U12 v Mount St Mary's, Won 10 - 1

Players of the match - Amelia W and Clare T

RF- Elfie CE
LF- Issy F
CM- Georgia R
RM- Clare T
LM- Emily H
SW- Poppy S
RB- Grace F / Lulu J
LB- Amelia W
GK- Imo C

Goal Scorers:
Georgia R x 3, Clare T xx3, Amelia W x4.

This was a very different game from Wednesday, against an inexperienced Mt St Mary’s squad, who had not benefited from the same time training and playing together as ourselves. The girls began the match confidently and were quick to gain the upper hand, with Clare T scoring her first goal within 4 minutes and Georgia R, finishing our second two minutes later, from a textbook short corner manoeuvre. Initially the girls were fairly muddled on the pitch, taking a while to adjust to the two extra squad members in their team, this being a 9 aside game. After a while they spread out though and gelled as team. Georgia provided some excellent through balls into the D, with Issy F and Elfie CE working hard to get on the end of them and Clare T often being on hand to provide the final touch. Poppy S as sweeper did very well, closing the attacking players down and getting her challenges in early. Backs Amelia W and Grace F were rarely troubled in this half, with Emily H also working hard to regain possession of the ball, in her role as left mid.

Before half time we had already begun to swap players around, in order to limit our attacking players’ damage and even up the game. We continued with this in the second half, with Lulu J and Amelia W enjoying the opportunity to play as forwards for a change, whilst Georgia R and Clare T sportingly stuck it out in defence. The Mt St Mary’s girls improved in confidence and did begin to break through into our defending end on occasions. Having won a short corner they managed to score, with the goal coming from one of our players trying to clear it off the back line. Goalie Imo did get a few opportunities to make saves in the second half and Amelia W scored a further three goals for our team, not bad for a girl who usually plays as a back!

All in all a great result for our girls and true indicator of how versatile a squad they are. Thanks to all those who came to support.

Donna Brailich