BSFC Girls U14 v Bury Rangers (home), Herts County Cup semi-final - 25.2.12

The U14 Girls reached their first Herts County Cup final after winning a thrilling semi against Bury Rangers. Leading 2-1 through two Inka Pearson goals, Bury equalised in the last five minutes to take the game to extra time. Inka scored again, only for Bury to draw level with virtually the last kick of the game. Both teams scored 4 of their first 5 penalties (Emily Tranter, Ellie-Mae Garrett, Scarlett Archer, Inka Pearson), taking it to sudden death, before goalkeeper Skye Wilkinson, who had had an amazing game making a number of critical and brave saves, first saved and then scored from her spot kick to take the victory. This had been an immense performance from the whole playing squad and books a date at the County Ground, Letchworth Garden City in the final against Garston Ladies.

Scorers: Inka (3)
Penalties: Emily, Ellie-Mae, Scarlett, Inka, Skye.
Team: Skye, Emily (c), Tyler, Louise, Simi, Abigail, Ellie-Mae, Scarlett, Abby, Inka, Tia, Faye, Hannah, Elly.

U13s v Garston Ladies, Herts County Cup SF (away) - 16.01.11

Report to follow

Result: Lost 4-2
Team: Skye, Louise, Tyler, Emily, Simi, Ellie-Mae, Scarlett, Faye, Inka, Abigail, Tia
Subs: Lauren
Scorers: Inka, Ellie-Mae

U13s v Stevenage Borough, Herts County Cup (away) - 31.10.10

Moist air and eyes surrounded the team as they assembled in Stevenage for the next round of the Herts County Cup and a minute of silence before kick-off was observed in tribute to dear Malcolm, who will long be missed from our touchline.
Eleven a side was the format on a pitch that was a little undersized for the number of players, making for a compacted game in slippy conditions. However it clearly suited the girls, who all contributed to an excellent team performance. A strong opening from the visitors and the first goal came after five minutes, Inka firing home from a pass from Scarlett. Stevenage battled back but the four player backline of Louise, Tyler, Emily and Lauren were equal to everything, putting in fine tackles, Skye only occasionally called into action to make a save.
Midway through the half and Elly and Faye replaced Simi and Abigail, just in time to be part of the team's next score, Scarlett shooting home from the edge of the area. Abby was providing width on the right and good passing was stretching the play as much as possible, allowing the fleet footed winger to send in a series of good crosses. Goal three though came from a set piece, Emily's corner finding Tia who passed to Scarlett who picked up her second of the game.
Half time and Simi now came back on for Abby on the wing making some threatening runs throughout the half. After further chances fell to the blues, Skye pulled off a great save to deny Stevenage who were not completely stifled from the game, their occasional breaks keeping things competitive. Lauren and Tia were replaced by Abby and Abigail as the game went into the final quarter and time for a peach from Inka, cutting in from the wing and picking her spot in the corner. Stevenage didn't give up and earned a corner shortly after, then sent in a strike that though Skye got a hand to, couldn't keep out. 4-1 to the visitors.
Into the closing minutes and Scarlett looked to complete her hat-trick after a great midfield display. She hit the post with one attempt but finally got her third and the team's fifth with a classy finish from a pass from Abby, following Inka's corner.

Result: Won 1-5
Team: Skye, Louise, Tyler, Emily, Lauren, Simi, Abigail, Scarlett, Inka, Abby, Tia
Subs: Faye, Elly
Scorers: Inka (2), Scarlett (3)

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