The weather had been bad during the week. Really bad. But the good news was that football was on – and as our u13 Girls made their way to the game today, they were in a confident mood. We were welcoming our old friends from AFC Burnden and with the excitement growing, both sets of players set about their warm-up’s. Our coaches spoke about the high standards they had been setting so far this season and the expectations now played upon them as a team. Any positive result here would see the girls maintain top spot in the league – so there was a big incentive here. Not long after, the referee called the captains forward and in the blink of an eye, the whistle had been blown and the action begun…
The opening exchanges were pretty even as both sides worked their way into the game but as our girls grew in confidence, we began to dominate the ball in the better areas. So it was a shock when it was the visitors that took the lead against the run of play – albeit a tremendous strike that saw it go in. 0-1 and we had a lot of work to do now…
No need to worry though – because shortly after we levelled the score. Having worked the ball well, we managed to get it into the box and all the Burden defender could do was handle it – giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped Lucy K and BANG! – she rifled the ball into the back of the net giving their keeper no chance of stopping it. 1-1 and we were back in it…
It was the visitors that scored the next goal though – and again it was somewhat fortuitous the way they got it. A hopeful effort took a massive deflection that saw the ball fly over Tia’s head and into the back of our net. The scoreline didn’t reflect the passage of play in this first-half – but it’s the scoreline that counts…
Half-time: BOLTON COUNTY u13 GIRLS 1-2 AFC Burnden
The coaches praised their troops as they made their way in for their drinks and they reminded them that if we kept going, then good things will come. We had been playing well so we just needed to make our chances count, keep working hard to pass the ball well and make sure that we didn’t allow them to score the next goal – so with a couple of changes made to the line-up and some different positional changes to boot, the girls were back out there ready to get back into this game…
And it didn’t take long! Within minutes we were level – and what a goal it was! A good move saw us play the ball down the flank and taking it past her marker, Lucy R managed to sweep in a great cross that caused a scramble in their box. The ball eventually fell to Emily who looked up and calmly tapped the ball into the back of the net with the outside of her boot! Her team-mates jumped on her in celebration and once again, the game was all-square again. 2-2 and it was definitely Game On again…
Things got even better soon after when we took the lead for the first time in the game – and it was that pair that did it again! This time Lucy R broke down the right and at exactly the right time, she fed the ball into the box to find Emily who had got between the defenders to force the ball home from close range. 3-2 to County and what a game this had been. It wasn’t over yet though…
We were playing with confidence now and some of our link-up play and combinations saw us bossing the game all over the park. The football we were playing at times was sublime and with the coaches purring, their team kept going. And when our fourth – and final – goal came, it was Emily grab her hat-trick when she finished neatly from about 10 yards out. 4-2 and surely that was that…
It was. The whistle had been blown and the County girls had kept that top-spot having come from behind twice against a good, good AFC Burnden team and as the handshakes were done with pride, both sets of players knew that they had been involved in a great game of football out there…
A special mention goes out to Tia today who kept her concentration throughout the match and making some key-saves in both halves to keep the opposition at bay. All the girls showed great strength and character throughout the match and as they came off the pitch, they were rightly applauded. What a performance! What a team!
Lucy R came on just before half-time and in changing the game with two superb assists, she was awarded today’s Girl of the Game – but they can all go home proud today – because we most definitely are!
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And as the dust settled on another Sunday, a little glance at the league table leaves a smile on the face. Go on – have a look…
#UpTheCounty!