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.
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.
- 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
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