FOXES EDGE FOXES IN

FA FOXES PEOPLE'S CUP

Westbury Park Foxes U14 Girls 3

Westbury Park Foxes U14 Girls 3

(Westbury Park Foxes win 3-2 on penalties)

The winners and runners-up (NB not actual Stade de France)

The magic of the cup. Giant killers, rosettes, rattles, and the road to Wembley. According to the website of the FA People's Cup, in association with BBC 'Get Inspired', "FA People's Cup Fever" has swept the land.

Just not amongst U14 girls' teams in the West. We know that 'there's only one team in Bristol', but we don't mean it literally. Faced with the opportunity of a fun five-a-side regional tournament on the "Goals" pitches at the Stoke Gifford WISE Campus, and the chance to progress through a national tournament to Wembley, the many teams of the BGL, Gloucester and other nearby leagues chose to stay away, or stay in bed. So it was that while the Foxes entered two strong teams for this event, only one other team showed up - all the way from Ashton Keynes in the Cotswolds. Fair play to them, but poor show from everyone else.

No matter - "you can only play what's in front of you", even if it's mostly your own teammates. With painstaking care and precision, the coaching team had picked two finely balanced and even squads. Team 1 boasted the talents of Betty 'The Cat' in goal, Abby, Emily H, Molly, Amelia and Zoe. Team 2 had their own slightly bigger cat Emily 'Tekkers' W in goal, who had a vital hockey match to go to afterwards. She was joined by Rhiannon, Lauren, Ella, Lulu, Millie and Sim.

Inevitably, the two titans clashed in the first game. Would it be a light-hearted kick around or training match, with friendly banter replacing competitiveness? Would it heck. Straight from the whistle, the two Foxes side tore into each other. Taking time to adjust to the unfamiliar 'chest height' rule, the speed of the pitch, constant motion in the absence of throw-ins or corners, and the importance of using the angles and rebounds in the tight playing area, the first phase of the game was a stalemate.

As the game progressed, however, Team 2 seemed to get the hang of the format slightly better. Lulu and Ella were working some delightful combinations, in conjunction with the sidewalls, while the "1" front players struggled to beat the pace of Millie and Rhiannon and really test Emily in goal. It did not come as a surprise when the "2"s took the lead through Millie, then extended it via Sim. While the "1-ers" would come close, and force Emily the Big Cat into a few saves with her hands and feet (although not her hockey stick), they could not break through and it finished 2-0.

So evenly matched were the two sides that they even defeated the brave and sporting visitors from Ashton Keynes by the same margin - 6-2 - in each of their games. The Cotswolds side had been deprived of their regular keeper after a late call-off, and battled heroically, but ultimately Bristol's finest (times two) were just too strong and quick for them. While many of the Foxes combinations and goals caught the eye in both games, there were also loud cheers when the visitors scored some well-taken goals. Sadly, their cup journey was over but at least they turned up and played in a good spirit throughout.

"Is that it?" asked some of the tiring Foxes, knowing that the top two sides in this regional qualifier - i.e. us - would now progress to the next phase in Brislington. Not quite, said the officials - there had to be a winner and a runner-up for the purposes of the media photos, the seeding for the next phase, and..the handing out of a shiny little trophy.

So it was that the two 'green and whites', this time with "2" wearing the bibs, would meet in a final, to be resolved by penalties in the event of a draw. Emily W was ready to make a swift exit and was already changed into hockey kit. Was there therefore ever any doubt that a) this would be an even fiercer contest than the first one and b) it would go to penalties?

It proved a thrilling encounter, with the friendly and supportive parents dividing into two segregated sections, and occasionally cheering with the sort of vigour which might ordinarily greet a late winner in the BGL. The match ebbed and flowed, with the "1"s taking the lead three times, only to be pegged back each time by the "2"s, on the last occasion by a fine strike from Sim after a brilliant exchange of passes in front of the goal area exclusion zone. 3-3 was the final score, so penalties it was. With only one step allowed before the shot was taken, it was the "1"s who were perfect from the spot, with Abby striking the decisive penalty.

Of course, the result did not matter, no-one really cared who won or lost, and there were no hugs and wild celebrations whatsoever amongst the winning team...well, only a few.

Both teams progress to the glamour of Goals Brislington, where they will both take some stopping - probably once again by each other. It's yet another trophy for the groaning sideboard, and a thoroughly good workout and contest in advance of some important forthcoming league matches. Very much a case of "win-win", we think. Bring on the next round!

BGL u14 Portishead Town 1 v 3 Westbury Park Foxes

Foxes bag three (not) by the sea

Leaders close out tough Portishead challenge to claim 14th win

Portishead Town U14 Girls 1
Westbury Park Foxes U14 Girls 3

The recent surprising downfall of strange wet stuff from the skies left many West pitches waterlogged. Portishead Town's new home pitch was one of the victims, so a switch of this fixture was sensibly agreed. The 3G astro at "Redland Green School", which apparently is in Redland and seemed strangely familiar to several Foxes players, was the new venue. The natives speak knowingly of the biting north wind that blasts across its hilltop location, and of the mid-pitch suspended curtain wire which deflects many a long ball. The biggest hazard, however, is the loss of balls over the fence into the surrounding allotments. It is said that last year one local enthusiast won several gardening prizes for her impressive display of marrows, green beans and size 5 Umbros.

With spectators and subs on ball retrieval duty, and a chill wind blowing, the first half was a tight and competitive affair. Portishead were a different proposition from their under-strength line up in the earlier fixture this year, contesting every challenge and sending many dangerous through balls under the wire. The Foxes defence were nevertheless up to it and up to speed, and Betty did not face many direct threats on goal. The "visitors" were, however, winning lots of midfield ball, and the Foxes struggled to create many clear cut chances inside the box, although Lulu, Sim and Molly all tested the keeper with long range blasts which went close. It remained goalless for 25 minutes until the tenacious and hugely impressive Amelia W took the game by the scruff of the neck, and gave it a good shake while she was at it. Winning one of several 50:50s in midfield, she powered into the box, rode another challenge and found herself in on goal, blasting into the roof of the net.

The first goal, as always, settled the green and whites down, and they began to relax into their game a little more, passing and spreading the play and putting the opposition defence under pressure. Such has been the excellence of Lulu's set piece delivery this season that a corner is not far short of a direct free kick. She lofted her third attempt perfectly into the box, where Zoe grazed the ball with the top of her head while ducking deftly redirected it with a perfectly aimed glancing header to the keeper's left. 2-0 at half time gave some welcome breathing space, but there was still work to do.

With a 2 goal cushion and the game settling down, the coaches rang the changes, giving Zoe and Sim well-deserved rests and introducing the lively Georgia and Lily. The Foxes looked to be in control and set to increase their lead, with Ella and Mara getting increasing joy down the flanks, but both sides at times struggled to gauge the bounce and run of the ball on the fast 3G. Just as the spectators were praising the relentless speed, tackling and control of the unflappable back line, a rare lapse occurred. Missing a few opportunities to clear the threat of a lone Portishead raider, the tall striker found herself in on goal at close range and finished with a slight deflection from an attempted tackle.

Portishead were encouraged and gee-d up, but as at Keynsham the Foxes did not panic. The steel line of Abby, Emily, Millie and Rhiannon redoubled their efforts, using all their speed to close down the impressively quick Portishead front line, winning more tackles and spreading the play forward into the opposition half. The game was slowed down, and gradually closed out, as a series of throw ins and corners at the Portishead end ate away at the clock. Finally, with 3 minutes remaining, the mighty Mara burst into the box, rolled her defender with a trick and drag back, and finished with style. 

Further chances arose before the final whistle, but any more than 3-1 would have been harsh on a brave and sporting Portishead side. They will surely win many more games this season, and may yet have an influence on the ultimate destination of the league title. In the meantime, the Foxes march on, with their fourteenth win out of fourteen this season. The previous week's game against Longwell Green was a forfeit and automatic "H-W", although the coaches and 'Statto' are putting it down privately as a 6-0 win, with Molly and Sim each claiming hat tricks...

There now follows a brief rest until the dual challenges of Whitchurch and...the FA People's Cup. Get your rosettes, rattles and 'cup tie pies' now -Wembley here we come!

Girl of the Game: Amelia W
Captain of the Game: