BGL u12 Westbury Park Foxes 5 v 2 AEK Boco Red

Foxes continue winning streak!

It seems like summer will never end as the Foxes assembled for an early kick off at BAWA, with the sun blazing and tee shirts the order of the day.
Molly returned to the Foxes squad in place of Emily, as the Foxes lined up in their familiar 2-3-3 formation.
Captain Betty lost the toss, so the Foxes kicked off into the sun.
It was a confident and assured opening by the Foxes, who were wary of the Reds who were unbeaten and had been in free scoring form themselves. It wasn't long before the Foxes were testing the opposition down both flanks, and the opening goal came from a typical Ella run on the right which Sim finished off with a fine strike from the middle of the box.

Sim opens the scoring

The lead was soon doubled as the Foxes followed up superbly following a set piece, and as the keeper was unable to bring the ball under control, Daisy pounced to stab in from close range.

Ella celebrates as Daisy stabs home

So 2 nil up and cruising we thought, until a Red was allowed to run through 3 challenges and skip down the right wing before firing past Betty to stun the home support, and bring the Reds back into the game.
With Lily on for Molly the Foxes pressed forwards again, and were rewarded with a penalty as Lily was up-ended as she laid the ball off.
Sim took over penalty duties and calmly slotted the ball into the corner of the goal.

Cool penalty

So the Half ended 3-1 to the Foxes.

Ella W and Izzy came on for the second half, which saw the game open up as Boco pressed to try to get something from the game, and the Foxes looked to hit on the break. Soon the lead was extended as Ella B scored an almost carbon copy of the Boco goal, running down the right before blasting a shot that the away keeper could only parry into the net, injuring her hand in the process and having to leave the field.

Ella Fires in!

The final Foxes goal completed Sim's hat trick, as a fine passing move from Daisy to Molly saw the midfielder square to Sim who again finished with deadly accuracy.
The Reds weren't beaten though as their powerful forwards combined to blast a hole in the Foxes defence and run through to slot in a consolation, and nearly got a foothold in the game late on as they again broke the line, only for Betty to charge out and save with her knees.

So a hard fought game against sizeable unbeaten opposition, who represented a step up in challenge to the Foxes. The girls are starting to see how to play each other in and are reaping the rewards!


Captain of the Week : Betty

Girls of the Game : Izzy and Ella W

BGL u12 Emersons Green 1 v 4 Westbury Park Foxes

Foxes maintain 100% winning start!

A bright Sunday afternoon sent the Foxes to Emersons Green to take on the renamed Cadbury Heath team.
With Molly absent, the Foxes were forced into a tactical switch, moving to a back 3 of Rhiannon, Ella and Amelia, with Lulu and Daisy in midfield with the usual wide players, Ella and Mara, and Sim up front. The bench was filled by Lily, Izzy and a rare appearance from Tex!

With no referee provided by the home team for a second year running, the Foxes declined the option of a home coach, and installed Y3 coach Dave Wyatt as the man in black for the afternoon.

Clearly afternoon starts don't suit the Foxes as it was the home side that made the early running, playing long balls from the back for the big strikers to run onto, whilst packing the midfield.
An early injury to Ella forced a change at the back, with the Foxes reverting to a back 2 and Lily coming on to strengthen the midfield.

It takes 4 to stop Daisy!

This had the desired effect, with the Foxes slowly able to start imposing their style of play, and attacking down the flanks. The opening goal came from a powerful run from midfield by Daisy, with a rasping shot that gave the keeper no chance.

With nerves settled, the Foxes went about their business and soon doubled the lead with a jinxing run into the box by Lily, who rounded the keeper to slot home her first of the season.

Lily opens her account!

Sim was soon in on the act with a calm finish to put the Foxes 3-0 up at the break. The score would surely have been greater but for a solid Emersons defence who were well drilled in the offside trap.

With Izzy on for Sim in the second half the Foxes had to withstand some spirited Emerson pressure, drawing Betty into a couple of saves. Her quick distribution set the Foxes up for some fine counter attacking as the wingers broke quickly. Goal number four came from a fine Ella run and cross which Daisy arrived in the box to smash to ball past the Emerson goalie!
A further run gave the Foxes a penalty as another cross was hand balled. Daisy, on a hat trick, confidently placed the ball, but the shot went agonisingly past the upright.
With Tex on in the midfield the Foxes looked to see out the game, but got caught when a clearance was met with a speculative lob that dropped just under the bar into the net.

So a hard earned win against sizeable opposition, and a repeat of last year's scoreline.

Captain of the Week: Sim

Girl of the Game: Betty

BGL u12 Westbury Park Foxes 6 v 1 Longwell Green Blue

Foxes remain top after impressive home win!

An unchanged Foxes squad returned to BAWA for the first 'home' game of the year, following last weeks switch from Keynsham.

The visitors today were Longwell Green, who had put up an impressive display against the Foxes last season. We knew that we couldn't afford to commit as many forward players as last week, so a change was made to the starting line up with Molly coming in to bolster the midfield and Sim playing as a lone central striker. Lily made way and joined Ella W on the bench.

The game demonstrated just how well the team is gelling and adapting to the new format. The Foxes scored 6 goals, and the manor of scoring was incredibly pleasing to the coaches. Daisy, playing as a number 10 off the central striker scored 2 classic number 10 goals, hit with power from distance, and was unlucky not to get a first half hat trick when another effort thundered down off the crossbar.
Sim scored a couple from a central striker role, the first a classic 'rolling off her marker to poach in the box', the second a run onto a through ball and calm strike. Mara's goals were again exactly what were expected of her position; ghosting in at the back post for one, and following up a shot for a tap in for her second.

The pleasing thing was that the goals were possible by the whole team understanding their roles and playing them to perfection. Defence making tackles and playing forward, midfield and wide players running hard and timing passes, and strikers hitting the net.

The girls were reminded of the need to concentrate, when they were caught out of position leading to a 4 on 1 for Longwell Green, who were able to run through and shoot, with Betty only able to deflect the fierce shot into the net. This proved to be the only lapse, and did nothing to spoil a tremendous team performance.

Captain of the Week: Amelia

Girl of the Game: Molly

Year 9 - BSYL Foxes 10 - 0 Shire

A new season, three new players and a new home pitch. The astro at St Bedes was a welcome change from the grass on the Downs and all three of Dom, Joe and Ed contributed to a convincing win.

 

Both sides looked a little rusty but the Foxes carried the greater goal threat throughout and several chances, including a penalty, were either brilliantly saved by the Shire keeper or missed. The deadlock was broken from a corner as Ollie K scored with his right foot rather than his head. A collectors item. Captain Lawes had a really impressive game and opened his account with a cool finish before Ollie S's fine header finished the best move of the first half, with Joe feeding Jack who's left-footed cross was perfect. 3-0 at half time. 

The Foxes had decided to take the maximum number in the squad that the rules allow and substitutes were used to great affect as the game wore on and Sam completed his hatrick and there were further goals for Danny, Omar, Raul, Ollie C and Jack. Shirehampton never gave up but the Foxes proved to be too strong on the day.

 

Foxes man of the match - Sam

BGL u12 Keynsham Town 1 v 10 Westbury Park Foxes

Everything's Changed…..Apart from the Result!

A step up to 9 a side, the offside rule, a new home at BAWA, and now 6 different schools represented, but the Foxes started the season on Sunday where they left off last year!

With a late change due to league newcomers Keynsham's pitch not being ready, the Foxes kicked off the season on the immaculate playing surface at BAWA.

This was to be the girls first ever 9 a side match, which meant a change to their familiar formation.
Lining up with Betty in goal, Rhiannon and Amelia in defence, Lulu sat at the base of the diamond in midfield with the familiar wide players Mara and Ella on the flanks. New summer signing Daisy Ackerman lined up at the top of the diamond, playing behind strike duo Lily and Sim. Ella W and Molly completed the Foxes squad.

Keynsham got the match underway but soon found themselves in trouble as Mara skipped down the wing before crossing along the 4 yard line where the oncoming Sim swept the ball in. Less than 2 minutes in and the Foxes were on their way.
The half continued with the Foxes dominating both possession and territory. The front 5 playing some delightful football, using the width to great effect, peppering the Keynsham box with crosses and forcing corners. As is often the case, Sim was ideally positioned to finish moves off, and added a further 4 goals in a half that Betty didn't get a touch of the ball. The few excursions by Keynsham into the Foxes half were quickly mopped up by the defensive trio, allowing the impressive Daisy to orchestrate a new attack. Ella W took over from Amelia at the back and Molly took over on the right side of midfield.

The second half was more of the same. Sim soon completed her double hat trick, before making way as Ella moved up front and Molly returned to the wing. With Mara scoring and Ella bagging a couple, the scoring was completed by debutant Daisy.
Rhiannon made way for Ella at the back, before Betty came out for the final quarter with Lulu taking over in goal.
Keynsham are a new development team, who possessed some good technical players, who will gel together with match time, and, sure enough, they got their break. Having forced a goal kick they were first to the recycled ball and sent it looping over Lulu with the last kick of the game to get on the score sheet, to the delight of both sets of supporters.

So a fine start, with the team adapting nicely to the new format. Only 2 offside flags all match, showed good positional awareness. Great link up play and outstanding finishing capped a memorable season opener.

Captain of the Week : Daisy

Girl of the Game: Daisy