FIVE footballers from Ash Rangers Ladies progressed to the semi-final stage of the FA People’s Cup in Bristol on Saturday.

The one-day tournament saw the Ash Rangers team – Laura Currie, Laura Entwhistle, Hannah Forse, Harriet Kelly and Amy Lang – come top of their group.

They then played a team from Hutton Ladies in the semi-finals, but at this point fatigue took its toll, having played back-to-back games with no substitutes, and their Wembley dream came to an end.

Hutton went on to win the five-a-side competition, while the Ash Rangers team could reflect on a fine set of performances.

With seven teams there including the Taunton side, they claimed five wins and one draw, only to lose out to a team they had beaten in the preliminary stage.

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TAUNTON footballer Emily Syme is currently in Spain with England Under-19s, to take part in three international fixtures this week.

The midfielder, who plays for Yeovil Town Ladies, will hope to represent her country against Spain (today), China (Saturday) and Switzerland (Monday) in the La Manga Tournament.

She is one of several FA Women’s Super League regulars in Rehanne Skinner’s 20-strong squad, having recently returned from injury.

The three matches act as preparation for the U19 European Championship elite qualifying round, taking place on home soil in April.

There, the Young Lionesses will take on Turkey (April 3), Sweden (April 6) and Italy (April 9), with all matches to be played at St. George’s Park.

England U19 squad
Goalkeepers - Emily Ramsey (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Birmingham City); defenders - Poppy Pattinson (Bristol City), Olivia Smith (University of Oklahoma), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Georgia Eaton-Collins (University of Florida), Niamh Cashin (Rider University), Naomi Hartley (Manchester United), Grace Neville (Millwall Lionesses); midfielders - Jess Park (Manchester City), Lauren James (Manchester United), Aimee Palmer (Manchester United), Amy Rodgers (Liverpool), Emily Syme (Yeovil Town), Sophia Pharoah (Brighton and Hove Albion), Amelia Hazard (Arsenal); forwards - Lucy Fitzgerald (Millwall Lionesses), Ella Rutherford (Bristol City), Rebecca Jarrett (University of Virginia), Ebony Salmon (Sheffield United, on loan from Manchester United)