00:00 Nerves, anticipation, the weight of the world on their shoulders, all in the hopes of holding
00:08 that cup when the whistle blows.
00:14 Hundreds came to watch at Chattentown Football Club with high hopes for another super strike
00:18 from Maidstone's Alessia Russo.
00:21 So with millions of eyes on the TV, could our Kent connection keep hers on the ball?
00:33 A nail-biting game mirroring the tense match last time England took on Spain and became
00:38 European champions.
00:41 But an early goal from the red side set the pace for the rest of play.
00:47 In that half-time whistle blew, some of the fans at Chattentown lost faith.
00:52 But hope remained for those future Lionesses.
00:54 I don't think it's going as well as we hoped it would.
00:57 I mean, we look a bit nervous but we know we can bring it back because we've done it
01:02 in the past and I think it's just 45 minutes left so we've just got to get everything on
01:07 the line.
01:08 Yeah, I feel like maybe changes might need to be made.
01:10 It looks a bit slow and there's a bit of gaps in the field area.
01:15 I mean we've had a few chances but I think Spain are on top.
01:20 I think their possession is much more effective than ours.
01:24 They're keeping the ball better.
01:25 You know, we're forcing it.
01:26 We've had opportunities which is great but we've not really taken them and I think it's
01:31 just not flowing very well which sucks I guess.
01:35 But there's hope.
01:37 I have hope.
01:38 They'll come out second half and hopefully they'll get a goal.
01:43 But it wasn't meant to be. A double substitution at half time saw Russo on the bench for the
01:48 rest of the game.
01:50 Spirits were dampened but a penalty save from Mary Erpes put the roar back in the Lionesses
01:56 and the fans.
02:11 The Lionesses just couldn't quite equalise, losing to Spain 1-0.
02:17 But staying true to their title showed bravery and courage throughout.
02:23 It might not have been a win for our Lionesses over in Sydney but back here in Chatham the
02:27 women's team have just kicked off playing Hashtag United in their first game of the
02:30 season.
02:32 It was an opening day defeat for Chatham Town women after another tough battle.
02:37 After watching the Lionesses give it everything, giving up was not an option.
02:42 A 69th minute goal from Grant got the crowd cheering.
02:45 But clawing back from 3-1 this late in the game was a big ask.
02:50 One these girls just couldn't quite deliver.
02:53 It may not have been the day for football in Sydney or in Medway but it has been an
02:59 incredible four weeks for women's football.
03:03 The inspiration that comes with even getting to a final is unreal so the impact it's
03:07 going to have on not just girls in Kent but boys and girls across the whole country is
03:11 going to be massive.
03:12 Before it was the focus on how do we get girls into the game, now it's all about how do
03:16 we shift perception so that having young girls, older girls, females of any age groups within
03:22 the game in different roles, how do we make that the norm?
03:26 The first final in 60 years for England.
03:29 The first game in the National League for Chatham.
03:32 The first few moments in history for the roaring success the lionesses are and the whole nation
03:38 they've inspired behind them.
03:40 Abbey Hook for KMTV.
03:42 (upbeat music)
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