U14 Girls v AFC Kempston (Away), League - 15.10.11

Our merry band headed northwest this week for Kempston in Bedfordshire and fresh opposition. Another glorious morning and a fine playing surface brought out the best in the Stortford girls and they left with another victory under their belts.

Two minutes in and Bishops Stortford were on the scoresheet. Play moved up the left and then a switch to the right found Ellie-Mae in space. She immediately descended on the goal and found the net with a trade mark thunderbolt strike that the keeper could do nothing about. Not to be outdone in the early stages, Kempston a similar route and were equally successful, their shot from wide left leaving Skye no chance. 1-1.

Stortford's second most likely crossed the line a couple of times - Emily initially unleashed a shot from distance that Kempston's keeper couldn't hold on to. Tia was on hand in the resulting scramble to get a shot on target. If this initial effort didn't cross the line her second attempt did, a header over the defenders on the line that put the initiative back with the visitors.

Tia was denied a second headed goal at the end of a nice passing move, Simi finding Ellie-Mae who crossed in to the box, Tia's header just slipping past the post. Tia's brace however was achieved shortly afterwards when Abigail received the ball just inside the box. Her inventive play found space and then Tia, whose first attempt was saved. Her second attempt wasn't - a left footed strike taking the score to 3-1.

A through ball from Scarlett found Tia who held the ball before up, beat a defender and then bagged her first-half hat-trick with a right foot shot that left no-one in doubt of her fine finishing ability.

Inka secured Stortford's fifth, heading down a ball in from Simi and then slamming home to complete a consumate first half performance from the blues.

A hamstring tweak prevented Faye taking the field for the second half but the rest of the team were in fine fettle and set about dominating Kempston through possession football. It was therefore against the run of play then that Kempston were first to score, a fine finish again leaving Skye with no chance to save.

Scarlett delivered a goal to reward Stortford's dominance, smashing high into the net, before the scoring was completed 9 minutes from the end when Emily arrived late to meet a low and powerful corner from Ellie-Mae and score her first of the season. This was a performance of real quality, in terms of goalscoring, movement off the ball, team work and most of all retention of possession. Well done girls.

Result: won 2-7
Scorers: Tia (3), Ellie-Mae, Inka, Scarlett, Emily
Team: Skye, Simi, Emily (c), Tyler, Louise, Faye, Scarlett, Inka, Ellie-Mae Tia, Hannah
Subs: Abigail

U14 Girls v Enfield Town (Home), League - 8.10.11

A new team provided the opposition this week - Enfield Town - up from the 'big smoke' to sunny North East Hertfordshire and a game in which they and their manager contributed to an entertaining morning at Freidberg Avenue.

In the early exchanges all the danger was coming from Bishops Stortford who started in their usual irrepressible style. Ellie-Mae found the beating of her opposite number early on and made space from a shot from wide on the right. The keeper managed to deal with the initial ball but couldn't hold on, leaving Scarlett to pounce on the loose ball and secure the first goal of the game. 1-0.

Stirred into action by the early deficit, Enfield organised a break, but Tyler was on hand to make an important and committed tackle, clearing the ball and taking a tumble to keep the visitors at bay. Emily was also called into action shortly afterwards, Enfield now aware that it takes something special to breach Bishops Stortford's defences.

The home team blues soon took the opportunity to show Enfield how to do it - Abby working on the right to get in a cross to Scarlett. Her shot was blocked but Tia was on hand to tidy up the rebound and take the score to 2-0.

The third goal was direct and clinical. Skye tidied up a through ball and noticed Ellie-Mae in space on the wing. Her goal kick picked her out and seconds later the score was 3-0, Ellie-Mae streaking up the left flank before cutting in on her right foot and planting the ball powerfully home. 

Stortford's dangerous winger turned provider for the fourth goal, moving up the left before crossing to Abigail who sauntered round the keeper and calmly finished.  4-0.
Second half changes saw Ellie-Mae and Abigail make way for Elly and Hannah who both slotted in to forward positions and take a ring side position to see beautiful interlinking from Stortford's centre midfield pairing - Scarlett dribbled forward and when her direct passage was blocked, laid off to Inka. A first time ball came back and Scarlett finished powerfully to stretch the lead to 5-0 and pick up her second of the game.
Emily made an important intervention to stifle an Enfield attack before Stortford looked to add to their tally. Faye and Tia combined nicely on the right and Simi put in a great ball to Inka whose shot curled temptingly round the right hand upright.
Scarlett took a rest now, Ellie-Mae replacing her in midfield as Enfield managed to put a nice move together down the right that saw a first time finish pulled one back from the visitors. Ellie-Mae nearly responded immediately, a fine header and control setting her up to head into the danger area, her shot producing a good save from Enfield's keeper.
Enfield bagged another goal to make it 5-2 but any possibility of a late rally was put quickly to bed in the closing stages. Inka produced fine footwork to make space in the box and slot home a fine solo effort and Ellie-Mae wrapped up the scoring with her second of the game, Scarlett picking her out on the right, a pass from which she rifled home for her second and a final score line of 7-2.

Result: won 7-2
Scorers: Scarlett (2), Ellie-Mae (2), Tia, Abigail, Inka
Team: Skye, Simi, Faye, Emily (c), Tyler, Scarlett, Inka, Hannah, Ellie-Mae Tia, Abigail, Faye
Subs: Elly, Abby

U14 Girls v Watford Ladies (away), League Cup - 1.10.11

Watford Ladies' ground had a sub-contintental feel as both teams arrived across a carpet of sparkling, dew-drenched grass to a pitch bathed in golden sunshine, the surrounding mature trees ringing to the calls of ring-necked parakeets, the temperature already touching the 20s by the 10 o'clock kick-off time. Beautiful as the indian summer conditions were, they were tough to play in on a big pitch, but the Stortford girls were wily enough to make the ball do the work, passing to team mates in space and moving the ball easily across the park. A few minutes in and the ball was passed back to Simi, supporting an attack from right back. Her dangerous high cross into the area was too much for the defence to deal with as they sought to beat attackers to the ball and it was knocked over the line from a home team foot. 1-0 to the visitors.

The visitors second goal was of great quality, the ball moving swiftly between Inka and Scarlett before being spread out wide to Abby. Her cross picked out Inka who laid off to Scarlett - her ferocious goal bound shot was blocked by a brave defender, but Abigail pounced and knocked home the rebound, 2-0.

It was Faye's turn now to get in on the action after her solid start at left back. Picking the ball up in midfield she played a neat one-two with Scarlett and slammed home for her third goal of the season.

Stortford's midfield pair combined well again for the team's fourth, Inka carrying forward, exchanging passes with Scarlett and then picking her spot high into the net.

A change in personnel brought Ellie-Mae on for Tyler in central defence and Simi on for Abby in midfield as Bishop's Stortford maintained their control of proceedings. Simi made an early impact with a slippery run down the right that earned a corner. Skye stepped up to take it, released from keeping duties for the second half, her cross slipping unmolested over the line for a goal. Not bad for a first touch! 5-0 to the visitors.

The final score fell to Tia, whose tireless running upfront deserved reward, as she touched home a powerful shot from Ellie-Mae who had picked up the ball in midfield and charged in to unleash another powerful strike.

By the end the heat had risen high in the glass and hot, tired bodies ambled back to the cars, another win under the belt and a step forward into the next round of the League Cup

Result: won 0-6
Scorers: OG, Faye, Inka, Abigail, Skye, Tia
Team: Skye, Simi, Ellie-Mae, Emily (c), Tyler, Scarlett, Inka, Elly, Hannah, Abby, Abigail
Subs: Tia, Faye