Bristol's
Best Better Gloucestershire's Greatest
in
Autumnal Table-Top Tussle
It's that time of year. Multicoloured yet dying leaves on
the trees. A slight chill in the air. The clocks going back and the dreary
prospect of darkness by 5. A somewhat premature and overlong half term break.
Over-sugared kids terrorising old folk while dressed as witches.
But who cares? This was, at last, the game we'd all been
waiting for. Yes, Arsenal and Liverpool are looking good, and well done to the
Bristol City Vixens for dramatically securing promotion back to the WSL. There
was, however, only one football show in town this weekend. The two sides
sitting atop the Bristol Girls League, each with 100% records, finally met.
Wotton Rovers came to BAWA to take on the U14 Foxes Girls for the first time
this season. Irresistible force meets immovable object. Clash of the Titans.
Super Sunday...(etc. - insert your own cliché here).
Wotton, the formidable and deserving league and cup double
winners last season, arrived early, laid out the training cones and looked good
in the warm-up. The Foxes, as is their way, shambled up in twos and threes and
sprayed a few shots around the goal. Had a half term of lie-ins, sweets and spoiling
by grandparents blunted their edge?
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| Smart Move! |
Emphatically not. From the first whistle, the girls in green
and white played with snap, verve and skill. First to every ball, and every
second ball, the Foxes were swiftly into their stride. Mara was dominating the
left wing with tricksy and fast running, frequently having her marker auf Toast. 'Amelia W No. 2' was a
skilful and tenacious presence behind the front line, winning balls and
releasing the marauding Zoe and Sim. It didn't take long before the pressure told.
Zoe chased down a loose ball in defence, dispossessed her opponent and powered
towards the goal to finish from close range.
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| Amelia Feeds Zoe! |
As the first half wore on, the only worry was the lack of a
second goal, with Wotton potentially dangerous
on the counter or from the set piece.
But the 2016-2017 Foxes are a tougher proposition. Last season's set
piece vulnerability, or occasional outpacing on the break by Wotton and others,
have gone. The iron defence of Rhiannon-Abby-Millie-Emily snuffed out all
threats with their pace and strength, while also frequently launching counter-attacks
with a trick or some skill on the ball. Lulu was made of something even
stronger than iron, getting her head, feet and occasionally her face (ouch!) to
every ball in front of the back four.
Leading 1-0 at half time, the Foxes changed ends expecting Wotton to up their
intensity. The visitors did just that, beginning to win a greater share of
midfield possession and launching some dangerous breaks down the right. Keeper
Betty, despite prolonged quiet spells, showed great hands, feet and coolness
when called upon. One perfectly timed challenge by her in the box saved a
likely goal, as did a brave gathering of a whipped in ball at the second
attempt.
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| Zoe (About to hit the post!) |
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| Betty Goes Long! |
Then Emily cleared her lines and rampaged down the left
wing. When she unselfishly cut in and laid it off to Zoe, it seemed the chance
had gone. But with a couple of steps and shimmies past her defender,
"Z-Jo" was onto her right foot, and curled what even greengrocers
would call an absolute peach into the top corner.
From there on in, despite a couple of minor scares calmly
mopped up by the impassable defence, the Foxes saw out the game in relative
comfort. Wotton could not break through, and the 'Hoops' were only denied a
third when Zoe's shot rebounded off the inside of the post into the keeper's
arms. Eventually the whistle blew for a thoroughly deserved home victory in a
tough but sporting contest.
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| Rhiannon plays Amelia in! |
There were multiple star performers and performances. As
well as those mentioned above, Lauren showed some great touches and composure on
the ball despite still recovering from a flu jab and brace fitting double
whammy. Georgia, Ella, Molly and Lily all put in lively and valuable shifts
coming off the bench. As is so often the way in the best performances, everyone
contributed and there was not a single weak link anywhere on the pitch. Thanks
also to 'number one fan' and Academy star Daisy for coming with Dad to cheer
her friends on.
Top of the table after seven games, the Foxes are looking
very strong, but the coaching team will be stamping (not literally) on any
signs of complacency or triumphalism. There now follows a brief enforced rest
break, after the "decision" (ahem..) of the club hierarchy (not
Tamsin) not to enter the U14 girls in the County Cup. Well, it leaves them free
to focus on the league, so it could prove an inspired move...
Captain of the Week : Lulu
Girls of the Game: Amelia W and Emily H
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