Three players reach goalscoring landmark

Abigail, Inka and now Tia have all reached the landmark of scoring 50 goals for the team in competitive matches. This is a fantastic achievement - many congratulations to all three.

It had been on my mind for a while to compile a scoring list from our four seasons as a team and this weekend provided the opportunity. Abigail is a founding member of the team and was league top scorer in 2008/09 with 37. Inka joined late in our first season, scored 30 in 2008/09 and another 26 last year. Both Inka and Abigail's figures also don't include goals scored for Fenton (you'll have to help me with these girls!). Tia is the latest to reach her half-century, clocking her total in just over two seasons with 20, 26 and already 6 this year. The all-time top five list appears below;

1 - Abigail (67)

2 - Inka (65)

3 - Tia (52)

4 - Eryn (31)

5 - Louise (21)

Herts County Cup 1st round - Hormead Hares v Bishops Stortford (away) - 25.9.10

The north-wind nipped down the shallow valley of the River Quinn at Hare Street as the blue clad ranks assembled for their Herts County Cup 1st round match away to Hormead Hares. Pre-match, two referees arrived to officiate (one from Herts and one from Cambridge), doubt was clarified as to whether this was a nine or eleven a-side competition (it was eleven), and agreement reached that we would play nine a-side due to Hormead's depleted numbers (much to the chagrin of our players - 'You're too fair' went up the cry when I told them).

Stortford took the lead after 9 minutes, Emily sending a free kick to Inka who held it up and then picked out Tia to slot home. Tia picked up her second 6 minutes later, a corner from Inka was headed down by Scarlett for Tia to tuck it in the net and make it 2-0 to the visitors. 

Bishops Stortford were in full control now, playing nice triangles, talking, supporting, passing into space, the backline of Louise, Simi and Emily holding firm, the midfield four of Inka, Scarlett, Ellie-Mae and Abigail purring and Tia linking with the midfield and sniffing for opportunities up-front.

Faye replaced Tia now and Lauren slotted into defence for Simi who had made some tenacious tackles at wing back. Scarlett brought the score to 3-0, deserved reward for some lovely wing work on the right - a corner came after a double save from Hormead's keeper denied Scarlett then Inka, but the pair couldn't be denied further - Inka sent the ball across and Scarlett effortlessly found the net.

Half-time and a change of ends, the wind now in the blues favour. Inka took full advantage a minute in, making space for herself and then striking home into the top right corner of the uprights - a peach of a strike from just inside the area (4-0). The Hares managed to pull one back, a speculative but powerful shot taking a deflection and lobbing over Skye in goal. However after another 5 mins Stortford extinguished any thoughts of a comeback when a blues attack was cleared only to find Louise in space.  She took a touch and then blasted home from distance (5-1 to Stortford). Hares heads dipped a little and Inka took the initiative again almost immediately when another long range strike couldn't be kept out by Anastasia, Hormead's goalie and guest at our Cambridge Festival appearances (6-1). Simi and Tia now returned, Abigail and Ellie-Mae taking a rest, then Inka completed her hat-trick with a shot through the defence from a deep position (7-1). 

A few minutes later and Abigail and Ellie-Mae returned, replacing Scarlett and Emily who had both put in sterling work throughout the game. Lauren was unlucky from distance, her sweeping strike from wide on the right coming after some great interchange play with Abigail, as was Faye who battled hard up front, held the ball well, her shots today unable to beat the keeper. Skye showed her goal-keeping class late in the game, having had little to do for the majority of the match, diving to her right and saving with finger tips from a powerful shot from Hormead's tall striker. The closing minutes were all Stortford, Abigail the most unfortunate, seeing a dinked shot saved and then a nice finish disallowed for off-side from a cross from Tia.

A tremendous all-round performance that puts Bishops Stortford into the quarter final, our reward being another away tie against either Stevenage Borough or Hemel Hempstead. It was also the third game in a row that we have bagged a magnificent seven goals, three games in and already over half the squad have been on the scoresheet.

Final score: 1-7

Scorers: Tia 2, Scarlett, Inka 3, Louise

Team: Skye, Louise, Emily (c), Simi, Abigail, Ellie-Mae, Scarlett, Inka, Tia 
Subs: Faye, Lauren

U13s v Sawtry Colts - League (away) 18.09.10

Streets of cumulus clouds banded the huge autumn skies above as the girls went two league wins from two in a 7-1 away win against Sawtry. Scarlett found the net twice in the early exchanges, the first coming after some brave battling from Faye and the second from a fine pass from Inka. 
Sawtry pulled a goal back midway through the first half, prompting a strong comeback that saw the blues find the net twice more before the break - Ellie-Mae's strong run and thunderbolt strike from the right securing the third before she turned provider to Tia who completed Stortford's first half scoring with an impish finish.

Into the second and Tia now took the role of provider, finding Inka on the right of the area who calmly picked her spot inside the left-hand post to make it 5-1 to the visitors. Goal six came when Scarlett deftly slipped the ball through to Tia for her second of the game and Abigail latched onto a pass from the outstanding Louise to pick up the team's seventh, a goal tally achieved for the second week in a row. 

Good performances again throughout the squad. The back-line of Simi, Emily and Louise worked tirelessly throughout the game. The midfield was both industrious and creative and though occasionally cramped today has the talent and fire-power take any opposition apart. Tia upfront ran some terrific lines and picked up another brace of goals as reward. Another strong performance but still more to come.

Next week the team's attentions turn to Hormead Hares in the first round of the Herts County Cup.

Team: Skye, Simi, Emily (c), Ellie-Mae, Louise, Inka, Scarlett, Abigail, Faye

Bench: Tia, Abby, Elly

Scorers: Scarlett (2),  Ellie-Mae, Tia (2), Inka, Abigail

U13s v Alconbury Colts - League (home) 11.09.10

The U13 league season opened, after some last minute pitch preparation that delayed the kick-off, with the girls taking on Alconbury Colts, visitors with experience of the 9 a side format, many of their team having played in this division last season.

Stortford played up the slight hill in the first half and whilst a little tentative in the opening, comfortably took command of their game in a 4-3-1 formation. The defensive line was an imposing sight - Emily and Ellie-Mae, a daunting centre-half pairing for any striker to deal with, flanked on one side by Tyler who had led the side with her tackling in the pre-season friendlies, and on the other by Louise, in at the deep end after a weekend a way, though after a few minutes you would never have known. This impregnable wall provided the platform for the midfield to work off, given licence in the opening to play down the middle. Inka on the right, Abigail on the left and Scarlett in the middle, the three bossing the game and looking to pass through the defence. Fizzing up front was Tia, chomping at the bit after her goalfest against the U14s but frustrated at missing out on the fun of the other friendlies.

Five minutes in and the first goal came. After an initial goalmouth scramble following Emily's corner, Abigail put Scarlett into space enough for a shot and the Stortford newcomer found the net with precision. Scarlett's opener put some confidence into the veins of all the team and the girls took it up a gear, Emily having a shot wide from distance, all of them pressing the ball and Louise making a classy interception to set up a home team attack. Scarlett had a shot saved before great work from Tyler to win the ball, pushed a pass through to Inka who laid it back to Emily near the half way line. Bold as brass, the skipper struck the ball hard, high and true and billowed the net from the net from 35 yards - the Alconbury keeper left helpless. Broad smiles all round and the girls shifted into top gear, now playing 3-4-1 with Ellie-Mae wide right, Abigail wide left and Scarlett and Inka pairing up in the middle. Our two midfield maestros engineered a great move shortly after the change, Scarlett slipping the ball to Inka who pinged in a cross that Tia met with commitment, only to see her effort climb over the bar. Scarlett had another shot saved and Emily frightened the cross bar before Ellie-Mae bagged the teams third, winning the ball in midfield on the right and then surging forward, her powerful shot from distance catching a defender on the way to finding the net.

The team's fourth goal came from the other flank a few minutes later, the classy Abigail slipping the ball through to Tia who slid the ball home to further dishearten the visitors. Ellie-Mae threatened down the wing and earned a corner as the dominance continued. Emily sent in the ball and a head lifted it into the air, Abigails snap just rising over the bar.

In a rare foray into Bishop's Stortfords half, Louise defended well and Skye touched the ball for the first time, before Alconbury earned themselves a free kick, though their strike made it no further than the wall, Inka blocking the shot - Tia having her under hit shot saved by the Colts keeper. Lauren replaced Abigail for the last few minutes of the half which saw Alconbury earn themselves a corner and Tia having a run on goal and shot saved before the whistle.

Half-time changes saw Scarlett retire for a rest and Abby take up station alongside Inka in the centre, the girls encouraged to keep the width across the middle into the second half. Early pressure earned a corner,  Emily sending it to the back-post onto Lauren's brave head and so nearly a goal. No matter though as Lauren played a part in arguably the move of the game a couple of minutes later. Great passing play saw Inka find Louise who passed on to Lauren. Her pass picked out Abby who slid the ball through to a sprightly Tia who surged into the box, gave the keeper 'the eyes' and picked her spot with a trademark clinical finish. More great play followed, Louise spotting the opportunity to switch play from the back and picking out Lauren on the right who was unlucky not to score. Another opportunity followed but Lauren's scoring luck was in short supply in today. Abby's was, as she found the net from the edge of the area much to the touchline's and her pleasure to take the score to 6-0.

Ellie replaced Ellie-Mae on the right for the restart and Louise was quickly into defensive action on the other flank, Alconbury making another attack shortly after the brought the nearest thing to a save for the day for Skye, her clearance kick bounding deep into the Colts half. Inka put in some great work in midfield and shot just wide before Simi switched with Louise in defence and Faye replaced Lauren on the right as personnel changes came thick and fast - Stortford retaining their energy and putting in some hard work in all departments against a wilting Alconbury side. Abby had another shot saved before a double substitution - Scarlett for Inka in the middle and Abigail for Tia upfront. Time now for a crunching tackle from Tyler stifled an Alconbury attack. Scarlett went close with another attempt before Emily retired to be replaced by Ellie-Mae at the centre of defence and Abigail added the team's seventh goal of the game, a great solo finish seeing her break into the box and calmly beat the keeper. Lauren now donned keepers gloves, with Skye replacing Tyler at the back, the final minutes seeing the released keeper make a great tackle and pass, Ellie go so close to opening her seasons tally and Abigail unleash a shot that was pushed wide by the Colts keeper.

So a great 7-0 opening league win, some good points to work on and some time chalked up learning two new formations. I rarely mark our performances but I thought today was worth 7/10 - a mark that reflects a good performance but also the capability of the team to improve a good two or three levels up from today when they hit their full potential.

Team: Skye, Tyler, Emily (c), Ellie-Mae, Louise, Inka, Scarlett, Abigail, Tia

Bench: Lauren, Abby, Ellie, Simi, Faye

Scorers: Scarlett, Emily, Ellie-Mae, Tia (2), Abby, Abigail

Pre-season friendlies

Comberton Crusaders - 8-0 win

Bury Rangers - 1-1 draw

Looking back at our two pre-season friendlies, I couldn't be happier. We decimated Comberton with stylish and at times ruthless passing football and great finishing despite the long grass at Grange Paddocks. Not only will our goal scorers take confidence from finding the net so regularly but our defence was solid and looked comfortable both with the offside rules and in coping with the Crusaders strikers. Our midfield also worked tremendously hard and began the process of learning each others running lines, how to find space, support each other in the larger format etc.

Sunday's opposition were a completely different kettle of fish and an ideal follow up to the day before. BuryRangers were excellent. They matched us for large chunks of the game and had a lightning quick striker to trouble our defence. Going a goal down was arguably no bad thing in that it asked a big question of the team physically, psychologically and technically, to which by the second half we began to find the answer - great credit to the girls for digging deep and doing that. 

Analysing the game afterwards as we move on from 7 aside, formations add a new dimension to the game and match tactics. Our 332 formation was matched initially with Bury playing 431 (and later 341). This stifled our attacking two and closed the space available to Faye and Inka as well as Abby and Simi on the flanks. Switching to 341 in the second half, with Inka dropping back alongside Scarlett was in retrospect a switch I might have made earlier and though Inka's equaliser was a finely finished interception, I thought having 4 across midfield increased our control and penetration as well as lessened the defensive burden on Scarlett who put in a phenomenal amount of work in both the games. I am also very proud of the way everyone responded to the physical demands of the game, after a slightly tentative first-half, led by Tyler and some great commitment from Emily. In correspondence today, Grant was very complimentary towards you all and ranked the game as one the two hardest they have ever had (along with their game against Garston Ladies). We have agreed to  look towards having a further friendly later in the season to judge how both teams are progressing and are also looking into touring together at the end of the season - more on this later on.

So an ideal pre-season is now completed and the real stuff begins. We must use games when we find ourselves comfortably on top in the future to refine our tactics and shape, as over the coming few weeks we have important games in the Herts and League cups and the league to contend with.