BSYL - Year 10. Thornbury Town Youth 1 - 9 Foxes. 26/09/15

A gorgeous sunny morning and a lovely playing surface in Thornbury proved to be the perfect backdrop for a great display from the Foxes. With injuries (Sam's ankle and Harri's shoulder) and other commitments taking their toll on the squad, added to the fact that Thornbury had inflicted a heavy defeat on the away side last season, the game promised to offer a real threat to the Foxes promising start to the league season. As it transpired the Foxes dominated the game from start to finish, mixing high quality passing with great discipline and great finishing.

From the first whistle, the Foxes kept the ball on the floor and look to work gaps in the opposition's formation. With Sam missing, Jack dropped inside alongside Joe and the pair provided a great rhythm for the side. Omar's work rate and vision caused constant problems and Ed and Dom provided a real threat on the flanks. It was Danny who broke the deficit after 15 mins, finishing a great team move and he doubled the lead 5 mins later. In between, and after, the Thornbury keeper made a succession of very good saves which kept his side in touch. This proved important as the home side took their first real chance to bring the score to 1-2 and to raise their hopes. For 10 mins or so the game became a real contest and showed what could have been if the Foxes had not been in such good form. A switch on the left saw Henry enter the fray and restore the lead with a fine, driving run and crisp finish.

1-3 at half time.

The half time talk was pretty straightforward, focusing on more of the same and the importance of the next goal. The team responded brilliantly and within 5 mins Omar had increased the lead. Impressively, the Foxes retained their intensity and further goals followed with Henry and Danny completing their hatricks, Ollie S and Jack, with the keeper making further good saves.

A clean sheet in the second-half was equally impressive, although Thornbury should have made more of a penalty awarded for a push in the box. Once again Owen, Fin, Alec, Dom, Nick and Tom provided the basis for the play ahead of them.

The icing on the cake were the ref's highly complimentary comments about the quality of the performance.

Man of the match - Jack. A captain's performance in a new role - capped with a goal! 



      

BGL u13 Westbury Park Foxes 6 v 0 Bradley Stoke Youth

Foxes Turn on the Style!

The organisers of the BAWA computer fair must have been rubbing their hands in glee as the car park filled up. Sadly for them the record crowd, (over 50),had arrived for the North Bristol Classico, and the only 'hard drives' that they cared about would be provided by the dominant Foxes midfield!

With Graham on his bike, the Foxes called on Mark to assist, and promoted Daisy, fresh from a 320 mile away game, to the coaching staff to put the girls through the warm up!
With Amelia and Ella W away, Milly T dropped into the back line, and the Foxes kicked off into the sunshine.

The opposition had clearly set up to try to dominate the midfield, but after a couple of early probing runs the Foxes forced an corner. Lulu's perfect delivery was smashed in on the volley as Sim lost her marker with ease. 3 minutes gone and the nerves were settled. 

Another corner was rapidly won, another fantastic delivery and the away keeper could only clear the ball to Ella who returned it with interest to double the lead.



The away side changed formation and pushed Keira Beck into a more orthodox role upfront. She was marked out of the game by Emily, aside from one run that Betty was quickly out to deal with. From the corner Stoke were awarded a free kick on the D but the wall stood firm with Emily heading the ball over the crossbar.
Lulu holds them off!



That was to be the away teams only chance of the game as the traffic became all one way. Sim went close with a vicious strike from range that hit the bar, before the impressive Zoe Jones strode through the defence to calmly slot home the first of her hat trick.

So 3-0 at the break. The team talk was all about teams coming back from 3-0 down (us!) and the need to stay calm. The away team would have to attack, and we knew that there would be chances on the break.

The second half was only 6 minute in when Zoe again sprang the offside line to smash home a second, and then 4 minutes later a brilliant solo effort completed her 3rd hat trick of the season! She could quite legitimately have claimed the match ball had I not spent £14:99 on it only 4 days before!
More trickery from Lauren!

With Sim and Zoe on the bench it was left to others to shine as Lauren led the line and was unlucky with a couple of strikes, before winning a corner that led to Ella grabbing her second to complete the rout. 

So another great team performance. The girls are adapting well to the new system, and have now gone 2 hours without conceding a goal, and limiting the opposition to minimal chances. We must work on continuing to be strong, but the way that the girls are able to slot seamlessly into the system we are playing bodes well for the future.

Captain of the Week: Emily H

Girl of the Game: Milly T
Another fantastic corner!

BSYL Year 10 - Shire 2 - 8 Foxes. 19/09/15

The Foxes made it two out of two in the League with a win over a tenacious Shire side.

Making the most of the slope the Foxes had a significant lead at halftime with goals from Omar, Henry (on his debut for the club), Danny, Dom Robbins and Ollie S. Shire came out strongly in the second half and matched the Foxes who were forced to make a change in goal as the injured Owen was replaced by Sonny.

 The Foxes second half goals were scored by Henry and Dom Robbins to cap another encouraging performance. 

Henry was voted the player's player after an impressive start to his Foxes' career and Alec was coaches' man of the match for a commanding performance at centre back. 

BSYL Year 10 - Foxes 10 - 0 Rockleaze, 12/09/15

The Foxes had a comfortable start to the season with an impressive win over their local rivals. Debuts were handed to Dom and Finlay who have already become key members of an increasingly strong squad. 

The away side's keeper limited the lead to 4-0 at half time with a string of good saves, with the Foxes goals coming from Omar (3) and a beautiful finish from new captain Jack.

The Foxes continued to keep their focus in the second half adding a further six, with further goals for Omar  and Jack before Danny and Ollie also got in on the act.

The Foxes player's player was Omar, and the coaches man of the match was Sam for an exceptional all round performance.   

BSYL Year 9 - Foxes 1- 3 Wickwar. 28/03/15

Another catch-up post from last season.

After the disappointment of the semi-final defeat from the week before, the Foxes faced the same opponents in a game that meant more to the Wickwar as the home side could finish no higher than third, irrespective of the result.

The Foxes fielded a side featuring members of the squad who had not been selected for the semi final but played with a familiar style and a strong sense of team work. Once again there was not much between the sides, although this week Wickwar had the slight edge and took a two goal lead. A great free kick from Sam reduced the deficit and the away side came under increasing pressure in the last quarter. A breakaway goal killed, what ended being the Foxes last game of the season as Deeerwsood did not fulfil the fixture the following week.

BSYL Cup Semi Final Year 9 - Foxes 2 - 2 Wickwar (4-5 pens). 21/03/15

A late post from the end of last season.

A game that would have graced the Cup Final was decided with the last penalty of the 10 taken as Wickwar, having been 2-0 down with ten minutes of normal time to go, beat the reigning cup holders.

The game played in sunshine and on the perfect surface at St Bedes started in a tense fashion but gradually the Foxes started to exert their dominance. After 15 minutes a great corner from Danny was headed by Tom  on to the Wickwar bar. The Foxes controlled midfield and played their usual neat passing game, with Wickwar looking to take every opportunity to move the ball forward fast to their three strikers. Other half chances came and went for the home side but the first half ended 0-0.

The second half saw the Foxes take control as Omar scored two, as well as hitting the post. The Foxes carried a constant threat and Wickwar were struggling to stay in the game. To their great credit the away side never gave up and with 10 minutes to go the ball somehow found it's way to an unmarked Wickwar player in the Foxes' box who reduced the deficit. The last ten minutes became increasing tense as Wickwar pushed for an equaliser and in the last minute a corner was scrambled home to the away supports jubilation.
 
The 10 minutes of extra time saw the Foxes create the best chances but some brave defending by Wickwar kept the score level. And so to the dreaded penalties. The quality of both sides spot-kicks was of the highest order, with the closet a keeper coming to a save was when Owen just failed to push Wickwar's 4th penalty over the bar. On such small margins games are decided and when the Foxes fifth penalty hit the post the holders were out.   

AEK Boco Red u13 Girls 0 v 3 Westbury Park Foxes u13 Girls

Bad is the new Good!

After an uncharacteristic performance a week ago, the Foxes spent their training time this week on a change of attitude as they got to grips with the reality of competative football, starting with heading practice and moving on to defending the set pieces that had proved so decisive a week ago.
Too often the 'nice' team of the BGL, the focus changed to combativeness, assertiveness and improved communication, all of which would be required in spades against Boco Red, a big physical team that had taken points from Portishead a week ago.

With Rhiannon away, the Foxes opted on a formation change, with Ella W joining the back line. With Sim restored at the front, Lauren returned to left midfield with a plan to rapidly rotate the attack on a huge pitch.

What followed was one of the finest Foxes performances we have witnessed. 

Emily charges forward

Betty commanded the box and launched the ball into the opposition half, the back line held against anything thrown at it and the midfield ran the opposition ragged, while up front Sim threatened with genuine pace.
All over the park the Foxes bullied their bigger opposition, flying into tackles and recycling the ball effectively.
The goals came, firstly a Reds defensive mix up, under pressure from Sim, which saw the defender turn the ball into her own net. This was rapidly followed by a low strike by the pacy forward  into the corner. In the second half Mara was upended in the box whilst through on goal to enable Sim to lash home from the spot.

Penalty!

So a memorable performance and one that will need to be maintained to get the season back on track, starting with the North Bristol Classico next weekend.
Neither coach was able to pick an individual performance for girl of the game this week such was the contribution from all 11 girls, although Ella B should get a special mention for her improving photography skills!

Lauren strikes from distance

Downend Flyers u13 0 v 12 Westbury Park Foxes u13 Girls

Foxes open strongly at Downend to top table

The Foxes U13 Girls started the new BGL season confidently with a convincing away win at Downend. The home side battled hard, played fair, had several skilful moments and never once let their heads drop. Ultimately, however, they could not contain the Foxes' formidable firepower, slick passing and pace down the flanks.

All of the new additions to the squad, having made their debuts in the glittering summer tournament season earlier this year, fitted seamlessly into the 9-a-side game. Lauren proved a dangerous and tricky raider on the left side, and her debut Foxes' league goal was a just reward. Millie T likewise got on the score sheet and displayed her impressive speed throughout. Emily was not greatly troubled in defence in the first half but took the opportunity to make her trademark powerful runs from deep.  And Zoe's power and tenacity just proved too much for the Downend defence, resulting in a rare but thoroughly deserved double hattrick. Does she get to keep two match balls for that?

Elsewhere the squad 'veterans' showed no signs of summer rustiness. The mighty minis on the wings, Ella and Mara, went through their whole repertoire of dribbles, tricks and runs to give the full backs a tough afternoon. Both added their names to the score sheet from close range, with the pick of the goals being Mara's volleyed second after a slick Lulu-initiated passing move down the right. Rhiannon was back with her 'ghosty' runs, assists for goals, and a rare but welcome goal from a long range 'speculator' into the top of the net. Molly and Amelia always looked confident and assured in the tackle and on the ball, and never really let their opponents get past them or have a sight of goal.

Special mentions to keepers (for a half each) Lulu and Emily for their patience and vigilance, even when there wasn't too much action at their end. Lulu did manage to spot an interesting butterfly at one point. Commiserations must go to the tireless but unlucky Sim. Sometimes the ball went wide, sometimes over the top. Several times the brave Downend keeper denied her, on one occasion tipping a shot onto the bar then calmly catching the rebound. It just would not go in. Better luck next time, Sim - some poor team are going to suffer when you rediscover your scoring boots.

Overall, a very enjoyable afternoon in the sunshine for the Foxes, on an excellent pitch, against friendly and sporting hosts for whom easier and better days will surely lie ahead.

Captain of the week: Emily

Girl of the Game: it has to be "six shooter" Zoe