Barking 1-5 West Ham United Ladies FT

Final score - Barking Ladies 1-5 West Ham United Ladies

98: That's it! West Ham have won the Essex FA County Cup for a third time! In truth, the Hammers were a little too good for their opponents and lived up to their pre-match tag as favourites. Nevertheless, they settled quickly, bagged an early goal and never really looked back. Credit to the Barking side for not giving up and getting a late reward, but the technique, speed and movement from the Hammers was of that little higher a standard and they deserved their success. It's been a difficult season for West Ham, so all credit to them. They can enjoy tonight's success. We'll have exclusive highlights and reaction on our media platforms soon. Thanks for joining us.

97: I'm not quite sure how long the referee is going to add on, but we're still playing...

95: Goal! It's a consolation for Barking, with the low shot from the far side sneaking through a forest of legs and past Picton. Goals galore in added time!

94: GOAL! Captain Little gets her name on the scoresheet with a long-range special that sparks wild celebrations in front of me among her family members and friends!

92: GOAL! West Ham break from the back and the cross from Cliffe finds Masters, who takes a touch and fires low into the bottom left-hand corner!

91: Into added time and we're going to have five minutes of the stuff. Barking have a corner. Credit to them for not giving this game up. The initial corner is cleared to Prior, whose cross is high and met by captain Brooks with a firm header that flies over. Good chance.

88: Substitute Dell has space on the right of the West Ham box, but takes the wrong option and her weak shot rolls to Picton, who picks it up.

87: Let's hope this victory gives West Ham some confidence for their final few league games. They are pretty much safe from relegation, but a few points would not do them any harm at all.

85: Whitehead fouls Cliffe, but Morgan wastes the free-kick but lofting it too high and out for a goal kick.

81: There is another stoppage for the Barking physio to come on and tend to one of their players. In the meantime, Vigours is replaced by Dell.

76: A double change for the Hammers. No14 Emily Masters and No12 Dani Cliffe are on for goalscorers Mellors and McCrea.

73: There is a delay before the re-start as a Barking player is receiving attention inside the six-yard box. No2 Ferdinand is replaced by No12 Lianne Prior.

70: GOAL! That's the County Cup for the Hammers! Little finds Mellors with the short corner and her high curling cross to the far post is headed in by McCrea!

70: Are the Barking girls beginning to tire? Some neat passing football opens up their defence and it's McCrea who speeds away again from Little's pass before her shot hits a defender and bounces behind. Corner...

67: A first change from West Ham manager Steve Spencer, with April Bowers - who has worked in the Chadwell Heath kit room as an assistant - replaces Lipley-Hinton.

64: West Ham are more potent in attack. Bottom makes a challenge and finds McCrea. She uses her pace to get away from Beal and shoots high to the near post, but Shoneye throws both hands up and makes the catch.

62: Barking have a corner... Like West Ham, the delivery is as much a shot as a cross, but Picton deals with it. Lipley-Hinton blocks the follow-up and West Ham finally clear to the far side. They are under a bit of pressure here, though.

61: Barking are probably enjoying their most sustained attacking period of the game so far, but they cannot create a cross or a chance.

57: West Ham respond immediately and Blanchflower races through. The angle is a bit tight and her left-foot shot flies across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.

56: It's all a bit scrappy until King's loose backpass loops into the air and Whitehead beats Picton to the ball. Her touch takes the ball goalwards but this time it is Bottom who races back to hack clear for a throw.

51: It's very much as you were here, with West Ham enjoying the lion's share of possession and looking by far the more dangerous. A third would end this game as a contest.

48: McCrea involved again, cutting the ball back to captain Little, who takes a neat touch to wrongfoot her defender before firing straight at Shoneye, who holds on.

47: Good start to the second period from the girls, with the speedy McCrea putting in a cross, then nearly getting a header to a ball in from the right.

46: West Ham kick-off the second half.

Half-time score - Barking Ladies 0-2 West Ham United Ladies

47: Into added time and another West Ham corner is headed wide. Shoneye takes the goal kick and that's half-time. West Ham two goals to the good and well on their way to a third County Cup triumph.

45: Lipley-Hinton hits a speculative bouncing shot from 25 yards. That's easy for Shoneye to collect.

43: Almost a fortunate third for West Ham as a speculative through ball bounces over the Barking defender and Mellors is there. Shoneye is out like a shot and knees the ball away from the attacker.

41: Approaching half-time and West Ham are good value for their two-goal advantage, even if Barking have created a couple of chances of their own. It's now a case of seeing the game through to the break, as the men found on Tuesday night at Arsenal.

37: It's all action here! Picton is out superbly and bravely to dive at the feet of Whitehead on the edge of the box as the winger went through. Not only did she make the save, but she also held onto the ball. Great goalkeeping.

36: West Ham hit the woodwork again! This time it is McCrea, whose corner curls in and bounces off the near post and into the middle of the penalty area. A scramble sees a follow-up shot loops towards the net but Shoneye tips over. The next corner is cleared.

34: Barking respond quickly as Kinsman races onto a loose ball and challenges Picton outside the penalty area with a block tackle. The ball rolls towards the net, but Revell is back quickly to clear.

33: GOAL! Blanchflower doubles West Ham's lead, racing onto a through ball, past a defender and poking the ball past the advancing Shoneye.

32: Close! McCrea's well-worked short corner finds Morgan, whose flick hits the crossbar and bounces over.

31: Barking finally break out of their own half, but it's a fleeting attack as Kinsman drags a shot well wide from long range. West Ham break immediately and Mellors wins a corner.

30: The momentum in this game is going to have to change dramatically if West Ham are not going to take home the trophy. They are dominating.

27: So close to a second for West Ham as McCrea's cross from the left finds Mellors, but her difficult-looking half-volley loops just over the crossbar and lands on the roof of the net. Moments later, Lipley-Hinton has a shot from 20-odd yards and Shoneye is again called into action, diving low to her right and making the catch.

26: It is not often you see two teams playing 4-4-2 these days. It is making for an open game. Mellors runs onto a through ball down the left channel before controlling and crossing, but Shoneye dives to her left to prevent the ball getting to Blanchflower.

24: The game has re-started but Barking are down to ten players. They will soon be up to their full complement as captain Brooks has been treated and is now ready to resume.

20: West Ham have a corner now. Mellors takes it high to the centre of the six-yard box. The clearance goes nowhere but the claret and blue shirts cannot force the ball over the line. One of the Barking players has taken a knock on the head in that melee and the physio is needed.

16: McCrea benefits from a strong challenge that wins her the ball on the far side. Her control is good and she runs at the Barking defence before shooting hard but a little too high from outside the penalty area. Good, clean strike.

13: Barking have a corner. The Eastern Region Women's Premier League team are giving this their all against their more illustrious opponents. Having not lost in their own league since 24 November, you'd expect them to be in confident mood. This corner is cleared, however.

10: Barking show they carry a threat of their own. The ball bounces up 30 yards out and Russell catches it well, but the volley is saved by Picton diving to her right. She holds on well, too.

9: Speculative effort from Morgan from about 25 yards. It's well-struck but Shoneye watches it closely - as you might expect - and catches the ball and clutches it to her chest. West Ham quickly recover possession and this time it is Blanchflower who is able to get a shot away from the right corner of the penalty area. It drifts wide of the far post.

8: West Ham break quickly and win a corner on the far side. Mellors takes and curls the ball into the near post, from where goalkeeper Shoneye pushes the ball away and a defender completes the clearance.

7: Barking have recovered from the shock of conceding so early, it appears. A cross is not dealt with by the West Ham defence, but Copplestone's follow-up shot is charged down and West Ham clear.

4: West Ham have been well on top so far. The ball drops to Little 30 yards out and she has a dip. It flies high over the crossbar. Very encouraging start from the favourites, who are being cheered on by a large and vocal Hammers contingent in the crowd.

2: GOAL! West Ham lead. A bit of early pressure forces a succession of throw-ins on the far side. The second leads to a high cross into the box, which is flicked on and Mellors is there to tap home the volley from eight yards into the bottom corner. Perfect start!

7.32pm - We're off...

7.30pm - Referee Susan Newton calls the two captains together for the coin toss. West Ham captain Stacey Little gets a couple of shouts of encouragement as she makes her way to the centre spot! West Ham fans never stop supporting their team, even before the game has started! The captains break away and there is time for one quick final huddle. Barking will kick-off...

7.25pm - Here come the two teams. There is a decent-sized crowd here at Bridge Avenue on a mild but increasingly cloudy evening. With the dressing rooms behind the goal to my right, the two sets of players are lined up on the edge of the penalty area to be introduced to the dignitaries. West Ham are in claret and sky blue shirts, white shorts and white socks, while Barking are in an all-blue kit.

Good evening and welcome to Bridge Avenue in Hornchurch for tonight's Essex FA County Cup final between Barking Ladies and West Ham United Ladies.

West Ham have endured a difficult season in the FA Women's Premier League South, but they go into tonight's final as favourites against their neighbours.

Should they preval, the Hammers would win the trophy for the third time in their history, adding to victories in 2009 and 2011. Barking previously lifted the County Cup in 2001.

Kick-off is rapidly approaching so, without further ado, here are tonight's teams.

Barking Ladies: Shoneye, Ferdinand, Beal, Wyatt, Brooks, Kinsman, Piggott, Vigours, Copplestone, Whitehead, Russell
Subs: Murphy, Lucy Allen, Lizzy Allen, Dell, Prior

West Ham United Ladies: L.Picton, King, Bottom, Morgan, Beard, Revell, McCrea, Little (c), Blanchflower, Mellors, Lipley-Hinton
Subs: Cliffe, Masters, Bowers, Sammons, Parlane