Just under a fortnight ago, our u11 Tornadoes were in action – which was a feat in itself as the skies had been emptying themselves all week – and we were surprised that when we turned up, there weren’t ducks quacking and making the most of the puddles! But there was a job to be done by the girls – and to the delight of the County fans that had braved the weather, by Jove did they do it!

We started brightly and some neat passing and great movement off the ball was making it difficult for our opponents to get anywhere near us and it was no surprise when we took the lead. A superb pass through the channel saw Chloe in a bit of space but she still had a lot of work to do. She controlled it in one and turned on a sixpence before looking up, picking her spot – and finishing smartly into the bottom corner. A goal of quality that belied her tender years and as the County fans were dancing the rain, it was the team in blue that were in front!

Shortly after, we doubled our lead – and it was that girl Chloe who grabbed her second of the match. She received the ball about 20 yards from goal and dropping her shoulder smartly, she made her marker dizzy trying to get back goal-side. Too late – Chloe had struck the ball sweetly and it was already nestling in the bottom corner of their net. What a finish! Her team-mates rushed to congratulate her and by the look of the smile on her face, she clearly knew that was something special. This was fantastic stuff by the Tornadoes…

The coaches got them in at the break and simply asked for more of the same. We had been working hard all over the pitch and backing our colleagues up, there were always options. So just do that again, don’t drop our levels and this should be a ‘W’ in the column by the end. The kids gulped their drinks, wiped the dripping rain from their brows and before we knew it, they were back out there ready to go again…

But it was clear that the opposition had received a rocket during the interval – because they came out all guns blazing right from the re-start. This was so different to the first half and some lapses in concentration by our girls saw them capitalise on them clinically. We had to get back to what we had been doing in the first 25 minutes or so – so with the coaches urging their troops to relax, re-focus and start enjoying it again, on we went with the mission…

And thankfully the girls started responding. We started passing it well again and whenever the opponents did get a sniff of our goal, we were closing them down and making them work harder. This was more like it and was a sign of things to come…

It was. Working like the great team they’re becoming, we started seeing more of the ball in dangerous areas and then we scored again! The ball was worked to Hannah on the edge of the box and as she swivelled, she took a touch and slammed her shot into the top corner! The County fans were going wide in the aisles and as the players made their way back to the centre-circle, we knew that we were on top again
That was proven when we scored again. Some great passing saw us move the ball quickly across the pitch and back again and as it found it’s way to Isla, she spotted the gap and smashed the ball into the bottom corner, giving their keeper no chance of stopping it! A marvellous goal! And it was us that were in control of the game now…

And that was that! The referee decided that we’d all had enough of the inclement weather and when he blew his whistle to end the game, it had been a fantastic result for the girls. Shows what hard work and determination can achieve really doesn’t it? There was just enough time to Leyla S the Girl of the Game for her fantastic effort in defence but they can all go home proud of themselves today. We know that the fans and everybody connected with our great Club are…

Well done kids! That was brilliant!

#UpTheCounty!