Under 13 Girls v Huntingdon Rowdies (away) - League 26.3.11

The wide open spaces of Huntingdon Town FC's Jubilee Park ground, home of the Rowdies had a chill wind blowing across it as the girls kicked off, visiting supporters outnumbering the home team fans on the touchline. The large pitch gave both teams plenty of space to play their football and it was the home team, clad in green and white hoops that made the first attack of significance, earning themselves a corner. However Bishop's Stortford soon took control of the game and scored their first goal after 4 minutes, Emily's free kick falling to Scarlett, her shot deflecting to Abigail who smashed the ball home. Tia nearly added a second after she intercepted a goal kick but could only earn a corner. Good defending from Louise followed as she shadowed away danger when Huntingdon broke from defence and could only shoot wide.
Ellie-Mae was finding her stride on the right and skinned another opposition defender, the latest in a long line this season, before seeing her cross well saved. Scarlett continued the bombardment of the Huntingdon goal with another shot, but the second goal came quickly afterwards, Stortford moving the ball across their backline before threading the ball forward and through to Tia. The league's leading goal-scorer burst through, holding off the strong attentions of defenders and picked her spot to beat the keeper low and in the corner. Inka was brought into rare action between the posts from a Huntingdon free kick, saving comfortably. Ellie-Mae had made another run down the right a couple of minutes later, this time her shot going narrowly wide. Skye on the other flank put a strong shot on target, the goalkeeper's fumble nearly snaffled by the arriving Tia in rampart form.
Fifteen minutes in and Faye came on for Abigail up front and the blues high tempo continued. Third time lucky for Ellie-Mae, this time her run and shot beat the keeper at the near post with a shot from a tight angle to take the score to 3-0. A change of goalkeepers now, Inka retreating to warm-up on the touchline whilst Abigail took the gloves. Two more attacks down the right, Ellie-Mae again and then a great run and cross from Tia, before two more changes, Tia and Tyler retiring to make ways for Inka and Simi. The blues tried their luck down the left now, Skye shooting at first from long range and then putting in a good cross following a pass into space from Scarlett. As the time ticked on to half-time, play remained in the Rowdies half, corners on the left and right from Ellie-Mae and Skye raining in on the box. Just before the break Skye sent another corner in which was blocked and returned to her. Her shot again was blocked but fell to Inka whose deflected shot was finally knocked home (with her left foot) by the sharp reacting Faye. 4-0 at the break.
Changes for the start of the second period - Skye headed south to the theatre and was replaced by Elly on the left, Louise taking over from Abigail in goal and Tyler returning to the defensive line. Huntingdon's resistance was struggling to keep Stortford's attacks away from their box, EllieMae having a cross saved by the keeper, Inka a shot saved and Faye robbing a defender only for her shot to be saved - the Rowdies keeper was doing her team proud. Another cross from Ellie-Mae was met by Inka's glancing header that just passed the post, further chances either saved or slipping past the target. The blues were in a fine rhythm now, Elly combining beautifully with Faye on the left in one move, Scarlett and Ellie-Mae in another. As usual, the successful forward play relied heavily on the solidity and passing of the defence and midfield, Simi playing a blinder throughout the second half, winning tackles, losing her marker and setting up attacks, Tyler solid in support of Ellie-Mae on the right, Emily controlling the centre and Scarlett linking everything together. Word of four-legged bonuses for hat-tricks finally reached the manager's ear, news of which had Ellie-Mae pulling on a goalie shirt to relieve Louise in goal. The second half deadlock was finally broken not by the puppy-pursuer, but when Emily picked up the ball and strode forward into space from her half and then slipped the ball on to Inka who found the net to make it 5-0 to the visitors. The breach was now broken and two more goals came in the next five minutes. A solo effort from Inka, skipping through and finishing sweetly brought up the team's sixth. The seventh brought hope of hound heaven when Louise received a pass from Abigail, spun and found the net. Alas no more chances fell to Louise, but team play was terrific as the game headed to its close, full of guile, vision and quality. Time just enough for Inka to cap off a fine move with a good shot that brought up her hat-trick before the ref called an end to proceedings. Stortford had another fine win in the bag and took a breather on the touchline, little knowing that heroics from Histon a few miles away across the county was opening the league title race wide open with a win against Cambridge.
Six league games, a south coast tour and a cup final await in the exciting last weeks of the season and the team remains in fantastic form. Next week a home fixture against our cup final rivals provides the challenge. Another great job girls - on to the next.

Result: won 0-8

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

Subs: Faye, Simi, Elly

Scorers: Abigail, Tia, Ellie-Mae, Faye, Inka (3), Louise

Under 13 Girls v Hormead Hares (home), League - 19.3.11

The U13 Girls secured another magnificent 7-0 win, this time at home to local visitors Hormead Hares, playing beautiful football throughout. Tia Dye, Scarlett Archer and Faye Gallaway each scored two, with Abigail Stevens completing the goal count.
Hormead hardly had a touch in the opening minutes, the ball being spread and passed across the park, great control by all in working the openings. Anastasia, Hormead's deluged keeper, made a strong start herself, Abigail had a shot from distance saved, Ellie-Mae two of her own, Scarlett looped one over the bar in the six yard box and a corner from Ellie-Mae came back to her to send powerfully goalwards, but without success. The next attempt however was successful - Scarlett shooting from distance and Tia pouncing on the rebound to tuck home the opener.
Scarlett had two more shots in quick succession, the first high and wide, the second on a run after good switching play between Ellie-Mae and Abigail, well saved by the goalie. Faye made way for Simi, just arriving to see Scarlett get her goal, Tia jumping over a strong shot from the edge of the box, to take the lead to two.
Simi made a neat turn to let loose her own attempt, again well saved before Hormead had their first meaningful surge into the Stortford half, Skye saving nicely. She pushed another attempt round the post as the Hares had a bright few minutes.
At the other end chances continued to come. A great run by Inka produced a ball across the goal, Tia mistiming her attempt - Scarlett had another lofted attempt and great work by Simi sent Tia through who just went wide. Simi nearly finished off Emily's corner a minute later and worked a move beautifully with Scarlett as she revelled in her run out in midfield, but it was a different combination that took the score to 3-0, Emily launching a shot that couldn't be contained, Tia again on hand to poke home the loose ball for her second.
Half time, Abigail and Louise making way for Tyler and Faye. Stortford were straight back into their rhythm, Simi going close again on two occasions, Faye having another chance, Simi again just shooting wide. The variety of play showed Stortford's control of the game, Emily launching one long range shot, inter-passing producing a chance for Louise who grazed the cross bar. It was Louise who set up the fourth though, picking out Abigail, Scarlett picking up the team's next a minute later to make it 5-0.
The commanding play continued, Skye and the back line having one of their lightest defensive work-outs in a few weeks, instead providing an outlet ball for the midfielders to work from. Into the last five minutes and Faye got in on the goal-scoring act, her first coming from a lovely long pass from Tyler that released to run in and finish, the second poking home a loose ball in a goalmouth scramble.
So, 7-0 at the end and Hormead grateful the score-line wasn't higher, Stortford in the finest of form and clearly eager to dominate teams as the run in begins to the end of the season.

Result: won 7-0

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

Subs: Simi

Scorers:Tia (2), Scarlett (2), Faye (2), Abigail

Under 13s v Histon Hornets (away), League - 12.3.11

It was a joy to be out and about early in Cambridgeshire on a beautiful spring morning, a flat and wide pitch awaiting our arrival at Histon's home ground. What was on paper easier opposition after our cup semi-final victory against Cambridge, prompted thoughts of an expansive passing game from the blues, however an effective Histon defensive set up, smaller goals and some interesting off-side decisions made for much harder going in the early stages. Stortford made a positive start - Simi had an early run and shot saved, good passing between Abigail and Tia produced an opportunity for Faye and Ellie-Mae sent in a stinger from the right, but no goal came from the visitors in the opening minutes. Emily speculated from distance and Faye put in a cross that just missed a final touch before Histon had a meaningful attack, beating the high defensive line, though Skye saved the resulting shot well. The game became a constant puzzle, the play compressed into the middle of the pitch by both teams pushing their defence out. Little space for passing resulted and a releasing ball became difficult to find or, when it came, the attack was pulled back for off-side.

Fifteen minutes in and it was time to ring some changes to see if the deadlock could be broken, Abigail and Ellie-Mae now into midfield and Louise and Tyler into defence. The change produced a quick result when Emily found Abigail bursting through on the left, who blasted her shot home to relieve the frustration of the players and put Stortford into the lead.

Aim.....FIRE..... 1-0 to Stortford

The relief of having the lead added at a little more vigour to Bishop's Stortford's play, as always built on the team's strong and secure defences. Louise, Emily and Tyler cleared up the ball at the back and looked to feed and support the midfield.

A couple of corners from Ellie-Mae caused problems in addition to a looping ball into the box that was headed narrowly wide by Abigail. Simi created a chance for herself with some nice skills, well saved by the Histon keeper and nearly closed the half with another goal when she just failed to find the net from Ellie-Mae's run and cross from the right.

Into the second half and a little more urgency was asked for from the girls. Skye, Abigail and Elly took a break with Faye, Abby and Tia returning. Immediate pressure from the visitors nearly produced a goal from Louise when she picked up a clearance and sent it back in, only just denied by the Histon keeper. Tia was denied the team's second goal when she sent a through ball from Faye onto the post. Abby's tenacity on the wing nearly brought reward as did Inka and Faye's combined work in the box. In the end it was Tia who unpicked the defence, pouncing on a loose ball and slotting home to finally extend the lead with a fine finish.

Tia streaks through to score

Player rotations continued, with goalkeeping duties in particular being shared around the team. Emily had taken her turn and now Abigail donned the gloves, Skye replacing Louise on the left side of defence. The tide now in their favour, dominance increasing, Stortford were playing with a little more style. Ellie-Mae, from her position at the centre of defence, saw an opportunity to break as space opened in front of her from half-way. As unstoppable as ever, she surged forward into the Histon half and on to the edge of the box, striking the ball clean and true to score her fourteenth goal of the season and the team's third of the day.

"Abby!!!!!"

Into the final quarter the dominance continued. Tyler was called on to make a couple of excellent tackles but the majority of the play was in the Histon half. Chances came from a couple of well flighted corners from Skye but it was the returning Ellie-Mae who provided the corner delivery that brought the fourth goal, Inka meeting it sweetly and accurately for a fine headed goal.

Inka's powerful header finds the net

Tyler now took over the keeper's gloves, relieving Abigail who had been called into sharp action only once, equal to a rare chance for Histon with a fine parry save a few minutes earlier.

Abby had a break in the closing couple of minutes that earned a corner, Simi nearly finding a fifth from the resulting corner but at the final whistle the blues had added no further goals. This had been a bit of a funny game. Lots of substitutions undoubtedly broke up the flow of the game as did regular off-side flags, but it was good to feel warm sun of the face and come away with another win secured.

Result: won 0-4

Team: Skye, Ellie-Mae, Emily (c), Abigail, Inka, Faye, Simi, Abby, Tia

Subs: Louise, Elly, Tyler

Scorers: Abgail, Tia, Ellie-Mae, Inka

Many thanks to Guy for taking the pictures.

Under 13s v Cambridge City (away), League Cup - 5.3.11

The prize for today's winners - a day out at Milton Road

For the second time this season the U13 Girls went to the home of their fiercest rivals Cambridge City, again looking to come away with a win, buoyed by the success of their recent encounter. This time the reward was a place in the League Cup Final, the memory of losing out to City at the same stage last season providing an extra impetus. 
Cambridge won the toss and chose to change ends, an early indication that they were wary of another shock filled opening from their visitors, not wanting to begin defending the end in which they had conceded five only three weeks earlier. Tim, their coach had clearly fired his team up as the opening exchanges showed Cambridge sharper and on the front foot, quickly threatening the Stortford goal. Emily had an early shot saved but the home team retorted quickly, a speculative shot-cross clipping the crossbar. Louise was sharp in defence to break up another attack and Skye thwarted another with an early save - the blues were hanging on a bit in these opening exchanges. Scarlett and Ellie-Mae first combined to break up another attack and then looked to threaten themselves, thrusting down the wing to earn Bishop's Stortford's first corner. Two shots from Ellie showed the blues were up for the challenge, Tia also working hard to harry defenders and exert pressure up front. Cambridge's next break produced another shot onto the cross-bar, quickly followed by another shot on target, well saved by Skye. The first inkling that today was not to be theirs perhaps now started to appear in City player's minds and in the latter stages of the half the blues began to exert some authority on the game. Inka and Scarlett combined beautifully to create an opportunity, but Scarlett's effort went wide. Next Tia made a great run down the right, her threatening cross only just alluding arriving support. Ellie-Mae surged forward again and earned a corner that was snaffled under pressure by City's keeper, whilst the last opportunity of the half fell to Louise, who met a goal kick and returned it with interest from half way, the ball just passing outside of the post with keeper stranded.
0-0 at half-time, with the game on a knife edge, the girls in blue returned to the pitch, reminded that they had weathered the worst of Cambridge's storm despite not being at their best and that if chances could be taken they could take the upper hand. Early chances fell to Cambridge as the game re-opened, Tyler, Emily and Louise making important tackles, Skye again called into action as the final line of defence. Ellie-Mae shot across the Cambridge goal but it was a free kick in midfield 9 minutes into the half that proved a decisive moment. 
Emily set the ball down and ran through her preparations, focused on the posts like a Six Nations fly-half. She launched the ball on a high and rising arc, flighted straight and true between the posts and found the gap between the underside of the bar and the keeper, who had advanced a little from her line following calls from the touchline for her defenders to step out. It was a peach of a goal to put Stortford into the lead. 
Cambridge responded from a free-kick of their own but could only earn a corner. Skye rose high to bat that threat away. Another shot came in a few moments later, this time well over the bar, before Tia threatened in a Stortford break-away, bouncing the ball off the home team keeper, then shooting just wide in the follow up. More pressure and the blues earned another corner. Ellie-Mae sent it in beautifully from the left to Scarlett who had made space in the six yard box, comfortably nodding home to take the lead to two. A lead to protect, the need to concentrate and work hard to the end became paramount. Inka dropped back to help out Scarlett who had worked so hard throughout the game despite being hampered by a tight hamstring. Abigail was tracking back on forth on her flank, eliminating all danger down her side of the pitch. More Cambridge pressure but Stortford pressed and harried, limiting the opportunities for clear shooting chances. Simi replaced Tia at the fulcrum of the blues attack and was immediately into action, her first run defended for a corner. Another free-kick to Cambridge, but Zoe their specialist, mistimed her strike from distance. Ellie-Mae dropped back into defence now, Faye replacing Louise and slotting into midfield, immediately bustling into action, chasing the ball and putting Cambridge under pressure, a good attack between her and Simi developing. Abigail took a rest to add further fresh legs through Abby as Cambridge gave their all. Time still for them to come back, their most threatening strike was parried away by Skye in what was to my eye her save of the season, fully aerial and diving horizontally to her right, her outstretched hands pushing the ball round the post. Injury time ticked endlessly on, but the salvation of the final whistle came at last, bringing to a close another titanic battle between these two fine teams.
Our team has made great progress this season, adapting to the larger pitch and different format and finding a formation that is balanced and makes best use of our talents. The girls have played sublime football at times but today showed that that desire, concentration, hard work and organisation can earn rewards on days when their 'total football' isn't in full flow.
In the other semi-final Newmarket comfortably beat Huntingdon 4-1, deciding our opposition for the big day out in mid-May. Before then the league will dominate our thoughts as we keep the pressure up on City and if both teams maintain a 100% win rate, a final play-off game. The girls will be fine but will the touchline be able to cope with another encounter with Cambridge in a final league decider?

Result: won 0-2

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

Subs: Simi, Faye, Abby

Scorers: Emily, Scarlett