BSYL U9s Autumn Trophy Final - Year 4 Foxes Strike Gold

The BSYL U9s Autumn Trophy Final pitted us against a Shire Colts team who had stormed through their group, scoring goals galore in securing three wins from three.   In contrast, after a promising away win by the Weston Super Mare seaside, the Foxes had relied upon a last minute equaliser direct from a corner to secure their place in this showpiece event.  Its fair to say that the boys travelled more in hope than expectation although the coaches were quietly confident.


After losing the toss, Foxes kicked off downhill but were soon undone by a superb Shire move with the ball behind clinically despatched at the back post past a helpless Charlie.   For a moment it appeared that the boys might be out of their depth but roared on by a large Foxes support, they gradually gained a foothold.   As the half progressed, the tide changed and soon it was Foxes rolling down the hill and creating chance after chance.   Monty and Morgan were keeping the defence organised and with Elliot driving forward, shots by Eden, Matt and Omar flew wide or were well saved.  However, it took a moment of bravery by Cosmo coming off the line, to keep us in the game as we were caught on the counter. 


As the half drew to a close, Foxes gained their deserved equaliser when the lively Omar wriggled between two defenders on the edge of the box and poked the ball past the oncoming goalkeeper into the net.


Needing to play up the slope in the second half, the half time team talk was about discipline and belief and the boys went back out and straight back on the attack.   Soon the ball was being passed around (yes, you've read that correctly) and came back to Eden on the edge of the box.  Captain for the day, Eden crashed a shot over the Shire keeper and into the roof of the net to give us the lead.


The final fifteen minutes were a lesson to us all.   Rather than taking confidence from their lead, the situation seemed to overwhelm our boys.  Four years of "mark up" and "goal side" went out the window and the boys pressed the panic button, chasing the ball in packs like they were back in reception again.


Encouragement (ok, let's be honest, yelling from the coaches and parents) reminded the boys to get back in defence as Shire laid siege to our goal.  Tremendous midfield work by Elliot in support of lone-striker Cos helped ease the blood pressure on the side-lines but soon Morgan, Ambrose and Jacob were needing to tackle and chase to keep the lead intact.  Special mention to Ambrose who defended like a giant against Shire's striker who played so far forward he was almost standing on our goalkeeper's toes.


Great saves from Omar, a crazy goal mouth scramble when one Shire Colt was shut out by four Foxes on the goal-line, a shot wide, a shot against the post and a header against the bar made the last few minutes tricky for the watching faithful but finally the ref put his whistle to his mouth and the gold medals were ours!


Well done to the Shire boys who deserved an equaliser for their second half efforts and on another day would have got at least that.  But this was the Foxes day.


1-0 down, 2-1 up, Year 4 Foxes had won the cup!

BGL u13 Westbury Park Foxes 4 v 1 Portishead Juniors

Foxes Fire Four Past Defending Champions!

Following a hectic weekend of football, with coaches returning from the successful 'Silver Foxes' tour to Sligo, the final weekend game saw the top two teams from last season go head to head for the first time.
With a full squad to pick from the plan was to put as much pace as possible into the side to counter the quick striker, and to play with the level of intensity required to close down the midfield.

The Foxes were quickly into their game, with the midfield pressing, and Sim, surrounded by defenders up front using her skills off the ball to open channels for the midfield.

Portishead were not to be shackled and soon got in behind for a shot that Betty dealt with well. This served to remind Emily and Milly T of their defensive duties, and it was to be the only real attempt that the away side could muster in a first half that went back and forth, but with only one side really looking threatening.

All square at the break, and a confident team talk from the Foxes No 2 Mark, sent the girls back out scenting victory.

The Foxes didn't have to wait long for the break through, although it came in bizarre circumstance, as a Zoe strike headed over the goal line only to be caught 2 handed by a Portishead defender.

 Penalty, the decision, as the referee sensibly decided not to impose the automatic card! Up stepped Zoe to smash home the first of another fantastic hat trick.

The second, a sublime shot into the bottom corner was followed by a run through the opposition and shot from the edge of the box that proved unstoppable!

The forth was a fine strike from Sim that was just reward for the selfless work she had done chasing down the ball and moving the defence around.

For a second week the Foxes conceded at the death as a mix up in communication between defender and keeper allowed the opposition striker to steal the ball and slot home.

So a fantastic win against a strong side that propels the Foxes back into the buffet places!
Well done Girls!

Captain of the week: Millie T

Girl of the Game: Zoe

BGL u13 Longwell Green White 1 v 4 Westbury Park Foxes

Girls Win Away!

Following a fine performance against Bradley Stoke and Boco Red the Foxes arrived in the sunshine at Longwell Green to take on the Whites.

With Rhiannon away, Ella W slotted into the back line, as the Foxes kicked off up the slope.
The prematch focus had been on maintaining the drive and pressure that had been a feature of the two previous outings.

Unfortunately, after a couple of well taken goals, from Mara and Zoe, the girls thought that the game was already won, and started to back off and surrender easy possession to the opposition, who were eager to use their pace on the wing to try to get behind the defence.

A third Foxes goal for Zoe, from a great Ella cross, before half time put the result beyond doubt, but at the break the girls were reminded to keep pressing their opponents. With this in mind Millie B and Molly were sent on to counter the Whites quick winger.

Despite having most of the possession the Foxes were unable to make further progress, until Emily took matters into her own hand with a goal of the season candidate, picking up the ball from her own penalty area, before running the length of the pitch, through the defence to smash past the keeper!

With the game heading into the dying seconds the Whites snatched a fantastic consolation, when the ball was struck from outside the box, near the touchline, and curled over Betty's back peddling reach to go in off the far post!

So 4-1 and a comfortable win. More intensity will be needed next week as league champions Portishead visit BAWA!

Captain of the Week: Ella W

Girl of the Game: Emily T

PS sorry the photographer was away........

BSYL Year 10 - Thornbury Colts 0 - 21 Foxes. 03/10/15

For the second week running the Foxes headed north. This time, and on the same lovely playing surface, to take on Thornbury Colts. The Colts are an u14s side that has joined the BSYL this season and have so far found the going progressively tough. This game was no exception, despite efforts from the Foxes to ensure all of the squad got to play in 'unfamiliar' positions and had a chance in front of goal.  .

Danny, Ed, Nick and Harri all started on the bench and after Omar had scored a hatrick in the first minutes he did not reappear until the last 15 minutes at right back. Alec was given the chance to leave defending to others and grabbed his first 11 a-side goal after in the side's four seasons of playing it, Owen came out of goal (with Ollie C filling in) and also scored. 

A comprehensive win, that took the Foxes to the top of the table, against a side that battled to the end.

Ollie C was voted player's player and Dom Riley, after a string of great performances this season, the coaches' player.