University Finals at Loftus Road Today

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QPR Report
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University Finals at Loftus Road Today Apr 29, 2009 8:32:58 GMT

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Post by QPR Report on Apr 29, 2009 8:32:58 GMT

Surprised it hasn't been a little promoted on our Official Site

Hartpury chasing University Cup treble - with video
Wednesday, April 29, 2009,
www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/sport/news/Hartpury-chasing-University-Cup-treble/article-944534-detail/article.html

HARTPURY COLLEGE are expecting a tough physical challenge from Loughborough University as they bid to claim a hat-trick of university cup victories today (5pm).

Director of football Tom Radcliffe's side travel to QPR's Loftus Road, where they have beaten Team Bath in the last two finals of the British Universities and Colleges Sport Cup.

A 2-0 semi-final victory over Northern Premier side Northumbria University sealed their third successive final appearance and they are now aiming to become the only other university besides Loughborough to win three in a row.

www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/sport/news/Hartpury-chasing-University-Cup-treble/article-944534-detail/article.html

And this
www.leedsmet.ac.uk/news/index_bucs_wfootballfinal_270409.htm

Unbeaten Leeds Met braced for final

This year's BUCS Women's Football Final will be an all-Northern affair as Leeds Met clashes with Northumbria to become national champions.

The two sides will meet today at Loftus Road, home of Championship side Queens Park Rangers.

The University will enter the final following a convincing 3-1 semi-final win over 2008 champions UWIC.

Confidence is high in the Leeds Met squad, with the team unbeaten all season. As an added fillip, the University defeated Northumbria 3-2 when the two sides previously met in January this year.

However, Northumbria boast the distinction of having made the final last year, where despite dominating the game for long periods, they were eventually defeated 1-0 by UWIC.

Additionally, many of the Northumbria squad members play for Sunderland WFC, who recently reached the Women's FA Cup Final.

Striker Carla Cantrall, who has scored 20 goals for the University side this season, knows that the game will be a tough test: "We have been putting in the hours on the training field adding in a few extra training sessions to our usual schedule. This week we have trained together as a squad four times and we will be having a final training session on Monday night before we travel down to Loftus Road. We have played against Northumbria twice already this season so we have a good idea about the style of play they will be bringing to the final."

"I haven't played at Loftus Road before but I am really looking forward to playing at a Championship ground as we don't get many opportunities to play at a stadium of that standard. We will be entering this game fairly confidently; however we will have to perform to the best of our ability to beat Northumbria. We won't be able to rely on them having an off day and not be at our best as cup finals bring out the best in every opposition."

Chris Welburn, head of women's football at Leeds Met Carnegie, added: "It's an absolute privilege to play at Loftus Road and I'm confident that the ground will help to motivate the players further. We are expecting a closely fought match against Northumbria, but we know we have the capabilities within our team to win the game."
www.leedsmet.ac.uk/news/index_bucs_wfootballfinal_270409.htm

Last Edit: Apr 29, 2009 8:43:10 GMT by QPR Report

Gianni Paladini to QPR Report: "I would like to thank you for all your time and efforts that you put into QPR. I think you are doing something useful and informative for the club and the supporters."

QPR Report
Administrator

Posts: 26,223

University Finals at Loftus Road Today Apr 30, 2009 7:34:00 GMT

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Post by QPR Report on Apr 30, 2009 7:34:00 GMT

Sounds like quite a final

This is Gloucestershire
Epic shoot-out brings reign to an end
Thursday, April 30, 2009,

LOUGHBOROUGH 1 HARTPURY 1
(aet, Loughborough won 12-11 on penalties)

HARTPURY COLLEGE finally lost their grip on the British University and Colleges Sports Cup after an epic 12-11 penalty shoot-out defeat by Loughborough University yesterday.

Loughborough, champions in 2004, 2005 and 2006, took the lead during extra-time after a goalless 90 minutes, but Steve Davies levelled for the holders to take the game to spot kicks.

The first 16 penalties were converted before four in a row were missed. Both goalkeepers scored and several players were forced to take a second kick before Russell Courtney's effort was saved and Charlie Mpi slotted in the winner to deny Hartpury a hat-trick of triumphs at QPR's Loftus Road.

Marcus Palmer had the best attempt of a cagey opening period, striking a dipping volley that beat Loughborough goalkeeper David Coombes in the 22nd minute, but cannoned off the crossbar.

Steve Davies caused Loughborough problems with his pace and direct runs.

But with both sides cancelling each other out, Mike Symons, one of the heroes of Gloucester City's play-off semi-final win over Cambridge City the previous night, was sent on in place of Palmer in the 57th minute.

Hartpury goalkeeper Richard Thomas was largely untroubled as Hartpury did most of the pressing, but failed to find a way past their opponents' defence..

Thomas was almost beaten in the 86th minute when Ben Havey threaded a pass through to Mpi, but the substitute was denied by a fine save.

Last year's matchwinner Marc Richards, who also played 90 minutes for Gloucester less than 24 hours earlier, had a chance with 15 seconds left, but his left-footed effort flashed wide and extra-time was needed.

Loughborough started extra-time the brighter, but a quick free-kick from Ben Pugh set up Davies and only a smart stop from Coombes kept him out.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 104th minute when Havey's corner was nodded down at the far post and Mpi volleyed home emphatically from close range.

Loughborough kept out everything Hartpury could throw at them, but when defender Courtney was pushed forward in the dying minutes he found space to shoot from inside the penalty area.
Coombes could only parry, allowing Davies to head over the line with less than three minutes remaining to spark jubilant celebrations from the holders. But they were finally deposed as champions after the penalty drama.

LOUGHBOROUGH: D Coombes; J Aldred, A Steventon, L Horrocks, B Havey (A Moulds 120); M Aldred (C Mpi 70), L Green, O Takriti, S Blenkinsopp (D Sleath 46); M Suarez, B Pritchard. Subs not used: R Edmands, R Webb.
HARTPURY: R Thomas; L Molyneaux, J Baldwin, R Courtney, B Pugh; S Davies, M Richards, A Allard, I Shaze (B Ngwa 98); M Palmer (M Symons 57), S Seavill (J Powell 38). Subs not used: J Else, A Hards.
REFEREE: A Slaughter (Sussex).
STAR MAN: Steve Davies.

www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/sport/news/Epic-shoot-brings-reign-end/article-949231-detail/article.html

Gianni Paladini to QPR Report: "I would like to thank you for all your time and efforts that you put into QPR. I think you are doing something useful and informative for the club and the supporters."