U11RA Lions 4 - 0 Stockton Wildcats
C: Paloma
GK: Jessie
Rosie '20, '29, '32
Chesca '25
POM: Rosie
Muddy conditions today but fortunately the rain held off and the pitch just about held up. When I arrived at 8.20 Rich was already out giving the pitch a very determined forking to ensure the game went ahead, busy morning for him with just the two games to coach as well. Thanks to Simon for vital help set up/down the pitch and the running the line.
Thanks to the mud, the ball was slow and sodden for most of the match and conditions under foot were in general slippery but despite this the girls kept the ball moving between them for large stretches of the game and gave today's opponents a completely different match to the last one. Big, physical and determined, Stockton are no push over but today couldn't keep up with the movement the girls deployed.
Physical battle for possession to start with, with Lyra doing great work to impose herself on the opposition at the front and Immy doing similar work at the back. This continued for the first 15 minutes till a rejig upfront put Rosie to position to show off her striking skills in a 20 minute showcase that effectively finished off the opposition and the game. Firstly she collected the ball on the edge of the box after lovely build up play from Orly and Belle and surgically found the far corner , then she set up Chesca in near identical circumstances (well deserved goal for Chesca, she has been buzzing around the opposition goal for weeks making things happen) to put the girls 2 ahead and then was played through by Lyra and blasted the ball past the keeper. 3 nil half time. She wasn't finished there however and came straight on in the second half determined to bag her first hat trick of the season, and finished the job within 2 minutes, played through by Orly, Rosie smashed it home without any hesitation.
The opposition did have a couple of opportunities in either half but were well dealt with by Jessie, but in general the defence had them locked down. The opposition kept at it and even threw the keeper up for a corner in the dying moments of the game but the girls held firm, shame Lyra didn't get 10 seconds more play to see if she could have beaten the keeper back to her goal.
Captains Nominations
Great work from Paloma today, her and Belle playing against two much bigger girls in the middle but using their skills, speed and stamina to outplay them. Defence. 240 minutes of football without a goal conceded. Great work from Immy, Freya, Orly, Chesca and Paloma but Zariah had a great shift shutting down the opposition as they repeatedly tried to get down their left wing.
Midfield
As mentioned great work from Paloma and Belle in the middle (despite Belle being not 100%) and great wing work from Orly and Chesca but Lyra had another great game, skillful and direct plus a vital physical presence against such strong opponents.
Attack
After a great job in defence last week Rosie showed her versatility with a full service attacking shift, ruthless with her shooting and a lovely array of passing to play in her teammates. And for a second week in a row, the captain had a hat trick scorer to select, well done Rosie.
Thanks to all the parents for your support this autumn. Well done to the girls for all their hard work, some great strides made as a team and for all the individual players.
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