Super Em's Keynsham Clincher Keeps Courageous Foxes On Course

Keynsham Town U14 1

Westbury Park Foxes U14 2

 

The U14 girl Foxes kept their heads, in the face of an occasionally severe physical challenge, to secure a priceless but ultimately well-deserved one goal victory.

 

No frozen pitch postponements here on the luxurious Keynsham "4G", but the Foxes faced an early obstacle before kick-off. While waiting for the highly entertaining men's warm up match on before them to finish (in a flurry of goals, yellow and red cards, and bad language), the Foxes had to change into alternative shirts to avoid a colour clash. The chilly away spectators' usual shouts of "come on the greens!" had to be amended to "come on you slightly baggy whites!". Oh well, our lovely luminous orange away kit will be arriving soon.

 

The Foxes were soon into their stride, moving the ball quickly and frequently attacking on the flanks and in the Keynsham box. The home side, unbeaten on this pitch all season, defended stoutly in front of a strong goalkeeper, but found themselves pinned back in their own half. The young ref appeared keen to let the play flow, and several Foxes' attacks were broken up by some strong tackles and frequent use of 'upper body strength'. But when push came to shove, after a goalless opening 20 minutes the Foxes broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion.

Zoe, back on her feet after a string of fouls, beat her defender and let rip from the edge of the box. The ball cannoned off the inside of the post, but just as the "ooh!s" of the crowd were dying down, Sim gathered the rebound and hammered it in the bottom corner from long range on the left. Further chances and pressure followed before the break, but a 1-0 lead was a reasonable reward for a dominant first half performance.

Clearly fired up by coaching exhortations to 'get stuck into them', Keynsham enjoyed their best spell at the start of the second half, winning more possession and seeking to get their front players 'in behind'. They then took their first and only chance.

A perfectly floated diagonal ball released their dangerous striker down the right. She cut in and beat Betty, who had not yet had a save to make, with a finish from a tight angle. The game was level and now in the balance. How would Bristol's finest respond?

How do you think? No panic, no shouting, no aimless long balls. Just a gradual ratcheting up of pressure, precise passing combinations and an increased combativeness in midfield. The defence snuffed out any further through ball threats, and the outstanding Lulu, Olivia Lauren and Amelia W won more and more of the 50:50s. Zoe's luck was not in today, as several promising moves ended with sweet shots which just crept past the post. But the momentum shifted back, and Keynsham's brave defence began to clear with a hint of desperation, increasingly conceding possession, throw-ins and a series of corners.

Lulu's set piece delivery was particularly excellent throughout the match, although most had been well dealt with by the hosts. But then, she struck a real peach of an inswinger into the danger area, and...

..was it a bird, was it a plane? No, leaping like a salmon (fresh, not tinned), it was Emily, delivering a glancing close range header powerfully to the keeper's left. It was a fitting reward for an outstanding display by Em on the left side of defence, where she had combined typically brave and strong defensive work with frequent attacking raids.

There was still plenty of time to go, but the Foxes saw the game out in the usual professional manner. Zoe endured a couple of further near misses, and the Keynsham keeper did brilliantly to recover a goalmouth scramble that seemed certain to end in a clinching third goal. The home team threatened briefly with a couple of corners and through balls cleared by Betty, but could not muster further shots on goal. The final whistle came as a relief, but signalled a tough but deserved victory. On another day (like last Sunday), three or four of those shots might have rolled in, but credit must go to Keynsham for sticking to their tactics and making it so tough.

In such a stirring victory, there were inevitably several other great performances, as well as those mentioned above.

Abby handled the aerial threat with calmness and authority. Millie and Rhiannon tracked back and broke forward with speed and skill. It was a tough day for Mara and Ella on the wings, but they showed great courage in the face of adversity. Girl of the game, however, went to 'the Mollster' for her tenacious running and harrying up the right side, a great duel with the combative Keynsham left back, and some lovely passing exchanges with Zoe.

So it's twenty (20) league wins in a row, 12 of them this season, and a three point lead as Boco v Wotton fell victim to the cold weather. No room for complacency, though, in a tough series of fixtures leading up to 'the return' against Wotton in March...

New Year Cheer As Foxes Go Clear!

Westbury Park Foxes U14 Girls 11

Fry's Club FC 0

 

Club Record 19th Consecutive League Win Puts U14 Girls Top

 

Would the Christmas break have slowed down the Bristol Girls League U14 pacesetters? Would they stroll out complacently, still bloated on turkey (or its vegetarian equivalent) and chocolate selection boxes, and slip up against Fry's Club FC in an awkward looking 2017 opening fixture?

 

Would they heck. On a mild and pleasant morning at BAWA, Bristol's finest came tearing out of the blocks, stunning their visitors with seven unanswered first half goals. Spraying passes around, breaking with devastating speed down the flanks and combining beautifully, it was perhaps the best half they have played all season. There was a bit of everything - a slaloming Rhiannon dribble to play in Ella to finish, an incisive strike from Mara after a strong run in from the left, then a truly stunning solo effort from "mini-Messi" Ella, who danced in from the right, beat three players then buried it in the far corner. Zoe was fouled and felled twice in the box, for what even experienced bricklayers would term a 'stone wall penalty', and she duly converted from the spot. In a tasteful tribute to the late and much respected Watford and England boss Graham Taylor, there was even a 'route one' goal from Zoe, courtesy of Betty's powerful goal kick (but Sim's neat flick-on header denied our keeper the 'assist' - sorry Betty). The Foxes used the full squad of 14 before the break, and sub Amelia was rewarded with a close range goal as the Foxes eased into half time fully in control.

Fry's Club kept battling and never let their heads drop, playing the game in a good spirit throughout. They created some breaks in the second half, but as many teams have found this season, there is almost no way past the 'line of steel' at the back. Whenever danger threatens, or even briefly clears its throat, a Foxy foot is usually on the ball, calmly regaining possession and spreading the play to the flanks. If it wasn't Abby (and it usually was), it was Lauren or Emily and a swift counter-attack was usually the result. If an opposing player ever beat a defender, Rhiannon or Millie would hare  back to snuff the threat out.

As the second half wore on more goals were added. Georgia and Olivia had extended run outs and both made impressive and assured contributions. As well as Zoe's five goals, a special mention must also go to Own Goal, who bagged a couple, one courtesy of a particularly vicious inswinging corner from Lulu. 

It was a tough day for Fry's, who are a good team and showed some nice touches at times. They just ran into an unstoppable green and white force. This was the Foxes' 19th consecutive league win, ending last season with eight in a row and now beginning this one with eleven - a team and club record. Not that we study the table with great care or anything, and we know that goal difference is ultimately irrelevant, but.... this victory put the Foxes officially top of the table for the first time this season, with a game in hand over Wotton.

Next up is 'Super Sunday'  - the Foxes travel to the dangerous and skilful 3rd place Keynsham at their lovely state-of-the-art stadium and 4G pitch. Don't forget your carpet slippers. Meanwhile, across the county line, Boco and Wotton contest the 'South Gloucestershire Classico' . The outcome of these games could go a long way to deciding the 'buffet bragging rights' in July....

Captain of the Week: Millie T

Girl of the Game : Lulu Watts

Battling Boco Bested By Fantastic Foxes

 in Festive Five Goal F(Th)-riller

U14 Girls end the year on a 'Perfect 10'

 

The tactics board (Rhiannon and Betty 'The Cat' also pictured)

AEK Boco  2  Westbury Park Foxes 3

Well, nobody said it would be easy. The high flying girl Foxes overcame their toughest challenge yet, falling behind for the first time this season  before storming back to overcome a spirited and tough Boco side.

This fixture has a rich history. Some of these girls' first ever Foxes match was a friendly at Boco, when they were only sweet little U9s (ah, remember those days?). The following year Boco pipped Westbury Park to the title in the first BGL season. Then the Foxes clinched the 2014 league at Boco amid popping Schloer corks and wild celebrations. Since then, the games have always been tight and eagerly fought.

Despite a heavy Saturday rainfall, the match was on, and the sun was shining on a decent Tennis Court Road pitch. The hosts got off to a strong start, and in the early stages looked like they 'wanted it' a little more, after an unlucky cup defeat last week. They opened the scoring when a slightly miscued goal kick was returned with interest by their headbanded star No. 9. The slightly rattled Foxes gradually got into their game and began to exploit their pace on the wings. Zoe, forced unusually wide to the left, then cut in, skipped around the defender's lunge and finished with aplomb from an almost 'Vardy-esque' narrow angle.

Boco continued to press and harry, making good use of the aerial ball through the middle and at times forcing the Foxes to respond in kind rather than settle into their passing game. Midway into the half, the skilful no. 9 was not closed down on the edge of the box and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner. When some slight timekeeping confusion caused the ref to blow early, the Foxes found themselves 2-1 down at half time.

This is when the coaches earn their corn. With 'Doc Martin' absent on call to deal with trivial matters such as NHS heart surgery (but still responding to regular WhatsApp updates - perhaps even from theatre?), it was down to Graham and Mark to gee up the girls, and dispel any signs of panic or frustration. They also had the vital magnetic 'tactics board' (pictured above), and of course Mara's lucky piggies on the sidelines.  Boco were playing a physical game, mostly within the rules, and had been first to most balls. The Foxes would have to 'up their intensity', ride the challenges and trust their ability in the second half.

And so they did. There was a gradual but perceptible shift in momentum, as the defence (with Abby outstanding as always) dealt with the aerial threat, and the mighty Olivia and Lulu began to win more 50:50s and spread the play wide and forward. Boco couldn't sustain their first half tempo and struggled to create much, although Betty had to be on her toes to take some awkward high catches and a well struck direct free kick.

The goals, when they came, were a little unusual, but certainly well deserved on the balance of play. Zoe sped on to a through ball, went past her central defender and struck a distinctly stoppable shot straight at the keeper - only to see it squirm through the unfortunate goalie's legs and in. At 2-2 the Foxes were playing a lot of football in the opposition half, and winning several corners, but the decisive break came on the counter attack. Rhiannon played the ball out of right defence, then combined neatly with Ella on the wing before crossing. When Mara controlled, turned and took aim, the resulting shot may just possibly have been slightly mishit, but it bobbled almost apologetically into the bottom right corner. No, actually, she meant it..of course.

From there on in, the Foxes managed the game coolly, keeping the play mostly in the opposing half by winning a succession of throw ins and corners as Boco were frequently turned and forced to clear their lines. The coaches kept the bench active, and as in all the best performances, everyone played their part. Amelia W No. 2 was always a lively and pacy presence, while the original Amelia W slotted calmly in to the back four. As the game wore on Emily H felt freer to make her trademark barnstorming runs forward, and Mara and Ella's trickery out wide kept the pressure on the home team.

The final whistle arrived without too many major scares, for what could be a priceless away win in the Foxes' league challenge. They end the year halfway through their fixtures, with a perfect 10 wins out of 10 and (in real terms) top of the league, although rivals Wotton have played one more. Not a bad year, on top of the multiple tournament glory in the summer. So 2016 hasn't been all grim news..

The Foxes go into the Christmas break looking forward to a trip to Mojo Active then plenty of nice food, presents and lie-ins (in moderation, of course). Training will resume at 6am on Boxing Day...no, only kidding, on the first Saturday in January. A tough run of fixtures then starts from the 15th, weather permitting . Let's hope for no postponements, more of the same football, and of course world peace in 2017.

Merry Christmas one and all!

Girl of the Game: Olivia

Captain of the Game: Millie

Special mention: The Tactics Board (and the coaches)