FOXES EDGE FOXES IN

FA FOXES PEOPLE'S CUP

Westbury Park Foxes U14 Girls 3

Westbury Park Foxes U14 Girls 3

(Westbury Park Foxes win 3-2 on penalties)

The winners and runners-up (NB not actual Stade de France)

The magic of the cup. Giant killers, rosettes, rattles, and the road to Wembley. According to the website of the FA People's Cup, in association with BBC 'Get Inspired', "FA People's Cup Fever" has swept the land.

Just not amongst U14 girls' teams in the West. We know that 'there's only one team in Bristol', but we don't mean it literally. Faced with the opportunity of a fun five-a-side regional tournament on the "Goals" pitches at the Stoke Gifford WISE Campus, and the chance to progress through a national tournament to Wembley, the many teams of the BGL, Gloucester and other nearby leagues chose to stay away, or stay in bed. So it was that while the Foxes entered two strong teams for this event, only one other team showed up - all the way from Ashton Keynes in the Cotswolds. Fair play to them, but poor show from everyone else.

No matter - "you can only play what's in front of you", even if it's mostly your own teammates. With painstaking care and precision, the coaching team had picked two finely balanced and even squads. Team 1 boasted the talents of Betty 'The Cat' in goal, Abby, Emily H, Molly, Amelia and Zoe. Team 2 had their own slightly bigger cat Emily 'Tekkers' W in goal, who had a vital hockey match to go to afterwards. She was joined by Rhiannon, Lauren, Ella, Lulu, Millie and Sim.

Inevitably, the two titans clashed in the first game. Would it be a light-hearted kick around or training match, with friendly banter replacing competitiveness? Would it heck. Straight from the whistle, the two Foxes side tore into each other. Taking time to adjust to the unfamiliar 'chest height' rule, the speed of the pitch, constant motion in the absence of throw-ins or corners, and the importance of using the angles and rebounds in the tight playing area, the first phase of the game was a stalemate.

As the game progressed, however, Team 2 seemed to get the hang of the format slightly better. Lulu and Ella were working some delightful combinations, in conjunction with the sidewalls, while the "1" front players struggled to beat the pace of Millie and Rhiannon and really test Emily in goal. It did not come as a surprise when the "2"s took the lead through Millie, then extended it via Sim. While the "1-ers" would come close, and force Emily the Big Cat into a few saves with her hands and feet (although not her hockey stick), they could not break through and it finished 2-0.

So evenly matched were the two sides that they even defeated the brave and sporting visitors from Ashton Keynes by the same margin - 6-2 - in each of their games. The Cotswolds side had been deprived of their regular keeper after a late call-off, and battled heroically, but ultimately Bristol's finest (times two) were just too strong and quick for them. While many of the Foxes combinations and goals caught the eye in both games, there were also loud cheers when the visitors scored some well-taken goals. Sadly, their cup journey was over but at least they turned up and played in a good spirit throughout.

"Is that it?" asked some of the tiring Foxes, knowing that the top two sides in this regional qualifier - i.e. us - would now progress to the next phase in Brislington. Not quite, said the officials - there had to be a winner and a runner-up for the purposes of the media photos, the seeding for the next phase, and..the handing out of a shiny little trophy.

So it was that the two 'green and whites', this time with "2" wearing the bibs, would meet in a final, to be resolved by penalties in the event of a draw. Emily W was ready to make a swift exit and was already changed into hockey kit. Was there therefore ever any doubt that a) this would be an even fiercer contest than the first one and b) it would go to penalties?

It proved a thrilling encounter, with the friendly and supportive parents dividing into two segregated sections, and occasionally cheering with the sort of vigour which might ordinarily greet a late winner in the BGL. The match ebbed and flowed, with the "1"s taking the lead three times, only to be pegged back each time by the "2"s, on the last occasion by a fine strike from Sim after a brilliant exchange of passes in front of the goal area exclusion zone. 3-3 was the final score, so penalties it was. With only one step allowed before the shot was taken, it was the "1"s who were perfect from the spot, with Abby striking the decisive penalty.

Of course, the result did not matter, no-one really cared who won or lost, and there were no hugs and wild celebrations whatsoever amongst the winning team...well, only a few.

Both teams progress to the glamour of Goals Brislington, where they will both take some stopping - probably once again by each other. It's yet another trophy for the groaning sideboard, and a thoroughly good workout and contest in advance of some important forthcoming league matches. Very much a case of "win-win", we think. Bring on the next round!