WP
Foxes 9 Portishead Town 1 25/9/16
Wells
City U15 2 WP Foxes 2 (friendly)
2/10/16
Emersons
Green 1 WP Foxes 6 9/10/16
Whitchurch
1 WP Foxes 4 16/10/16
In what originally looked like a fairly barren fixture
period, some clever rearranging and contacts in deepest Somerset kept the U14
girls match fit and in form throughout October. The deep and talented squad has
been utilised to the limit, and the girls continue to gel and improve at
11-a-side .
The Portishead game, after a close start, was a surprisingly
comfortable win. Our old friends and rivals from North Somerset were perhaps not
quite at their best, or at full strength, and once the fifth and six goals had
gone in, heads may have begun to drop. That was to take nothing away from the
Foxes, who displayed ruthlessness in front of goal, accompanied by some
breathtaking build up play and passing on both wings. Goal number 4 in
particular was a peach, with the play cleverly switched from right to left
before the ball was centred for Mara to finish first time.
Former Westbury Parker and friend Poppy plays for Wells City,
who actually play at Wookey. So it was that on an otherwise free weekend the
Foxes headed off to Somerset for a friendly with the “big girls” from the local
U15 league. This was (by all accounts) a superb performance against a strong
side. The Foxes led 2-0 for most of the game, but a late injury to Zoe reduced
them to 10 players. The hosts then came back to level the match and salvage
Somerset pride, but the result was secondary – it was a lovely day out in a
beautiful location, and a genuinely friendly match.
 |
| How high Molly?!! |
Emersons Green have always been tough opponents, springing a shock victory on
the Foxes at home last season. They were, as always, strong but fair, and
looked to make use of the long through ball and set piece opportunities at
which they excel.
 |
| Olivia fires in! |
But the 2016-17 model Foxes come with increased steel at the
back, courtesy of Abby, and the whole team have upped their heading and
clearing ability to deal with the aerial threat. Emily H was tireless at left
back, snuffing out countless balls and breaks on her side then launching
counter-attacks down the left via the dancing feet of Mara.
 |
| Zoe plays it in! |
After a brisk start
from Emersons Green, in which every challenge was contested and they broke
promisingly several times, the Foxes steadied nerves with an early brace of
goals. The first was a long range screamer from ‘Amelia W No. 2’, shortly
followed by a brilliant solo Zoe effort. But Emersons still threatened, and
when excellent stand-in keeper Millie could only parry a cross from the right,
they finished from close range to make it a one-goal game. A second Zoe strike
just before half time restored the two goal cushion. In the second half, the
Foxes’ athleticism and fitness told, as Emersons Green could not quite sustain
the pressing and intensity of the first half.
 |
| Em clears the line! |
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| New look midfield! |
Three further unanswered goals
followed, with Zoe completing yet another hat trick, and Sim and Mara
deservedly getting on the scoresheet too. The final score did not reflect the
closeness of the game, particularly in the first half, and Emersons Green will
trouble plenty of sides this season.
And so to Whitchurch away last Sunday. Big squad, no
problems, right? Hmm..with a couple of days to go, an unprecedented number of
injury, illness, athletics and ‘away for the weekend’ absences threatened to
leave the Foxes with fewer than 11 players. With Whitchurch clearly improving
rapidly – witness their 2-1 defeat of Bradley Stoke the previous week – it was
essential to get a full team out. Thankfully, it was ‘alright on the night’ (or
rather afternoon), as new recruit Lily S made her competitive debut this season
after a spell of theatrical duty and Ella B got the all clear on a wrist
fracture to play with a Vardy style splint.
 |
| Denied again! |
This was, however, no easy game, particularly with no substitutes available.
The home team defended resolutely, with a back 5 and 2 holding midfielders. The
strong wind and extremely bouncy ball didn’t help the away team, who were
frustrated repeatedly by the home keeper who did well to keep the score down.
Two fist half goals from Zoe were matched in the second half by a fine low shot
by Sim and a pile-driver from Emily following a fine run to the edge of the
box. On another day it could have been 6 or 7……
The Foxes tired without subs and allowed a breakaway
consolation goal as the back 3 got stretched, but had more than enough to see
out the last few minutes.
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