Football teams from same club in 'miracle' final

Two football teams from the same semi-professional club will go head-to-head in what has been described as a "miracle" final.

Hashtag United Women and Hashtag United Women Reserves will face off for the BBC Essex Women's Cup at Colchester United's JobServe Community Stadium.

The first team secured their place in the final with a convincing 6-1 victory over Bowers & Pitsea LFC First, while the reserves defeated Billericay Town Women First 3-1.

The showpiece game between the two sides, managed by Dom Edwards and Declan Murphy respectively, will kick-off at 19:45 BST.

Eddie Cooper, club official and commentator, told the BBC the final would be a "really interesting spectacle".

"Both teams have done fantastically to get here and it's no mean feat that both teams are in the final, so it's a credit to the club as well as the county," he said.

"The reserves have had a fantastic year, so I'm really interested to see who turns up on the day and puts the best performance in."

The first team plays in the FA Women's National League Southern Premier - or the third tier - meaning they are only two promotions away from reaching the Women's Super League, although they are currently fighting relegation.

The reserves, meanwhile, are two divisions below them, in the Eastern Region Women's Football League South One - or the sixth tier - which they have just won, securing promotion.

None of the players are professional, and while the two squads do not train together, some of the opposing players know one another from previous seasons.

The teams' home matches are also kept apart, with the first team playing at Parkside in Aveley, and the reserves taking to the pitch at Woodlands School in Basildon.

Flo Jackson, who captains the first team, said some of the reserves had been watching them during their training sessions ahead of the big game.

"We're definitely not going into the game being complacent," she said.

"Being my first season at Hashtag and being given the armband as well, it would be brilliant to lift the trophy with the girls - I feel like that's sort of the least we deserve."

Charis Howell, from the reserves, said it was "absolutely incredible" to see both teams in the final.

"We're all excited, buzzing, and absolutely can't wait, and it's quite a miracle to get two teams this far and fighting for a trophy."

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