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'

No stroll in the sunshine as sluggish Foxes overcome spirited Stoke

Westbury Park Foxes U14 Girls 5

Bradley Stoke YFC U14 0

It was the weekend of Spring springing, the clocks going forward, flowers and chocs for Mums, and a tale of two Stokes - Basing and Bradley. On Saturday two Foxes teams travelled to Basingstoke for the regional finals of the FA People's Cup 5-a-side.

The competition was intense and physical, with opponents including Academy sides from the likes of QPR and the cream of the London and South East leagues. It was a tough day for both sides, and the end of the road to Wembley, but a worthwhile experience nonetheless.

Sunday morning, at the earlier time of 10 (which still felt like 9), saw old friends and rivals Bradley Stoke visit a sun-drenched BAWA, for the league leaders’ first home game in two months. With the pitch dry and bouncy, and a stiff north-easterly blowing diagonally across it, conditions were less conducive to flowing Fox football than the sunshine might initially have suggested. From the off, Bradley Stoke pressed energetically and enjoyed some decent territory and possession in the first ten minutes.

The Foxes, as is their way, needed a goal to settle. As is also their way, it came from Zoe, who powered home from close range when Stoke failed to clear their lines after a swift home counter-attack. With the lightning pace of Sim causing problems on the right, and likewise Mara's trickery on the left, the Foxes settled into their game a little more. Then Mara laid off a short pass to Lulu 25 yards out, who with a sidestep, a glance up and a sweet right boot, launched an absolute peach..a 'purler'...a 'Nayim' (v Arsenal, European Cup Winners’ Cup Final 1995: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiYt3iNWau0)

- above the despairing goalie's reach for 2-0. But with the rest of the half fairly evenly matched, and the visitors' through balls to runners causing occasional concern, the game was still in the balance at half time.

The wind freshened, the home side sat deep and Bradley Stoke enjoyed their best spell at the start of the second half. With the after effects of Saturday perhaps being felt in some Foxes' legs, Stoke were winning lots of midfield possession. While Betty was not forced to make saves, she had to be off her line smartly on several occasions. There were numerous moments of danger when an earlier Stoke shot or pass might have reaped dividends. The most dangerous moment came when our rock solid keeper uncharacteristically mishandled, but then recovered spectacularly to claw the ball off the line to safety.

Finally listening to what their coaches had been ranting on about for the previous 20 minutes, the Foxes put some passes together and released speedy Ella down the right, who then put Zoe in for a decisive finish. 3-0 was a little harsh on the visitors, and 4-0 even more so, when a misplaced goal kick was returned with interest by Zoe for her hat trick. With the pressure relieved, the passes and combinations returned in place of the overused high balls. Rhiannon's tackle and strong run through the middle sent in Mara at the far post for a sweet left foot finish and the best 'no goal' of the game. Although initially given, much to Mara's disgruntlement it was chalked off for having apparently gone in through the side netting.  Not to worry, moments later Sim pounced on a stray ball on the edge of the box and drove home for a well-deserved goal to seal the victory.

It is a mark of the high standards set by the coaches and girls that there was a slight sense of dissatisfaction about the performance, despite a 14th successive league win, by 5-0, against a good side. Great credit must go to Bradley Stoke, whose pressure and through passing might have yielded a goal on another day. The defence had to be on their toes at all times - particularly after the unflappable Abby's departure half time for a family lunch. But the game turned on those moments when, in particular, Lauren, Lulu or Olivia put a foot on the ball and picked a pass on the ground, rather than resorting to a panicked clearance or high punt into the wind. And once again, although tested, the defensive line of steel was not broken and 'the Cat' kept another clean sheet. BAWA has been a fortress, with only one goal conceded at home all season. With 3 of their remaining 4 games at home, the Foxes will aim to keep it that way from here on in. One way or another, the league title will be decided in April...

Girl of the Game: Lauren

Captain of the Week: Rhiannon

BLUing in the Wind!

Foxes return after 'winter break' to record 15th 13th league victory

Bristol Ladies Union U14 0

Westbury Park Foxes U14 Girls 10

The Bristol Girls League, remember that? A full six weeks had passed since the U14 girl Foxes' last competitive outing, against Portishead on the speedy astro of RGS. They hadn't played a match on grass since 16th January. Sudden weekend downpours had led to multiple postponements, while the Foxes frustratingly found themselves fixture free when the weather was fine (that's a lot of "f"s, almost as many as our coaches use). They had even "lost" two previously recorded victories in the meantime, following the withdrawal from the league of Longwell Green. It was to be hoped that continued winter training in Lanzarote Dubai the Downs had kept the girls match sharp.

Friendly local rivals Bristol Ladies Union would provide a welcome test after such a layoff. Although they have struggled this season, and have seen their previously gained points against Longwell Green cruelly wiped clean, BLU have always been competitive and brave opponents. We still haven't forgotten their 1-0 victory over us 2 years ago.

At the relatively close and familiar venue of the Coombe Dingle University Sports Ground, the biggest factor and "12th player on the pitch" was...The Wind. Facing gusts of up to 40 mph, and a slight slope on the pitch, the first half was a struggle for the Foxes. BLU kept a disciplined and extremely high defensive line, catching the visitors offside on repeated occasions, while using the wind to send long balls down in to the corners. Keeper Betty was not particularly troubled by any attacks or shots, but Emily and Millie in particular had to be on their mettle to clear the lines and launch further attacks uphill.

For the first 15 minutes, the Foxes were kept at bay and frustrated. Chances came and went, but they could not score. The wind also appeared frequently to be gusting under the home linesman's right arm, so often was his flag raised. Tempers were beginning to fray, and that was just Mark on the sidelines. Then Zoe took matters into her own hands (and out of the linesman's) by powering around two defenders to blast home for the opener. Minutes later, Ella B got the same idea, slaloming in from the right and finishing superbly in the bottom corner. 2-0 at halftime was a fair reflection of a sluggish start, a brave BLU effort and the extreme difficulty of the conditions.

The teams changed ends for the second half with no let-up in the gale, which at one point threatened to scatter Mara's piggies from the dugout across the pitch. One sensed that BLU had given their all in the first half, and would struggle to contain a green and white onslaught in the second. So it proved - a thumping close range finish from Zoe set the visitors on their way again. Rhiannon, after  a season of near-misses, saves and hit posts, finally concluded one of her trademark nutmegging mazy dribbles with a shot on target, expertly placed through the keeper's legs. Ella, with a taste for the spectacular, and minutes after coming back on as a sub, stormed down the left wing this time, beating three players and finishing in the far corner. The pick of the goals came when a neat Rhiannon-Sim combo down the right flank sprang the offside trap, and Sim's resulting cross was roofed in the net emphatically by Mara. As BLU tired and found it increasingly harder to clear their lines, or their box, Zoe had further joy and would add four more, a just reward for her persistence and patience.

In the end the scoreline was somewhat flattering. BLU kept battling to the end, with former Fox Ella W putting in a great effort, and a few probing runs and long balls testing the defence. But it was to be another clean sheet for the league leaders, as the whistle concluded a satisfactory return to action.

There were many positives to take from the game, not least the welcome and impressive return from injury of Olivia, six-shooter Zoe's scoring boots, the speed, trickery (and goals) of Ella and Mara, and the calm and assured touch of Lulu, Lauren and Abby in the tough conditions. Even Betty, enjoying one of her quieter games, was always confident and quick in her gathering and distribution. But 'girl of the game', coming off the bench to great effect and doing everything but scoring, was Georgia.

The next few weeks should be interesting. Next weekend it's "Basingstoke and Bradley Stoke" - the FA People's Cup (for some Foxes) then the always tasty "North Bristol Classico". And no joke, on April Fool's Day it's the rearranged tabletop clash with Wotton, who then travel to 3rd place Keynsham the next day. We can almost smell the BGL buffet - but who will be holding the big trophy (as well as the sausage rolls) come July?

Captain of the week: Olivia T
Girl of the Game: Georgia