CHAMPIONS!

"The Invincibles" make Foxes history by clinching league away at Wotton

 

Arsenal, 2003-04. Martin's beloved Nottingham Forest (still in the Championship - hurrah!) for 42 league games between 1977 and 1979. Glasgow Celtic, this season. The record is apparently held by Steaua Bucharest in Romania between 1986 and 1989. Yes, yes, they all went unbeaten...but how many of them can say that they won all their games, in a 'perfect season', to win the league?

None. But the 2016-17 Westbury Park Foxes Girls U14 team will always have that distinction. In a thrilling climax to the season, away to second place Wotton Rovers on the sun-kissed grass of Katharine Lady Berkeley School, the Foxes kept their heads to come from behind and prevail 2-1 over last year's worthy champions. That made it 18 wins out of 18, and a first league title in three years.

It had been a long and arduous road to get there. The seventeen prior wins might have suggested that this was an easy league, and that this team were a football equivalent of cricket's 'flat track bullies'. Nothing could be further from the truth. With the exception of  a few games where opposition legs tired and heads dropped over 70 minutes, those wins had to be played and fought for all the way. 3-2 away at Boco after trailing. 2-1 away at Keynsham after the hosts had levelled. Tough battles with Bradley Stoke, Portishead, Emerson's Green, and Fry Club. This Bristol Girls League - actually, it extends much further than Bristol, more like "the West" or "CUBA [the County that Used to Be Avon]" - has been ultra-competitive. It is also a shining example to others of the joys and benefits of large-scale participation in girls' grass roots sport.

And quite apart from the Foxes, Wotton are testament to that. Before and since their solitary 2-0 defeat by the Foxes in the 'Halloween Classic', they too had gone on a long winning run. Some of those wins, like those of our girls, had been narrow. They suffered from repeated winter postponements, and had to play 'catch up' with a string of tough away games in hand at Keynsham, Boco and Portishead. They won them all, to set up the season decider on the last day, which was as it should be. We didn't really want to clinch the league while sitting at home last Sunday as Tamsin and Graham whatsapp-ed from Portishead (but thanks for going, folks...)

The arithmetic was simple (sort of). A win or a draw for the Foxes would be enough. A Wotton win would result in a shared title, as there was no more time in the season for a play-off game, goal difference couldn't be used and the league couldn't just invent a new tie-breaking rule on the spot (head to head record, fair play, drawing lots, a 'dance off'?).

Knowing the danger posed by the Wotton number 7, the Foxes again opted for the extra midfielder, with Amelia tasked with the ‘man marking’ job. Flanked by Lulu and the increasingly impressive Georgia, the Foxes plan was to win the midfield and pin back the Wotton defence.

The plan seemed to be working as the Foxes dominated possession and territory in the opening stages. The home side held firm, and whilst the Foxes front 3 made some inroads, they found link up difficult as they were quickly closed down.

A proper midfield battle ensued, without the Foxes  defence being really troubled as Betty swept anything that made it past the back line. Unfortunate injuries to Ella and Zoe meant a Foxes reshuffle and Wotton seized the opportunity as the Foxes tried to readjust. A skewed defensive clearance went for a home corner, delivered expertly to the back post where it was bundled in to raptures from the home support.

With new found confidence Wotton enjoyed their best spell of the game, but the Foxes kept clear heads and went in to the break behind for only the second time this season.

Whilst there was no panic in the away dugout, (we had already agreed to a share of the spoils), there was a feeling that we had shown Wotton a little too much respect. The midfield marker was abandoned in favour of a second striker. So with a rollback of the clock, it was 4-4-2, as Sim went up front with Zoe and Ella and Mara provided pace on the flanks. The midfield was refreshed with Olivia joining Lulu in the engine room.

Straight from the off the Foxes piled into the opposition, immediately pushing them back.

 

The midfield battle of the first half gave way to free flowing end to end footy as the Foxes sought an equalizer. With the Wotton line stretched, the spaces on the left flank opened, and the Foxes fed Mara, who time and again made trademark runs into the box. The breakthrough had to come and from one such mazy run the winger held off the defender, opened her body and curled the ball past the stranded keeper into the far corner!

The away fans went wild! The away bench sensed that the Foxes were not finished, and with OT studded, sent the fresh legs of Lauren into the midfield.

At 1-1 the game, and the title, were still poised on a knife edge. Another pinpoint Wotton set piece might do it, as might a burst of magic from their playmaker no. 7 if she could wriggle free of the Foxes' iron midfield and defence. But rather than sitting back to defend for the draw, the Foxes demonstrated that attack can be the best form of defence. Actually, defence is the best form of defence, but most of the Foxes' attacks stemmed from the back line using their formidable pace, power and skill to snuff out any Wotton danger, then 'transitioning' effectively. The ball was never hoofed away. Rhiannon, Millie, Emily or Abby would break forward or feed the ball through the middle or down the wing. On the left side, Mara had the beating of the Wotton defence, and her combinations with Zoe were increasing in their danger. In the middle, Lulu, Lauren and Olivia frequently closed down, blocked and won the ball. Increasingly, Wotton were finding it difficult to find an attacking rhythm, and many moves ended with speculative balls forward which Betty would professionally gather.

Further breaks and chances came. Molly just failed to reach a piercing diagonal ball from Mara to the far post, but the pressure was building. And fittingly it was Zoe who broke the deadlock, powering through a couple of challenges in the box to finish low in the bottom corner. The large away crowd - including our esteemed club Chair and Secretary (Sally and Andy), and of course our "number one fan" and Academy star Daisy and parents -  went wild, but there was still lots of time to go.

There were many anxious enquiries about how much time was left. Play was stopped for a long time when an unfortunate Wotton player sustained a nosebleed injury after a hard fall (Dr. Karen would later help attend to her). In truth, however, there were no further scares. Rhiannon could have finished it when she continued a surging run into the box, only to be upended with no penalty awarded. But the rest of the match was largely played in the Wotton half. When the home team did threaten, they were invariably expertly jockeyed to the side or dispossessed. The Foxes attacking players were by now combining so well that they could even indulge in a little 'keep ball' around the opposition box.

The final whistle went, generating joyful scenes on the away sidelines. It had been a long time. Runners-up for the last two years, but some of our players remember the 2014 title clinched away at Boco. And that could only mean..... (apart from the trophy)...sparkling fizz all round! Corks were popped, disposable plastic goblets produced, and the girls and their proud parents and families could toast a famous victory.

So many great individual performances, so many heroines, but overall this was a team and squad triumph. Every single Fox who played as much as a few minutes this season was part of this. It was also achieved throughout with smiles on faces, genuine friendship and mutual respect between players, and a large element of fun. Despite the tactical and motivational brilliance of coaching team Martin, Graham and Mark, our girls never did quite shake off their "relaxed" pre-match air of a bunch of mates larking around in the park. Cones and 'agility ladders' would just have been kicked over. Maybe that is one of their many strengths...

We now enter the summer tournament season, including trips to St. Nicks, Oxfordshire, the Vale of Glamorgan and even the "Champions League" in Nottingham. But these are all mere aperitifs to the glittering occasion of the BGL Buffet and prizegiving on 8th July - which the Foxes will attend as:

BRISTOL GIRLS LEAGUE UNDER 14 CHAMPIONS 2016-17!!

Girl of the Game : Mara

Captain : Emily

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

BGL u14 Double Header Report with Photos!

i) The Story of the BLUs (Part 2)

                     

Westbury Park Foxes U14 Girls 7                                        Bristol Ladies Union U14 0

Bristol Ladies Union bravely turned up with depleted numbers to take on the league leaders in the return leg of this local and friendly derby. With only nine fit players available, the visitors were always going to struggle. Yet the Foxes, playing the first 15 minutes with 11 v 9, found it difficult to break the BLU defence down. The ball frequently bounced through to safety on the dry and fast pitch, and the coaches were beginning to get frustrated. It took Olivia, now back to her best after a frustrating injury layoff, to take the initiative, blasting home the opener from ten yards then adding a second from closer in shortly afterwards.

With the game reasonably secure, the extremely sporting gentlemen Fox coaches took the decision to take two players off and play the rest of the game as a more equitable 9 v 9 - a flashback to U13 days. Paradoxically, the game flowed  - and the Foxes played - far better as a result. BLU never let their heads drop, even in the face of a second half onslaught against the wind, during which the green and whites sought to find new ways to miss every few minutes. Getting in behind was not a problem, but the finishing was at times comically awry. Rhiannon concluded several mazy dribbles by either passing into the goalie's arms or (in one case) falling over. Zoe, Sim and others blasted high, wide and not always handsome.

Eventually further goals from Zoe, a powerful strike from Amelia, and contributions from Mara and Ella made sure of the victory. The home crowd were willing "the Moll-ster" on to score, and she did everything but that - with neat passing, lively runs and shots on target aplenty. The best of her efforts was well saved by the keeper, but it was the softest shot which almost squirmed in for a debut goal. No matter, victory number 15 was secure as the leaders closed in on the final stretch of their title challenge. A very young BLU side, many 'playing up' a year, deserved great credit for battling to the end, and many of their players will fare far better playing U14s next season.

Girl of the Game: Molly

Captain of the Week: Olivia

ii)      No faint hearts as a few feisty Foxes best Boco after medical drama and mad Cornish dash

                          

 

 

Westbury Park Foxes U14 Girls 2 

AEK Boco U14 Girls 0

This was always going to be tough. With fixture congestion pushing this previously postponed fixture into the Easter school holidays, the Foxes were doing well to get 11 on the pitch, with Georgia away, Millie on 'international duty' and Sim injured. Another big loss would be the season's defensive stalwart Abby, away with her Dad in sunny Cornwall. But wait - what dedication! What commitment! 130 miles? Pah, a mere hop skip and jump. The league leaders received a massive boost when dad Steve bombed up the A30 and M5, interrupted only by a brief tyre pressure scare, to deliver Abby bang on time for kick off. Everything was set fair for an eagerly awaited return match against former champions Boco, until.....

She was feeling a bit peaky during the warm-up, and in the very first minute there was consternation when keeper Betty fainted and collapsed in her penalty area. Luckily, few teams can rival the Foxes for medical expertise. Dad/Coach Martin and Nurse Linzi revived the stricken stopper, then escorted her to the changing rooms. This meant, however, shifting midfield general Lulu into goal, and playing with no subs, on the hottest day of the year, against the formidable physical challenge of a big Boco side. How would our girls cope?

Admirably. The pitch was still dry and fast, and the breeze was swirling, so many of the early exchanges saw the ball in the air or bouncing around awkwardly. The Foxes defence had to be at their best to contain the danger from through balls, but gradually grew in assurance and confidence. With Rhiannon and Abby expertly tracking and shackling the dangerous Boco no. 9, and Emily and Lauren likewise cool and quick, the home team settled down and began to test Boco with the pace of Mara on the left wing, and some neat Molly/Ella combinations on the right. The breakthrough came from a familiar source, when the strength and combativeness of Olivia and Amelia allowed Zoe to burst into the box, beat her defender and finish low in the corner. With a further interruption for a Boco injury, a long first half continued with few further chances at either end, but the Foxes looking confident whenever they broke forward.

The second half, with the breeze slightly behind, saw the Foxes creating far more, and coming close several times. Olivia flashed one just past the right post, and Mara seemed certain to finish a superb Ella cut back cross, only to skew it wide with her left foot. There were even a couple of reasonable penalty claims, but ref Ollie impassively waved them away, keen to let play flow in a physical but generally fair contest. As time went on, anxiety grew. Boco had not tested keeper Lulu with a shot on target, but at 1-0 there was always the chance of a set piece or breakaway to level the scores.

It was time to finish it off, and once again the Foxes showed that they are best when they pass and move in quick combinations. Rhiannon tackled and fed Ella down the right, whose quick combination with Amelia released Zoe in the box. She had time to take a touch, switch to her right foot and launch one into the 'postage stamp' top corner.

They could have added to their lead, but the home side were content to see the match out calmly without further drama. To a girl, they had worked tirelessly in the hot sun, and even with water breaks it had been tough with no 'bench' to call upon. The medical team did find a nice chair from which the recovering Betty could watch the rest of the game. Later reports from home would confirm that she was responding well to an intravenous ice cream drip.

The 2-0 victory made it sixteen out of sixteen, and yet again Fortress BAWA was not breached - the only away goal this season has been a consolation Portishead strike in a 9-1 home win. After a brief break for Easter, the focus now turns to second place Wotton's tough away 'games in hand' against Boco and Portishead, which they have to win to set up a potential "Classico of Classicos" title decider on 7th May. Next up for the Foxes is the final home fixture against the much improved Whitchurch.

Happy Easter - and get well soon Betty (and Simran).

Girl of the Game: Abby (and driver Steve)

Captain of the week: Lulu the 'Substitute Cat'