Our u14 Girls welcomed our old friends Radcliffe Junior Gems last weekend – and knowing it was going to be a real test for us, the girls were all up for it as soon as they started arriving. We wanted this and the large crowd that had started to gather got ready for a great game of football…
We started well and a lot of the early pressure was coming from the team in blue. We were covering in for each other when – at times – we were caught out of position and with most of the game being played in the opposition’s half, the County coaches were quite pleased so far. Sure – the Gems did manage to catch us on the break a couple of times – but we looked solid at the back and defended really well as a team, limiting them to shots from distance. Chances were few and far between in truth however we found ourselves 0-1 down totally against the run of play. Dusting themselves down, the girls put the ball back on the centre-circle – and something in their eyes showed that they were not finished yet…
We kept going and credit to them – they kept trying to do the right things. Our wingers began seeing a lot more of the ball in good areas and starting to create opportunities, we looked the most likely to get the next goal. The link-up play all over the pitch was really good and this was demonstrated further when Lucy K let the ball do the work and she turned three players – taking them all out of the game – before playing a delicious through-ball into the path of Esme. She did the rest – beating their full-back before finishing the ball into the top corner of the Radcliffe net! A great goal and we were back in it. 1-1 and it was no more than our play had deserved…
It was County who finished strongly and we were pushing for the winner right until that final whistle went. A great performance where all of the girls showed that they can dig in and play for each other when our backs are against the wall. This was a really intense match considering it was only a pre-season friendly – but games like this will only serve us well moving forward. The handshakes were done with pride and we wish everybody connected to Radcliffe Junior Gems a safe trip home and all the very best for the season to come…
Olivia was awarded the Girl of the Game as she never gave up and even when she looked beaten, she’d get back and recover well. She more than played her part in another solid defensive display and if we keep doing that, it gives us a great platform to build upon. Oooo – we can’t wait for the season to start now…
Another good day at the office for these girls then. Let’s hope we can be saying that week after week as the campaign develops…
#UpTheCounty!