U11 Totterdown 5, WPF White 1

Westbury Park Foxes started as underdogs and knew this would be a tough game against the league leaders. WPF White defended well, getting into the tackles while goalie Jude made some great saves. It was well into the first half when Totterdown finally made the breakthrough and then secured another before half time. WPF White didn’t give up, their defence was solid with Eesa and Jack throwing everything in front of the ball to stop the attacks. Unfortunately, Totterdown scored two more before WPF White's Elliot was able to score the goal of the match from a long range free kick. With Foxes heads up they looked like scoring again until Totterdown got their final goal in the last minute. A good win for Totterdown, but a great performance from WPF White. Man of the match was Jude in goal and all the other players walked away with their heads held high - proud of how well they played.

U11 Buccaneers Black 3, WPF Greens 1

A close and exciting match was settled by the Buccaneers superior finishing. They enjoyed a flying start, with Joe dribbling through the Foxes back line to open the scoring. Sidney widened the lead during a spell of Buccaneers pressure, but the Foxes were always in this game and had several good chances themselves. In a pulsating second half, the Foxes came back through Josh, whilst both Ben (Foxes) and Julian (Buccaneers) made brave saves at both ends. The final word went to Joe, whose deflected shot settled the game for the Buccaneers with a few minutes to go.

U11 Girls - Foxes 2 Bradley Stoke 2

The U11 girls had their toughest game of the season today against an unbeaten Bradley Stoke. The girls were in great spirits and started the game full of energy. It soon became apparent this would be a close game with both sides playing good passing football. It was end to end stuff with breaks coming from both sides. Amelia, Rhiannon and Lulu worked well together to repel the early attacks and set up counter attacks of our own. After about 15 minutes one of them paid off with Sim converting a rebounded shot from Mara. Bradley Stoke looked stunned but responded with even more determination. The whole team defended well but a quick counter attack left us out numbered and Betty stood no chance with a well struck Stoke goal. We went into half time 1-1 but feeling confident we could get another goal. With Lily now up front and Sim switched to right wing we bombarded the Stoke goal and won a succession of corners. Lulu struck one of them perfectly with pace and a slight deflection off one of the Stoke defenders saw it in the back of the net. Lulu rightly claimed the goal! We still had over 20 minutes to go but continued to hold firm with fresh legs in the form of Molly and Izzy taking turns in defence. Ella, Mara, Sim and Lily pushed the front line with Rhiannon and Lulu combining to control centre midfield. Betty was her usual confident self in goal and was quick off her line to save a couple of counter attacks. The game could have gone either way at this point but Bradley Stoke pounced on a loose ball and struck well from the edge of the box into the bottom corner. Although the girl's were disappointed, a draw was a fair result against a good side that played the game in the right spirit. Girl of the Game went to Amelia for great tackles in defence including a game saving sliding tackle in the final minutes. Well done girls! We still maintain our unbeaten record.

GFA Cup, Year 8 - Yate Utd 3 - 1 Foxes, 20/10

The comparison between this game and the one played the day before could not have been more stark. Played in a great spirit and with both sides looking to play football and the supporters allowing the ref to make the decisions, the result was in the balance until the last 5 minutes. The Foxes, started very brightly and dominated possession with Yate threatening on the break. Owen had to make some good 'sweepers' saves but had little in the way of goal mouth action to deal with until Yate broke through and the forward did well to finish under pressure from Harri. Once again the Foxes came back strongly and on the brink of half time Sam's corner was met by Danny and flicked into the roof of the net. Early in the second half Ollie C had looked as if he had put the Foxes ahead but was judged to be offside. Even so, Yate were restricted to fast breaks and were kept under constant pressure. Chances fell to Sam and Raul who both did well but couldn't quite fine the net and Danny forced a good save from a freekick. However, with 15 minutes to go Yate won possession as the Foxes looked to bring the ball out of defence and broke in numbers to give Owen no chance. A draw, and thus penalties, still seemed a likely outcome but Yate score very late on to seal a good win. A good team display with Danny being selected as man of the match.

BSYL - Yr 8 Wickwar 6 - 2 Foxes, 19/10

A tough and at times quite unpleasant game ended with a scoreline that really did not reflect the balance of play over 70 minutes. The Foxes misjudged the time it would take to travel to Wickwar and arrived with little time for a warm up. It was no surprise, therefore, that the home side grabbed a lead in the first couple of minutes with the Foxes still half asleep. Reassuringly the Foxes bounced back and Ollie C scored with a fine left footed shot that the keeper could only parry into the net. The game ebbed and flowed and Wickwar edged ahead for a second time before Danny blasted a cracking goal into the top corner. 2-2 at half time, during which the ref rightly spoke to both sides about the way the game was being played. The second half followed a similar pattern and remained scoreless for 20 minutes. The Foxes had the chance to seize the game but Sam's effort came back off the bar, allowing the home team to beat the offside trap and take the advantage. Even at 3-2 the Foxes were in with a strong chance of equalising for the third time but with five minutes left Wickwar stretched the lead to 4-2. There was no way back for the Foxes and the last five minutes were hard work. Thankfully, for a whole host of reasons, the final whistle finally blew and we were glad to be on the way home. A good, solid performance from the team without much in the way of luck. Jacob was man of the match for a great first half performance before injury forced him off.

BSYL Yr 8 - Foxes 8 - 3 Lockleaze, 06/10/13

A sunny day and return to winning ways as the Foxes entertained 'new boys' Lockleaze. The Foxes started brightly but just could not quite find the back of the net. Seemingly out of nowhere Lockleaze grabbed a good goal and suddenly the home side woke up a little. Harry got the scores level before Danny took us into the lead. Lockleaze bounced back with another breakaway goal and it took a great strike from Danny and a goal from Sonny to give the half time score a comfortable look. The first 10 minutes of the second half carried on in the same way with Harry adding his second and the Foxes' fifth before Lockleaze scored a third and would have added a fourth but for a missed penalty. Pretty much straightaway Harry completed his hatrick and Danny his, with a left foot strike, before Sonny rounded it off with a long shot. A good win but a patchy performance with Alec standing out as man of the match at centre back.

BSYL Yr 8 - Foxes 2 - 5 Golden Hill Sonics, 28/09/13

A difficult day for the Foxes ended in a disappointing performance and a second defeat of the season. Only 12 of the the squad were available for the game and the lack of fresh 'legs' showed as the game went on. The first half was pretty even with the Sonics being good value for their 2-1 half-time lead, their first goal a volley from the edge of the area that left Owen with no hope. The Foxes goal was just as good as Sonny swivelled to bury a chance following a corner. As the second half started it was clear that the next goal would be crucial. Unlike the game against Wickwar the Foxes were unable to grab it as the Sonics extended their lead with a well judged lob. What followed was 15 minutes of the Sonics being completely on top as the Foxes struggled to keep their shape and their heads up. Owen, Ollie K and Alec were exceptional in keeping the score down but even so with five minutes left we trailed 5-1. The game finished on a high note as Harri scored his first of the season but even that did not quite make up for a very a-typical Foxes performance. Ollie K was man of the match for sticking to his task on a difficult day.

BGL U11 Whitchurch Sports 0 v 4 Westbury Park Foxes

Foxes maintain unbeaten run in the rain.

The Foxes travelled to league newcomers Whitchurch, for a lunchtime kick off in the cold driving rain.
On a smallish, but flat, and thankfully, well drained pitch, Mara lost the toss, and the Foxes kicked off the first half into the rain.

It soon became clear that despite their league inexperience the opposition were well drilled and able to pass the ball and looked to get forward whenever possible. Once again, in the early stages, the Foxes were too happy to give their opponent's time on the ball, and needed Lulu, Rhiannon and Amelia to sweep up before the lone Whitchurch striker could react.

Slowly the Foxes started to use the width of the pitch and test the excellent away keeper. With encouragement not to try to walk the ball into the goal, Mara reacted to a parried shot to steer the ball into the corner.

Half time and a slender lead 1-0.

A quick turn around and with the rain on their backs, the Foxes looked a better team in the second half, as Whitchurch tried to push forward, and the Foxes countered. Lulu and Rhiannon drove the ball out from the back, and with the 3 front players getting used to interchanging, the passing improved.
Two goals for Sim, and a further goal for Mara, as well as a host of other chances well dealt with by the opposition goalie meant a deserved reward for the girls, who have often not had the rub of the green in matches so far this season.

 4-0 the final result. Good to see Sim back firing and a first clean sheet for Betty. Well done girls!

Next up Bradley Stoke at home, who beat Boco Blues today. Should be a cracker!

Captain of the Week Mara
Girl of the Game Molly (again?!)

BSYL U11 Westbury Park Greens 3 - 2 Sefton Park

Westbury Park scraped a narrow 3-2 victory in a match that went right to the wire. Goals from Jacob and Ben gave the Foxes the lead twice in the first half, but Finlay levelled shortly after on each occasion for Sefton Park. SamD scored a third for the Foxes, and despite several agonising chances late on, Sefton Park could not find the third equaliser.

BSYL U11 Buccaneers Black 1, Westbury Park Foxes White 4

The game started with both teams tackling and defending well until WPF White got the break through with a goal from TomC on 10 minutes, Foxes extended their lead with a goal from Eliot before half time. The second half saw Buccaneers Black having the advantage of the hill and after 10 minutes pulled one back. Then WPF White rallied and scored 2 quick goals from Eliot and Joe to seal the game.

BGL U11 Westbury Park Foxes 3 V 1 Cadbury Heath

A return to winning ways for the Foxes! A somewhat depleted Foxes team took on another league new team, with an afternoon kick off requested by the opposition, due to player availability. Ironically the visitors arrived with a full squad, whilst the Foxes had only 1 sub! The absences required a formation change for the Foxes, with captain of the day Sim moving to left midfield, Mara switching flanks, Lily going upfront and Molly partnering Lulu at the back. Playing down the slope the Foxes started brightly, although constant instructions were required as players got used to their new roles. Good link up play in midfield resulted in a few early chances for the Foxes, but the recent profligacy in front of goal returned and the efforts failed to hit the target. The Foxes finally took the lead as Mara cut in from the right and buried a right foot shot, beating the keeper at the near post. Heath came back and the Foxes were glad of some fantastic long range defensive clearances from Molly, but Betty was rarely troubled in the Foxes goal. The lead was doubled as Lily finished off a neat passing play. She really is developing a Lineker like skill for knowing exactly where to go to get on the end of chances! The second half saw Heath come back into the match, using the slope to advantage, playing long balls over the top and hoping to catch the Foxes who were sometimes slow at getting back. It was one such ball that passed 2 Foxes and allowed the Heath striker to shoot past Betty. Credit to the Foxes who went straight back at the opposition, with Sim running from a deeper midfield position to cross to 2 waiting foxes. The ball bounced past Lily, but fell to Mara at the far post who slotted home. The Foxes soaked up more pressure, with Betty taking the ball off the head of the striker from a corner, and the clock ran down for a well earned victory. Great play and adaptation to the new formation. Good covering back from Rhiannon and Lulu, overall a very good performance. Captain of the Week : Sim Girl of the Game : Mara

BGL U11 Wooton Rovers 1 v 1 Westbury Park Foxes

Sorry sports fans for the delayed report. Now 2 for the price of 1! Last week the Foxes went on an away day to Wooton, a new league tam, who had already run some of the more competitive league teams close this season. On a fantastic, (if a little small), 3G pitch, in bright sunlight the game got underway. What followed was a great game with 2 well matched teams. The Foxes had the better of the opening play, but Wooton battled well and were quick to close down. When the Foxes did get forward, the huge Wooton central defender was on hand to clear the danger. With no way through Lily was sent on, and within a minute the Foxes were in front as the pint sized striker ghosted in at the back post to slot home a Sim square ball. Half time and a 1-0 lead. Changes in personnel at half time meant Izzy, Molly joined the action. Wooton started brightly but never really looked threatening until the central defender went on a run from the halfway line through 5 Foxes before lashing an unstoppable shot from outside the box. 1-1. Sim was restored to the Foxes line as they desperately sought a winner, but 3 shots agonisingly wide meant that we would have to settle for a draw against very good opposition. Captain of the week : Ella Girl of the Game : Lulu