Two-goal Bean puts on a show
With two goals that any First Division player would have been proud of, Raneika Bean led Wolves Girls to victory in the Women's FA Cup final at National Stadium yesterday.
Bean, who scored all three Wolves goals in their 3-1 semi-final win over Rude Girls in February, took just 50 seconds to show off her goal scoring talents.
In Wolves' first raid, she broke through into the box before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Cassandra Trott.
Whenever Bean received the ball, something always looked like happening and in the seventh minute the lead was almost doubled. This time she headed the ball past her marker from a throw-in and then raced for goal before her shot from an angle was blocked by Trott's legs.
However, it wasn't all Wolves as in the 10th minute Dandy Stars equalised when Janelle Caines placed her spot kick into the top corner, the penalty having been awarded after Damina Caisey was fouled.
But two more Wolves goals before the half put them firmly in control. The first -- the best of the match -- came when the 14-year-old Bean curled her shot into the top corner from more than 20 yards after Trott had been penalised for carrying the ball outside the box. Waynette Thomas rolled her pass back for Bean, who unleashed a left-footed shot that gave Trott no chance.
Wolves brought on Naquita Dill for Tiffany Glasford in the 35th minute to boost their attack and moments before half-time Juanita Smith scored from a deflection to make it 3-1.
Dandy Stars made a game of it in the second half and were deserving of the two goals they scored as Wolves lost their edge. Leah Woodley, a Stars replacement at the start of the half, scored within three minutes of being on the field to make it 3-2.
But a fine goal by Jahneikia Lightbourne three minutes after that restored Wolves' two-goal advantage. Lightbourne raced into the box and showed good composure before scoring her team's fourth.
A goalkeeping error by Tenia Woolridge in the 56th minute enabled Meredith Brady to pull another goal back for Stars. Her pressure prevented Woolridge from picking up the ball and as it rolled across goal, Brady followed up to force it home at the far post.
Bean twice went off suffering with cramp and Wolves were prepared to play with 10 men for 10 minutes before she returned. But when she went down for a third time 15 minutes from the end, she was replaced by Shevonna Simons. Despite long periods of pressure by Stars, Wolves hung on for the victory.
CUP QUEENS -- Naquita Dill shows off the Women's FA Cup while her Wolves team-mates celebrate after yesterday's exciting 4-3 win over Dandy Stars in the final.