No stroll in the sunshine as sluggish Foxes overcome spirited Stoke

Westbury Park Foxes U14 Girls 5

Bradley Stoke YFC U14 0

It was the weekend of Spring springing, the clocks going forward, flowers and chocs for Mums, and a tale of two Stokes - Basing and Bradley. On Saturday two Foxes teams travelled to Basingstoke for the regional finals of the FA People's Cup 5-a-side.

The competition was intense and physical, with opponents including Academy sides from the likes of QPR and the cream of the London and South East leagues. It was a tough day for both sides, and the end of the road to Wembley, but a worthwhile experience nonetheless.

Sunday morning, at the earlier time of 10 (which still felt like 9), saw old friends and rivals Bradley Stoke visit a sun-drenched BAWA, for the league leaders’ first home game in two months. With the pitch dry and bouncy, and a stiff north-easterly blowing diagonally across it, conditions were less conducive to flowing Fox football than the sunshine might initially have suggested. From the off, Bradley Stoke pressed energetically and enjoyed some decent territory and possession in the first ten minutes.

The Foxes, as is their way, needed a goal to settle. As is also their way, it came from Zoe, who powered home from close range when Stoke failed to clear their lines after a swift home counter-attack. With the lightning pace of Sim causing problems on the right, and likewise Mara's trickery on the left, the Foxes settled into their game a little more. Then Mara laid off a short pass to Lulu 25 yards out, who with a sidestep, a glance up and a sweet right boot, launched an absolute peach..a 'purler'...a 'Nayim' (v Arsenal, European Cup Winners’ Cup Final 1995: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiYt3iNWau0)

- above the despairing goalie's reach for 2-0. But with the rest of the half fairly evenly matched, and the visitors' through balls to runners causing occasional concern, the game was still in the balance at half time.

The wind freshened, the home side sat deep and Bradley Stoke enjoyed their best spell at the start of the second half. With the after effects of Saturday perhaps being felt in some Foxes' legs, Stoke were winning lots of midfield possession. While Betty was not forced to make saves, she had to be off her line smartly on several occasions. There were numerous moments of danger when an earlier Stoke shot or pass might have reaped dividends. The most dangerous moment came when our rock solid keeper uncharacteristically mishandled, but then recovered spectacularly to claw the ball off the line to safety.

Finally listening to what their coaches had been ranting on about for the previous 20 minutes, the Foxes put some passes together and released speedy Ella down the right, who then put Zoe in for a decisive finish. 3-0 was a little harsh on the visitors, and 4-0 even more so, when a misplaced goal kick was returned with interest by Zoe for her hat trick. With the pressure relieved, the passes and combinations returned in place of the overused high balls. Rhiannon's tackle and strong run through the middle sent in Mara at the far post for a sweet left foot finish and the best 'no goal' of the game. Although initially given, much to Mara's disgruntlement it was chalked off for having apparently gone in through the side netting.  Not to worry, moments later Sim pounced on a stray ball on the edge of the box and drove home for a well-deserved goal to seal the victory.

It is a mark of the high standards set by the coaches and girls that there was a slight sense of dissatisfaction about the performance, despite a 14th successive league win, by 5-0, against a good side. Great credit must go to Bradley Stoke, whose pressure and through passing might have yielded a goal on another day. The defence had to be on their toes at all times - particularly after the unflappable Abby's departure half time for a family lunch. But the game turned on those moments when, in particular, Lauren, Lulu or Olivia put a foot on the ball and picked a pass on the ground, rather than resorting to a panicked clearance or high punt into the wind. And once again, although tested, the defensive line of steel was not broken and 'the Cat' kept another clean sheet. BAWA has been a fortress, with only one goal conceded at home all season. With 3 of their remaining 4 games at home, the Foxes will aim to keep it that way from here on in. One way or another, the league title will be decided in April...

Girl of the Game: Lauren

Captain of the Week: Rhiannon

BLUing in the Wind!

Foxes return after 'winter break' to record 15th 13th league victory

Bristol Ladies Union U14 0

Westbury Park Foxes U14 Girls 10

The Bristol Girls League, remember that? A full six weeks had passed since the U14 girl Foxes' last competitive outing, against Portishead on the speedy astro of RGS. They hadn't played a match on grass since 16th January. Sudden weekend downpours had led to multiple postponements, while the Foxes frustratingly found themselves fixture free when the weather was fine (that's a lot of "f"s, almost as many as our coaches use). They had even "lost" two previously recorded victories in the meantime, following the withdrawal from the league of Longwell Green. It was to be hoped that continued winter training in Lanzarote Dubai the Downs had kept the girls match sharp.

Friendly local rivals Bristol Ladies Union would provide a welcome test after such a layoff. Although they have struggled this season, and have seen their previously gained points against Longwell Green cruelly wiped clean, BLU have always been competitive and brave opponents. We still haven't forgotten their 1-0 victory over us 2 years ago.

At the relatively close and familiar venue of the Coombe Dingle University Sports Ground, the biggest factor and "12th player on the pitch" was...The Wind. Facing gusts of up to 40 mph, and a slight slope on the pitch, the first half was a struggle for the Foxes. BLU kept a disciplined and extremely high defensive line, catching the visitors offside on repeated occasions, while using the wind to send long balls down in to the corners. Keeper Betty was not particularly troubled by any attacks or shots, but Emily and Millie in particular had to be on their mettle to clear the lines and launch further attacks uphill.

For the first 15 minutes, the Foxes were kept at bay and frustrated. Chances came and went, but they could not score. The wind also appeared frequently to be gusting under the home linesman's right arm, so often was his flag raised. Tempers were beginning to fray, and that was just Mark on the sidelines. Then Zoe took matters into her own hands (and out of the linesman's) by powering around two defenders to blast home for the opener. Minutes later, Ella B got the same idea, slaloming in from the right and finishing superbly in the bottom corner. 2-0 at halftime was a fair reflection of a sluggish start, a brave BLU effort and the extreme difficulty of the conditions.

The teams changed ends for the second half with no let-up in the gale, which at one point threatened to scatter Mara's piggies from the dugout across the pitch. One sensed that BLU had given their all in the first half, and would struggle to contain a green and white onslaught in the second. So it proved - a thumping close range finish from Zoe set the visitors on their way again. Rhiannon, after  a season of near-misses, saves and hit posts, finally concluded one of her trademark nutmegging mazy dribbles with a shot on target, expertly placed through the keeper's legs. Ella, with a taste for the spectacular, and minutes after coming back on as a sub, stormed down the left wing this time, beating three players and finishing in the far corner. The pick of the goals came when a neat Rhiannon-Sim combo down the right flank sprang the offside trap, and Sim's resulting cross was roofed in the net emphatically by Mara. As BLU tired and found it increasingly harder to clear their lines, or their box, Zoe had further joy and would add four more, a just reward for her persistence and patience.

In the end the scoreline was somewhat flattering. BLU kept battling to the end, with former Fox Ella W putting in a great effort, and a few probing runs and long balls testing the defence. But it was to be another clean sheet for the league leaders, as the whistle concluded a satisfactory return to action.

There were many positives to take from the game, not least the welcome and impressive return from injury of Olivia, six-shooter Zoe's scoring boots, the speed, trickery (and goals) of Ella and Mara, and the calm and assured touch of Lulu, Lauren and Abby in the tough conditions. Even Betty, enjoying one of her quieter games, was always confident and quick in her gathering and distribution. But 'girl of the game', coming off the bench to great effect and doing everything but scoring, was Georgia.

The next few weeks should be interesting. Next weekend it's "Basingstoke and Bradley Stoke" - the FA People's Cup (for some Foxes) then the always tasty "North Bristol Classico". And no joke, on April Fool's Day it's the rearranged tabletop clash with Wotton, who then travel to 3rd place Keynsham the next day. We can almost smell the BGL buffet - but who will be holding the big trophy (as well as the sausage rolls) come July?

Captain of the week: Olivia T
Girl of the Game: Georgia