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Rainbows |
Bradley Stoke YFC U15 Girls 4
Westbury
Park "Fawkes-es" 6
Both sides had breaks and chances in the ensuing
spell, and the game could easily have been levelled but for some defensive
heroics from Rhiannon, intercepting and clearing on two occasions to prevent what
seemed certain goals. Gradually the storms from the skies and on the pitch
eased off, and the Foxes began to pass and move with confidence again. Olivia,
after a quiet start, grew into the game and began to win more ball in midfield
and beat players in the opposing half. Ella, despite being flagged offside in
her own half, and being the victim of a penalty area shirt pull so blatant that
she almost stopped play in protest, was persisting and beginning to find space
up front. Then a neat Abby and Rhiannon combination at the back resulted in a
beautifully weighted ball down the right for Molly to latch on to. She sweetly
crossed it with her first touch to Ella in the centre, who likewise met it with
another beautiful first touch - a perfect 'dink-lob' over the keeper to make it
6-4 and provide a little breathing space.
There were four seasons in one day, and at times footballing
(if not actual) November 5th fireworks at a rainswept Little Stoke field, as the
increasingly injury-depleted Foxes withstood a spirited second half rally from
Bradley Stoke to prevail in what could be a vital 'buffet decider'.
Everything seemed set fair for the 11th edition of
the BGL's nearest thing to a North Bristol derby, as a beautiful double rainbow
framed the sky, and the sun broke through the clouds to warm spectators and
players. Neither lasted long. The first torrential shower fell just before
kick-off, just to give everyone a nice early soaking, with ominous dark clouds
promising more before the day was out.
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Emily clears |
The Foxes were soon into their stride and off
the mark, moving the ball swiftly through the midfield via Lulu and Ellie to
send Zoe in for her first after 7 minutes. The first half took on a
recognisable pattern - Bradley Stoke were trying to get the ball forward quickly
to their speedsters on the flanks, while the Foxes repeatedly regained
possession and launched lightning counter-attacks, with Amelia on the left and
Ella on the right always looking dangerous. While the home side enjoyed some
territory and possession, they did not seriously threaten Betty in goal for
most of the half. The visitors picked them off three more times in succession,
Zoe finishing each time to bring her tally to four. As with last week, some of
the short and quick passing combinations were proving very effective, with Lulu
almost always at the heart of things. With speedy Sim joining Zoe to make a
rare but welcome brief appearance, the home defence could not cope when the
ball was moved swiftly forward to the strike force, and at 4-0 it looked like
game over.
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Molly receives |
But when a persistent Stoke attack down the
right was not repelled as quickly as it could have been, and a couple of tackles
in the box were missed, the Foxes conceded their first league goal in five
matches. It looked like little more than a consolation, particularly when the
tenacious Amelia powered in from the left flank to reply almost immediately,
riding a tackle in the box to see her deflected finish beat the keeper at the
near post. Then close to half-time, Bradley Stoke added a second when a long
punt forward was finished perfectly by their chasing striker, just out of
Betty's reach.
As the sides turned for the second half with the
score at 5-2, the skies darkened once again, another deluge began and the wind
got up. Missing Georgia, Lauren and the
still-injured but watching Mara, and with GB athlete Sim just making a brief
appearance, with only one substitute the Foxes could ill-afford any further
injuries or difficulties. Bradley Stoke came out for the half with extra impetus,
began to win more midfield and second
balls, and forced their first corner of the game early in the half. It looked
to have been effectively cleared to the edge of the Foxes' box, but a Stoke
player simply leathered it first time, sending it high into the net from 20
yards out for a genuine '"worldie" greeted by well-deserved roars
from the home support. Then in a seemingly innocuous fall, Zoe injured her
elbow and could play no further part, leaving the Foxes down to the bare 11 and
facing a real challenge from the invigorated home side, as well as the
bucketing rain and the increasingly soggy pitch.
With no out-and-out strikers to provide an outlet,
and an increasing tendency to sit deeper as the pressure built, the Foxes began
to display a little anxiety in their play, taking the odd touch too many and conceding
possession too readily. When they failed to clear the next Bradley Stoke
corner, after the ball seemed to be stuck under feet and ricocheting off bodies
in the six yard box for minutes, the Blues scrambled it home to narrow the
deficit to one. The match had gone from 'game over' to 'game on' in this half,
and more than one parent began anxiously to enquire how much time was left.
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Lulu sends it |
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Betty marshals the defence at a corner |
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Relief |
There was still plenty of time left, which would see
a few more chances but no more goals, with some great saves and takes from the
home keeper, and one Stoke effort which rattled the crossbar. In the end, the
Foxes were deserving winners on the strength of their dominant spell in the
first 30 minutes, but Bradley Stoke also deserve great credit for their
stirring comeback and an early contender for BGL goal of the season. Conditions
were tough for both teams, but they produced a thoroughly entertaining and
sporting contest.
On a difficult day, every player in orange contributed
something. Emily and Millie constantly withstood and relieved severe home
pressure down the right, while further up the field Ellie, Olivia and Amelia
would convert that into counter-attacks. Betty's handling and kicks were rock solid, and she could
do little about the goals. Lulu was her usual tireless and brave self, Molly
put a in great shift capped by her perfect 'assist', and Zoe was unstoppable
before her injury, but 'girl of the game' went to Rhiannon for her defensive
speed and 'saves' at vital moments of the game.
Captain of the week: Amelia
Girl of the game: Rhiannon
Fans of the week: Mara (get well soon) and..ahem..England international Daisy.
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