Westbury Park Foxes: U12 Girls Win Quedgley Tournament!

THE LONGEST DAY...AND ANOTHER TROPHY

"Three...that's the magic number!" sang laid back 80s hip-hoppers De La Soul. The Westbury Park Foxes U12 Girls would agree, as they continued their astonishing tournament run by clinching a third tournament victory in succession.

Two strong squads travelled to the well-run and friendly Quedgeley Tournament in Gloucester. The Foxes in the Pitch 4 group (Lulu, Amelia, Emily H, Lauren, Ella B, Izzy and Emily W) got off to a flying start, beating Herefordshire champions Ross Juniors 2-0.

The first was a brilliant opportunistic poacher's goal from Ella B at the near post, while Emily H's debut tournament strike -a 20 yard screamer in the top corner - was the clear goal of the tournament. A frustrating 0-0 draw followed against a tough and stubborn Longwell Green, but they bounced back with an impolite 3-0 win over tournament hosts Quedgeley, featuring a classy hattrick from tournament debutante Lauren.

They were looking good for the semis until a long through ball counter-attack from Dursley Town caught them out in their final group game. Despite battering the opposition goal with numerous chances, the equaliser would just not go in. A draw would have seen them through, but instead the hugely unlucky Foxes finished 3rd on 7 points, behind the top 2 tied on 8. The girls responded well to their setback, with lots of ice lollies, playing on the slides and swings, and roaring on their team-mates on Pitch 5....

The Pitch 5 squad (Betty, Rhiannon, Molly, Ella W, Mara, Zoe and Sim) faced a tough group. First up were a big, strong and skilful side all the way from Dudley. Playing against the stiff breeze, the Foxes withstood the Midlanders' pressure, and clinched the game with a deflected strike from Sim. Again showing no manners to hosts Quedgeley Reds, the Foxes saw them off 2-0, including a Sim free kick which almost burst the net. Next were familiar rivals and County Cup champions Wotton, then a strong Cheltenham Spa side, both edged 1-0 with early strikes, comfortable possession and increasingly elegant passing and movement. Newcomer Zoe was improving in every match, and scored a fine goal. Ella W and Molly made cool and assured defensive contributions whenever called upon. And in a sign of what was to come later, Betty, restored to goal in her sole tournament outing this season, brilliantly saved a Cheltenham penalty to keep the Foxes' sheet clean.

No reasonable parent should have been put through the agony of the semi-final. With their squad mates cheering them on from the 'Big Slide Grandstand' above, the Foxes besieged the Longwell Green goal with six clear cut chances, in ten regular then two extra minutes. It would not go in. No goals, golden or otherwise . Penalties would decide it.

Mara's cool first strike, and Betty's first save, seemed to have put the Foxes in control, but when Sim dragged wide the score was levelled, and LG bravely followed in Zoe's successful blast to force sudden death. What happened next will live long in Foxes legend. First Rhiannon, then Molly, then Betty each missed. After each of those misses, Betty stood in her goal, stood her ground and made brilliant saves to prevent the Foxes being eliminated. Three times. As the rules (and 1970s Scottish disco funksters Average White Band) said, "Let's Go Round Again"..so up stepped Mara to blast in for a second time. Over to Betty...and a fourth incredible save in succession put the Foxes into the final!

Dursley had prevailed over Wotton, in an equally epic penalty shootout, to earn the right to meet the Foxes in the final. Their star player was switched into goal, where she put on a display to (almost) rival the heroics of Betty. Time and again the Foxes swept forward. Mazy dribbler Rhiannon came close to beating a whole team and going 'all the way' on two occasions.

Zoe put on her best performance of the day, powering down the right channel and drawing saves from the feet, hands and everything else of the brilliant Dursley keeper. The chances kept coming but they would not go in. It would take something special to clinch a deserved win...

The last "golden goal" in major competition football was scored by Turkey against Senegal at the 2002 World Cup, before any of our girls were born. It is a dramatic, cruel but undeniably exciting tiebreaker. Once again Rhiannon stole the ball off the striker's toes, glided past opponents down the wing, and fed Zoe on the left. She knocked a higher ball in to Sim. Channelling 1996-vintage Paul Gascoigne, Sim flipped the ball over the defender's head, then ran in at close range to meet her own ball on the half volley. Even the 'Dursley De Gea' was not stopping that one.

It was trophy number three in 36 days. The wild celebrations were joined by the other squad, and there were handshakes all round for brave Dursley. It was now very late in the (Longest) day, with the trophy not handed over until after 6 pm, but as the victorious girls posed for more jubilant photos with trophies and ice lollies, no-one cared.

Once again, we take part, win, lose and draw as one big squad. Everyone played their part in a thrilling day. So many highlights... Emily's H's long range screamer..Lauren's hat trick...super stopper Betty's penalty heroics..Mara's ice cool penalties..Molly's spirited performances and clever use of the knee for clearances...Zoe's tireless efforts right to the end...Rhiannon's mesmerising runs...and Sim's goals, from blasts to tap ins, but above all her glorious winner.