1 victory over West Herts College at Blues’ St Andrew’s home.
