Foxes go close in Dorset

Redlands Tournament, Weymouth, 18th June 2016

The U13 girls continued their scenic tournament tour of Britain, reaching the semi-finals at the Redlands Football Festival in Weymouth before falling 1-0 to the hosts and eventual winners.

Good movement off the ball

Don't fall in!

Nine intrepid Foxes made the 2 hour trip to the South Coast, with Zoe and Emily forming an advance guard on Friday evening and even putting in a light training session on the beach.

                  

Yee-haw!

Others followed early on Saturday morning. The "Redlands Rebels" tournament DJ played a selection of pop hits rather than (as their flag, above, might have suggested) rockabilly and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The 10 minute games were started centrally by the sounding of a Rugby League-style hooter, and finished with a minute long rendition of the "Countdown" TV theme blasted through loudspeakers. Because refs with whistles and stopwatches would have been much too complicated.

The Foxes were into their stride quickly with a 2-0 win over likely group rivals Merley Cobham, followed by a slightly more comfortable 2-0 against Branksome Town. New signing Amelia  caught the eye with a strong showing and a goal on her debut, with Sim, Zoe and Rhiannon also netting. With Betty absent on drama duty, there was a rotating cast of goalkeepers in her place, including comfortable clean sheets for Emily H and Ella B. Poole Town, with a strong squad of County FA players, were the obvious threat in the group. A slightly fractious and physical encounter with them saw an early Foxes goal chalked off, then a well worked late winner for Poole.

A win was required in the final group game against Chickerell United to ensure progress. An early penalty, smoothly converted by Zoe, settled nerves and the girls saw the match through comfortably to the 'final Countdown'.
 

At this point the chief scout finally justified his presence in the entourage with a successful challenge of an error in the scorer's tent, which would have seen the Foxes eliminated and playing for the 'losers' Plate'. They were correctly restored to a semi-final place against tournament hosts Redlands, the Dorset league and cup double winners...

The Foxes started brightly and had Redlands rocking. Ella B might not have been the biggest goalie, but she pulled off a handful of brilliant saves to keep the game level. Even Ella, however, could not keep out the rebound from her best save of all, and the powerful Rebels took the lead.

Then, confusion. If you're going to have centralised timing by hooters and music, at least set it off at the right time. The Countdown theme sounded, and a minute later it was all over. Or was it? It had seemed like a very quick game. That's because it was: only 7 minutes had elapsed. Handshakes had been exchanged, and two of our players had gone to the loo, when the team coaches sportingly agreed that there had been an error and that 3 more minutes should be played. The Foxes scrambled their players back on the pitch and play resumed, but the stoppage had removed the Foxes' momentum and the Rebels held on to their lead until the (second) end.

Overall, it was another fun and successful trip to 'foreign parts' to test ourselves against other teams. Redlands and Poole were clearly the top teams in the county, with plenty of FA coached players and a distinct physical edge to their game, but Bristol's finest more than held their own and could have beaten them on another day.

A lull in the action

International duty is resumed next Sunday...in Wales. Barry Island here we come!