Foxes Out-Whit Tricky Opponents To Stay On Top

Westbury Park Foxes U14 Girls 6

Whitchurch Sports U14 Girls  0

The final home fixture of the season at "Fortress BAWA" resulted in a hard-earned victory against a spirited Whitchurch side. The scoreline was convincing in the end, but the Foxes had to weather a difficult first half before easing away towards the end.

Poor Betty was a casualty again, this time from a leg injury sustained when clearing an early Whitchurch attack. Once again she had to be subbed off, and Lulu took over between the sticks for the rest of the half. The opening period saw some decent Foxes build ups, but a lack of finishing accuracy. At times the play became a little scrappy, not helped by the interruptions. The opening goal, when it came, was fortuitous but opportunistic - when the away keeper failed to hold a speculative long shot from Lauren, Ella was on hand to pounce and drive home. The rest of the time, the visitors maintained impressive defensive discipline, keeping a strong line of four and occasionally six across the back. The whistle blew to end a frustrating first half, with the game still very much in the balance.

The second half began with Ella 'The Slightly Smaller Cat' as goalie, but it was a welcome sight when Betty, a little gingerly and still nursing a slight niggle, was able to resume her post(s) after a few minutes. Even more welcome was a second goal from a familiar source. We've seen this one before. Lulu's bending corner appeared to be going out for a goal kick. The ever-knowledgeable home linesman was even tutting at such a wasted opportunity, only for the ball to take one hop at the near post and fly into the back of the net. She really is a deadly dead ball assassin.

At 2-0 the home side could relax into their game, and as their confidence grew and the visitors tired, the play became more expansive. The passes were being pinged around, the ball was moved from wing to wing, and there were loud cheers for Molly's slaloming turn and run in from the right, beating two players. Then the play was switched left, to Mara about 20 yards out. She beat one player (as she always does), feinted inside onto her right foot (as she often does) then let fly with an absolute gem into the postage stamp corner. Schöner Schuss! as bystanders were heard to exclaim.

By now, the Foxes were in full flow, and Zoe, having had a frustrating first half, was routinely overpowering a tiring defence. She stormed to the byline and cut back to the centre, where the alert Georgia - heeding the coaches'  instructions to 'follow in and gamble' - was on hand to sweep in number 4. Zoe would add two more before the end, one a miscued goal kick returned 'with interest', another from a typically powerful run through the heart of the defence.

The final score was a little harsh on Whitchurch, who are and were a far better side than their league position suggests - they have had lots of close games this season and are always competitive. For the Foxes, it was a seventeenth straight league win, and yet another clean sheet for the 'line of steel'. As may previously have been mentioned, the only away goal at BAWA all season was Portishead's consolation strike back in October. Once again, the 'Rhi-Abb-Em-Laur' fortress was unbreachable, with every sniff of danger snuffed out and used as the springboard for blistering counter-attacks. In midfield Lulu and Olivia tenaciously won the ball and got the short passing working smoothly - the Foxes are always better when the ball is moved around on the ground quickly rather than hoofed through the air.

So seventeen down and one to go - Wotton won again, and assuming they win their further game in hand, the Clásico Siete de Mayo at the KLB School pitch will very much be 'on'. In the meantime, the Foxes and their injured players can rest up and 'enjoy' going back to school after a long sunny Easter holiday...

Girls of the Game: Molly and Georgia

Captain of the Week: Lauren