Bale? No, Vale..in Wales!

 English international tournament success shock

Vale Ladies FC Girls Tournament, Barry RFC, Vale of Glamorgan - 26th June 2016

The U13 girl Foxes crossed the Channel - the Bristol Channel - to claim perhaps their most impressive tournament victory yet.

A brave debut last year in this friendly event had seen the Foxes pipped by hosts Vale in the final. This time a strong squad of 10 travelled west of Cardiff, on a distinctly chilly and damp November June morning, with the aim of going one better. With 12 teams in 3 groups of 4, the girls faced two of Vale's 4 teams, and strong local outfit Sully Sports, in the 20 minute pool games. For once - and in sharp contrast to last year's opening shambles - the green and white hoops were quickly out of the blocks, with a comprehensive 6-0 win in the opener. Sully Sports provided stiffer opposition. After the Foxes had gone 3-0 up, with a 20 yard screamer from Emily H, levels dropped and Sully twice nipped through the defence to bring it back to 3-2. A late Zoe strike settled nerves to secure a win which ensured they would top the group. The final game against Vale No. 2 saw a sluggish start, until - not for the first time on this day - the Foxes played better going up the (severe) pitch slope in the second half to ease through 3-0.

During the lunch break the girls refuelled, also befriending "Buddy the Dog", the mascot from the local radio station "Bro FM", whose kid-and-parent friendly mix of current pop hits and 80s classics even led to a brief outbreak of moonwalking...

It was back to business in a tough semi-final against AFC Porth, a small but highly skilled local side. The Foxes steadied nerves early on when Lulu, as she has been known to do before, floated one in straight from a corner. Porth equalised with a stunning scissor volley from a long free kick and it was game on.

 But the battling Foxes dug in and Zoe was put through to strike yet again and secure a 2-1 victory.

The “Severnside derby” final looked a daunting prospect. Cardiff City Ladies FC are the South Wales Girls League champions, having lost only one game all season. They had not conceded a goal in the tournament, and had despatched hosts and holders Vale Dragons in the other semi. They looked a formidable outfit, and probably expected to win..

They had reckoned without Bristol's finest. With every challenge over the pitch fiercely but fairly contested, Cardiff soon knew they were in a game. The Foxes went close from the kick off, and soon a devastating swift counter-attack initiated by Rhiannon put the "ZoeSim" strike force in to take the lead. Then ZoeSim combined brilliantly again to double it by half time.

Pressing for a comeback, but being repeatedly repelled by the iron tackling and ball winning of Lulu and the Foxes' swift and powerful "RhiLaurEm" defensive unit, Cardiff left themselves open for a sucker punch. Sim released Zoe yet again, to net the third and send the Bristol fans wild.

It wasn't over yet. Cardiff got one back with a long range screamer, then another from close range after a series of late corners. The stopwatch ticked past full time, and still the game went on. One final effort was repelled, the whistle went and jubilation ensued.

There is not enough space to record the scorers of all the goals (18 - both Zoe and Sim scored a lot), or to give enough praise to each of the ten girls (Amelia, Molly, Sim, Zoe, Rhiannon, Lulu, Mara, Ella B, Lauren, Emily H) who lifted the trophy. Every single one played their part and contributed a magic moment at some point, whether starting or coming off the bench. Special mentions must go to our outstanding and selfless goalies Amelia and Ella B, who donned the gloves, grasped the complex rules and displayed some great handling and saving skills. Lauren's effortlessly calm defending and control, and Emily H's fearless facing up to some of our opponents' most dangerous attackers, further laid the foundations for success.

This was an enjoyable, sporting and friendly event played to a high standard. Now if only they could fix the weather....

Foxes go close in Dorset

Redlands Tournament, Weymouth, 18th June 2016

The U13 girls continued their scenic tournament tour of Britain, reaching the semi-finals at the Redlands Football Festival in Weymouth before falling 1-0 to the hosts and eventual winners.

Good movement off the ball

Don't fall in!

Nine intrepid Foxes made the 2 hour trip to the South Coast, with Zoe and Emily forming an advance guard on Friday evening and even putting in a light training session on the beach.

                  

Yee-haw!

Others followed early on Saturday morning. The "Redlands Rebels" tournament DJ played a selection of pop hits rather than (as their flag, above, might have suggested) rockabilly and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The 10 minute games were started centrally by the sounding of a Rugby League-style hooter, and finished with a minute long rendition of the "Countdown" TV theme blasted through loudspeakers. Because refs with whistles and stopwatches would have been much too complicated.

The Foxes were into their stride quickly with a 2-0 win over likely group rivals Merley Cobham, followed by a slightly more comfortable 2-0 against Branksome Town. New signing Amelia  caught the eye with a strong showing and a goal on her debut, with Sim, Zoe and Rhiannon also netting. With Betty absent on drama duty, there was a rotating cast of goalkeepers in her place, including comfortable clean sheets for Emily H and Ella B. Poole Town, with a strong squad of County FA players, were the obvious threat in the group. A slightly fractious and physical encounter with them saw an early Foxes goal chalked off, then a well worked late winner for Poole.

A win was required in the final group game against Chickerell United to ensure progress. An early penalty, smoothly converted by Zoe, settled nerves and the girls saw the match through comfortably to the 'final Countdown'.
 

At this point the chief scout finally justified his presence in the entourage with a successful challenge of an error in the scorer's tent, which would have seen the Foxes eliminated and playing for the 'losers' Plate'. They were correctly restored to a semi-final place against tournament hosts Redlands, the Dorset league and cup double winners...

The Foxes started brightly and had Redlands rocking. Ella B might not have been the biggest goalie, but she pulled off a handful of brilliant saves to keep the game level. Even Ella, however, could not keep out the rebound from her best save of all, and the powerful Rebels took the lead.

Then, confusion. If you're going to have centralised timing by hooters and music, at least set it off at the right time. The Countdown theme sounded, and a minute later it was all over. Or was it? It had seemed like a very quick game. That's because it was: only 7 minutes had elapsed. Handshakes had been exchanged, and two of our players had gone to the loo, when the team coaches sportingly agreed that there had been an error and that 3 more minutes should be played. The Foxes scrambled their players back on the pitch and play resumed, but the stoppage had removed the Foxes' momentum and the Rebels held on to their lead until the (second) end.

Overall, it was another fun and successful trip to 'foreign parts' to test ourselves against other teams. Redlands and Poole were clearly the top teams in the county, with plenty of FA coached players and a distinct physical edge to their game, but Bristol's finest more than held their own and could have beaten them on another day.

A lull in the action

International duty is resumed next Sunday...in Wales. Barry Island here we come!