2014–15 FA Women's Premier League Plate

The 2014–15 FA Women's Premier League Plate was the inaugural season of the Premier League Plate, which was introduced as a secondary League Cup competition of the FA Women's Premier League (FA WPL).

2014–15 FA Women's Premier League Plate
WPL Plate
Tournament details
CountryEngland
Teams33
Final positions
ChampionsPreston North End
Runner-upHuddersfield Town
Tournament statistics
Matches played29
Goals scored124 (4.28 per match)

Preston North End became the first ever winners of the Plate, beating Huddersfield Town 3–0 in the final at Guiseley's Nethermoor Park to win their first major trophy.

The teams that took part in the WPL plate were decided after the first qualifying round of the WPL Cup, known as the Determining Round. The winners of Determining Round matches continued in the WPL Cup, while the losers moved into the WPL Plate.

Background

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Due to a restructuring of elite-level women's football in England in 2014, the WPL had doubled in size from three divisions to six. With this in mind the league opted to introduce a new cup competition to run alongside their existing League Cup competition, the Premier League Cup, to cater for the increased number of teams.[1]

Seventy teams were entered into the Determining Round of the FA WPL Cup, with the 35 match losers being eligible for the Plate, but two teams (Keynsham Town development and Norwich City) withdrew from the competition, meaning only 33 teams took part.[2]

Results

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All results shown here were published by The Football Association.[3] Games are listed firstly in chronological order, and then by alphabetical order of the home team. The division each team played in is shown in Brackets after their name: (N)=Northern Division; (S)=Southern Division; (N1)=Northern Division One; (M1)=Midlands Division One; (SE1)=South East Division One; (SW1)=South West Division One.

Preliminary round

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14 September 2014 Leafield Athletic (M1) 2–0Stockport County (N1)Shirley
14:00 Charlotte Hughes   30'
Donna Hawkins   65'
Report Stadium: Rumbush Stadium

All other teams were given a bye to the first round of the competition.

First round

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12 October 2014 Leeds Ladies (N1)2–4 (a.e.t.) Southampton Saints (SW1) Ossett
12:30 Carey Huegett   14'   28' Report Kerri Why   20'
Rebecca Bath   84'
Emma Whitlock   101'   114'
Stadium: Ingfield
12 October 2014 Chester-le-Street (N1) 6–0Curzon Ashton (M1)Chester Moor
14:00 Laura Darmody  
Nichole Ground-Harvey    
Rebecca Hopkins  
Rae Taylor  
Report Stadium: Moor Park
12 October 2014 Copsewood (Coventry) (S) 8–0Gosport Borough (SW1)Coventry
14:00 Leah Williams   20'   82'
Natalie Dean   28'
Rebecca-Jane Knight   52'   57'   78'
Sarah Rowles   63'
Abiyola Riley   71'
Report Stadium: Copsewood Sports & Social Club
12 October 2014 Crystal Palace (SE1)2–4 Swindon Town (SW1) London
14:00 Roschelle Shakes   30'
Nicha Dyett   50'
Report Beth Thompson   15'   54'
Unknown   40'
Megan Attenborough   71'
Stadium: Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
12 October 2014 Enfield Town (SE1) 5–0Cheltenham Town (SW1)Enfield
14:00 Beth Demery  
Elizabeth Kent  
Sheryce Slater  
Own goal   (o.g.)   (o.g.)
Report Stadium: Queen Elizabeth II Stadium
12 October 2014 Exeter City (SW1) 5–1St Nicholas (SW1)Exminster
14:00 Own goal   17' (o.g.)
Tash Knapman   26'   77'
Helen Kukor   45'
Chloe Williams   57'
Report Own goal   75' (o.g.) Stadium: Minster Park
Attendance: 40
12 October 2014 Liverpool Marshall Feds (N1)2–5 Huddersfield Town (N) Liverpool
14:00 Danielle Evans     Report Debbie Hastings   27'   59'
Katie Nutter   40'   70'
Kate Mallin   46'
Stadium: Heron Eccles Playing Field
12 October 2014 Loughborough Foxes (M1)0–2 Milton Keynes Dons (SE1) Loughborough
14:00 Report Hannah Barrett  
Heather McDonell  
Stadium: Loughborough University Stadium
12 October 2014 Middlesbrough (N1)0–4 Preston North End (N) Thornaby-on-Tees
14:00 Rebecca Lillystone   62' Report Melissa Ball   13'   87'
Holly Rawcliffe   19'
Natasha Charlesworth   26'
Stadium: Teesdale Park
12 October 2014 Radcliffe Olympic (M1) 4–1Stoke City (N)Radcliffe-on-Trent
14:00 Beth Bailey   20'   71'
Rania Ramadan   36'
Danielle Saulter   68'
Report Laura Garside   63'
Emily Horton   68'
Stadium: Wharf Lane Recreation Ground
12 October 2014 Rotherham United (M1)0–4 Loughborough Students (M1) Rotherham
14:00 Report Alice Kempski  
Nikki Payne  
Alice Thackray  
Own goal   (o.g.)
Stadium: Roundwood Sports Complex
12 October 2014 Sheffield United Community (N1) 4–3Bedford (SE1)Killamarsh
14:00 Rebecca Fairfax   5'   56'
Christina Skull   20'
Samantha Woodham   22'
Report Natasha Fensome  
Eden Washington    
Stadium: Killamarsh Juniors Athletic Club Institute
12 October 2014 Solihull (M1)2–3 Leafield Athletic (M1) Marston Green
14:00 Hayley Wilford   40'
Laura Hunter   90+4'
Report Leigh Dugmore    
Kate Fellows  
Stadium: The Pavilion
23 November 2014 Chichester City (SW1)0–1 Leicester City L.F.C. (M1) Chichester
15:00 Report Amanda Whalley   Stadium: Oaklands Park

Shanklin were given a bye to the second round.[4]

Second round

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30 November 2014 Sheffield United Community (N1)2–4 Exeter City (SW1) Killamarsh
11:30 Sophie Bell   63'
Rebecca Fairfax   81'
Report Helen Kukor   12'
Tash Knapman   20'   49'
Lola Garcia Sanchez   47'
Stadium: Killamarsh Juniors Athletic Club Institute
30 November 2014 Copsewood (Coventry) (S)0–1 Preston North End (N) Coventry
14:00 Report Chelsea Flanagan   50' Stadium: Copsewood Sports & Social Club
30 November 2014 Huddersfield Town (N) 5–1Chester-le-Street (N1)Kirkburton
14:00 Debbie Hastings   16'   63'
Kate Mallin   18'
Natalie Brace   56'   80'
Report Lisa Garbutt   45' Stadium: Storthes Hall Park
Attendance: 40
30 November 2014 Leicester City L.F.C. (M1)3–5 (a.e.t.) Radcliffe Olympic (M1) Hinckley
14:00 Gemma Ball   60'   75' (pen.)  
Sarah Burbridge   80'
Report Rania Ramadan   15'
Lauren Plummer   41'
Beth Bailey   68' (pen.)   96'
Ashleigh Evans   109'
Stadium: Leicester Road Stadium
30 November 2014 Milton Keynes Dons (SE1) 3–0Enfield Town (SE1)Newport Pagnell
14:00 Charly Wright  
Andie Dickens  
Heather McDonnell   (pen.)
Report Stadium: Willen Road
30 November 2014 Shanklin (SW1) 2–0Loughborough Students (M1)Shanklin
14:00 Rowan Treagus  
Gemma Woodford  
Report Stadium: County Ground
30 November 2014 Southampton Saints (SW1)1–2 Swindon Town (SW1) Sholing
14:00 Jessica Lewry   65' Report Meg Vella   23'
Ellie Maynard   90+3'
Stadium: Silverlake Arena
Attendance: 30
30 November 2014 West Ham United (S) 3–1Leafield Athletic (M1)Aveley
14:00 Stacey Little   41'
Sarah McCrea   85'
Jade Smith   87'
Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Mill Field

Quarter-finals

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8 February 2015 Exeter City (SW1)1–3 West Ham United (S) Exminster
13:00 Kirsty Caunter   34' (pen.) Report Katie Bottom   21'
Kelley Blanchflower   40'
Stacey Little   42'
Stadium: Minster Park
22 February 2015 Milton Keynes Dons (SE1)0–1 Shanklin (SW1) Newport Pagnell
14:00 Report Chloe Parkes   Stadium: Willen Road
22 February 2015 Radcliffe Olympic (M1)1–2 Huddersfield Town (N) Radcliffe-on-Trent
14:00 Alexandra Saulter   17' Report Emily Heckler   52'
Samantha Conroy   55'
Stadium: Wharf Lane Recreation Ground

Semi-finals

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Huddersfield Town (N)4–1Shanklin (SW1)
Kate Mallin   25'
Debbie Hastings   36'
Emily Heckler   66'   80'
Report Rowan Treagus   55'
Storthes Hall Park, Kirkburton
Attendance: 40

Huddersfield town reached the final of a major cup competition for the first time in their history thanks to a 4–1 victory over Isle of Wight side Shanklin, witnessed by a small crowd of just 40 people at the West Yorkshire club's Storthes Hall ground. It was their second cup semi-final win in quick succession, having recently also reached the final of the Sheffield & Hallamshire Women's Challenge Cup. Emily Heckler scored twice for Huddersfield, and Kate Mallin and Debbie Hastings each scored once. Rowan Treagus scored Shanklin's consolation goal. Midfielder Alarna Fuller was named Huddersfield's Player of the Match.[5][6][7]

Preston North End (N)1–0West Ham United (S)
Chelsea Flanagan   80' Report
Sir Tom Finney Stadium, Bamber Bridge

Preston North End earned their place as Huddersfield's opposition in the final through a 1–0 victory over West Ham United. The only goal of the game was scored by Preston's Chelsea Flanagan.[7] West Ham, who were missing a number of regular first team players, rarely threatened the Preston goal, and eventually conceded the winning goal ten minutes from time.[8]

Final

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Huddersfield Town (N)0–3Preston North End (N)
Report Yasmine Swarbrick   44'
Keeleigh Savage   85'
Chelsea Flanagan   90+5'
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Huddersfield Town
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preston North End
GK Laura Carter
DF Natalie Brace
DF Camille Clarke
DF Olivia DaCosta   87'
DF Kate Mallin
DF Laura Windle   59'
MF Samantha Conroy
MF Alarna Fuller
MF Katie Nutter
FW Debbie Hastings   70'
FW Emily Heckler
Substitutes:
DF Victoria Abbott   87'
DF Bethanie Halligan
MF Beth Jennings   70'
MF Katie Lockwood   59'
MF Leah White
Manager:
Glen Preston
GK Danielle Brown
DF Alice Forshaw
DF Kerry Nickson
DF Bethany Stanfield
MF Aimee Cleaver   70'
MF Nicola Emery
MF Rebecca Foster   60'
MF Yasmine Swarbrick   81'
MF Laura Walker
FW Chelsea Flanagan
FW Keeleigh Savage
Substitutes:
MF Natasha Charlesworth   70'
MF Emily Hutton
MF Holly Rawcliffe   81'
FW Sarah Chadwick   60'
FW Jade Parker
Manager:
Luke Podmore[10]

Huddersfield were beaten 3–0 in the final by Preston North End, who were winners of a major trophy for the first time in their history.[11] The final was played at Guiseley's Nethermoor Park ground as part of a double-header with the FA Women's Premier League Reserves Cup, which was played in the morning before the Plate final. Spectators were allowed into the ground to watch both games for free.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "About the FA WPL". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Premier League Cup Round-Up". She Kicks. 31 August 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-05-31. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  3. ^ "FA WPL Plate". Full Time. The Football Association. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Premier League Cup and Plate 1st Round Draws". She Kicks. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2016.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Doug Thomson (2 March 2015). "Semi-final successes for Huddersfield Town Ladies". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Season Archive". Huddersfield Town Ladies FC. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  7. ^ a b Brown, Neil; Brown, Mark, eds. (5 March 2015). "Premier League Plate". Women's Soccer Scene. Vol. 15, no. 26. Archived from the original on 6 July 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Ladies suffer semi-final heartbreak". West Ham United Football Club. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  9. ^ "Preston Pick Up Premier League Plate". She Kicks. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2016.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "Preston North End WFC on Twitter". Preston North End WFC. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  11. ^ "Preston win inaugural Plate". Women's Soccer Scene. 30 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Guiseley to host women's finals". Non League Daily. Retrieved 26 April 2016.[permanent dead link]