The Women’s Development team capped off a heartwarming Mascot Weekend in style, putting four past Marlow FC Ladies in front of a strong Holloways Park crowd to secure a brilliant victory and progress to the 3rd Round of the Berks & Bucks FA Women’s Trophy.

Beaconsfield Town welcomed the youth section's U8 Girls' age group to Holloways Park yesterday afternoon as part of a series of Mascot Days taking place throughout the season. With the Women's first team away at Oxford City, the Development team deputised in their absence as they hosted Marlow FC Ladies in the 2nd Round of the county cup.

Prior to the match, the young mascots had the opportunity to explore the first team changing room, meet the players, and enjoy a kickabout on the pitch with their role models. Then, as both teams walked out ahead of kick-off, each player was accompanied by an U8 Girl before shaking hands with both the referee and the opposition.

The first half proved a frustrating affair as the Rams dominated proceedings without turning their chances into goals. Operating with a back three, wing-backs Eliza Hay and Charlotte Holland-Lomas caused constant problems in wide areas, and just three minutes in, Holland-Lomas raced clear down the left, only to see her shot well held by the Marlow keeper.

Despite the fantastic support of a dozen energetic mascots and numerous goal-scoring opportunities, Beaconsfield couldn't edge in front as they were denied by the woodwork on three separate occasions! To make matters worse, the weather had quickly switched from bright skies to a torrential downpour, leaving both sides completely soaked at the interval.

Thankfully, the second period was a completely different story. Beaconsfield started on the front foot and broke the deadlock in the 50th minute through Liena Lukina. A long ball forward from Ella Oxenham was held up brilliantly by Akilah Asani, enabling Helena Jamarek to casually clip a pass over the top for Lukina, who poked it through the legs of the onrushing keeper and into the net.

The goal opened the floodgates and the provider, Jamarek, soon became the finisher as she collected a Niamh Kearney pass on the half-turn and fired a dipping effort into the net from outside the box. Kearney then followed suit in the 65th minute to grab her maiden goal for the club, staying sharp in the box following a set-piece mix-up and directing a bouncing ball into the top corner with her right foot. Beaconsfield were now well and truly in control!

Marlow struggled to register a single meaningful effort on goal for the entire 90 minutes, and the Rams capped off a dominant afternoon by adding a fourth in the 70th minute. Sophie Burnham played in Annie O'Connor, whose powerful strike slipped through the keeper's gloves and trickled over the line.

Though sodden straight-through, spirits were sky-high come the full-time whistle as the squad celebrated their first victory of the campaign. A huge thank you goes to the U8 Girls for their fantastic energy and support as mascots. Their presence was certainly felt and the Rams will now look ahead to the 3rd Round draw of the BBFA Trophy.