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
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