Girls Under 18 National CupHarleston Magpies 3 Olton 2HARLESTON Magpies Under 18 girls qualified for the national finals at Birmingham on May 19/20 when they beat Olton 3-2 in this quarter-final cup tie.

Girls Under 18 National Cup

Harleston Magpies 3 Olton 2

HARLESTON Magpies Under 18 girls qualified for the national finals at Birmingham on May 19/20 when they beat Olton 3-2 in this quarter-final cup tie.

Magpies' early pressure saw Kim Ashby force the ball over the line after seven minutes following a scramble in the Olton goalmouth. Olton then levelled the score at 1-1 three minutes later with a reverse stick shot.

Magpies upped the tempo in the second half and early pressure saw Magpies awarded a penalty stroke which Jess Bloom scored to make it 2-1.

Magpies continued to force the pace with Hannah Coulson driving the team on from midfield, while forwards Lizzie Clymer, Jess Bloom and Kim Ashby kept the Olton defence at full stretch. Ellie Blake was marshalling the defence well and made some timely tackles.

The decisive goal came from Kim Ashby after 61 minutes and was nothing less than Magpies deserved. Olton scored a late second goal from a penalty corner after 69 minutes but it was too late to alter the result.

Squad: Hannah Coulson, Jess Bloom, Alice Nutbourne, Frances Taylor, Amy Tuffs, Ellie Blake, Amelia Thomson, Helen Brook, Katrina Warnes, Jess Hull, Artemis Clark, Josie Molloy, Kim Ashby and Lizzie Clymer.