Under 13 Girls v Newmarket Town - League Cup Final 14.5.11

The penultimate game of the Under 13 Girls' season was a visit to Milton Road, home of Cambridge City FC and hosts of the Cambridgeshire League Cup finals. The Blues faced Newmarket Town who currently lie third in the league, a very creditable position in their first season. That they hold that position with a goal difference of -5 compared to Cambridge and our 120+ tells the story that they make it difficult for opposition teams to score but don't score too many themselves and so it proved, despite our previous 7-1 and 6-0 victories over them this season.

The 'Spoon Army' in full voice

With highly vocal support for both sides the game opened quietly, Newmarket having early possession that Stortford absorbed, before starting to find a rhythm and picking out Ellie-Mae for an early run and cross down the right. Attacks followed with regularity from that point on, the blues looking comfortable in defence with Emily, Tyler and Simi all in sharp form, Scarlett and Inka controlling the midfield, Abigail finding plenty of space wide on the left, Ellie-Mae on the right and Tia running some great lines with quick pace up front.

Newmarket were up for the challenge though and gave their all in defending and breaking up play. Corners came frequently and the Stortford girls went close from many, great heading from Scarlett in particular grazing the cross-bar more than once. Ten or so minutes in what turned out to be the decisive moment in the game came, when Inka rose to meet a long ball forward from Emily. Just inside the area, she took a shove as she rose and the referee immediately blew for a penalty, much to this disappointment of some of the Newmarket support. Inka took responsibility and planted the ball firmly into the bottom left hand corner with an immaculate finish. 1-0 to the blues.

After a series of lung busting runs on the right throughout the first 15 minutes, Ellie-Mae retired for rest and recuperation, Faye taking her position on the wing with the tenacity of a terrier. Chances came and went for Stortford's front five but the Newmarket defence or their brave and in-form keeper denied further goals for the rest of the half and as it turned out, the rest of the match.

Scarlett unleashes a shot that is pushed just round the post

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, most of the play in the Newmarket half. Ellie-Mae returned to the right flank, Elly replacing Abigail for a period on the left later on. Stortford couldn't quite finding the killer final ball or finish, the yellow shirted Newmarket getting a foot in to break up the play, or attempts passing by the posts or cross-bar. That the second goal didn't come made for an exciting game right to the end and the 'well oiled machine' as Newmarket's previous match reports have described us, moved towards securing victory with few scares, save one short period where Skye couldn't grasp a high ball and took a moment or two to clear.

At the finish though, the right team had come away victorious despite Newmarket's best efforts and after match celebrations ran late into the afternoon, briefly at the Green Man(!) and then more extensively at the Red Lion in Hinxton. 

The girls and I were so appreciative of the support they received today, both in terms of volume and number. It was a real honour to run out in front of so many family members, friends and club coaches, to see banners draped in the stands and to hear the chants and cheers for their every move. Another box was ticked in this remarkable season and we can now look forward to its climax next week back at home  at Freidberg Avenue.

Result: won 1-0

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

Subs: Faye, Elly

Scorers: Inka

Under 13 Girls v Newmarket Town (home) - League 2.4.11

 Newmarket Town visited Freidberg Avenue for the first game of April this season and the girls opened in a style that spared no prisoners. Abgail was the first to get a shot away, going close after a nice build up. Next up Emily released Ellie-Mae on the right who forced a corner from her opening run. She delivered the corner beautifully onto Tia's head whose attempt was just an inch or two high. Another ball forward from Emily was blocked with an arm, leaving Emily to open the scoring with a deftly chipped free kick that took range into account, placing it just above the keepers head.
The great form continued, Inka finding Tia with a terrific pass that put Tia through, earning a corner. Ellie-Mae again delivered, but this time Tia headed home to make it two nil to the Blues.
Good defensive work was keeping Newmarket at bay, long balls dealt with comfortably by Skye who scampered out to make booming clearances, or Simi, Tyler or Emily holding their ground or crunching in with tackles.
Time to rotate the playing personnel, Inka and Ellie-Mae making way for Abby and Louise. Simi had a shot saved and Scarlett and Louise quickly getting into a nice passing rhythm, Louise running a lovely overlap that earned Stortford a corner. This was scrambled away for a throw-in which nearly produced a goal for Abby, her looping shot hitting the cross bar.
Ellie-Mae came on for Emily and was soon watching Scarlett making a silky run through the Newmarket team, only to see her shot rise just over the bar. Tia had a shot that followed the same trajectory before turnging provider just before half-time when great passing football eventually saw her find Abigail who smashed home with great composure. 
Half-time changes - Faye, Elly and Inka on for Tia, Louise and Scarlett.
Newmarket were stifled in an early passage of play by Tyler, who then released Faye. Her run took her into the box where a nice pass gave Abigail a chance that went wide. Faye continued her good play with a lovely cross into the box that could only be fumbled behind, though no joy from the corner for the Blues. Louise on for Tyler now who looped a lovely ball into the box a couple of minutes later that was headed away. She was again in the action, breaking up a Newmarket attack, though Skye was called into action to repell another chance a little later. A change of central defender now, Ellie-Mae retiring for Emily to return and the fourth goal greeted the change, Abby breaking away with a great solo run and finish through the keepers legs. 
Another great passing move followed five minutes later, this time Tia finding Inka with the final pass who stroked the ball home for the team's fifth. The last change before the end came when Ellie-Mae replaced Simi who had had another excellent game, before Scarlett capped off another terrific performance in centre-midfield with a stunning strike from 12 yards that flew high into the net for the last goal, again on the back of great passing football. 
A six nil win with 6 different scorers is impressive at any time and with the U13s meeting Newmarket Town again this season in the league cup final on 14th May, a psychological marker has been put down.

Another great job girls - on to the next.

Result: won 6-0

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

Subs: Faye, Louise, Abby, Elly

Scorers: Emily, Tia, Abigail, Abby, Inka, Scarlett

Under 13s v Newmarket Town (away), League - 19.2.11

The soggy Newmarket match report provides permanent testament to
Cathy's reporting efforts, and cold fingers!

Dullingham Polo Club was enveloped in ground level cloud and the air filled with a cold and persistent drizzle as the girls arrived for their first encounter with Newmarket Town, a new team to the league this season. The stiff and biting wind was best combatted by constant movement and the blues made a spritely start, making early use of the large and wide pitch to put the home team under pressure. An early goal came Scarlett's way, stabbing the ball home through a crowded area with the outside of her right boot to make it 1-0. A couple of minutes later and Tia was on the scoresheet, finding the net after consistent Stortford pressure. Five minutes on, Ellie-Mae continued her run of extraordinary goals, flying down the right flank then cutting in and striking home powerfully from a wide angle. In truth the result was already sealed at this early point as Stortford looked in comfortable control, though Newmarket, constantly maintained by a positive stream of encouragement from their coach, battled bravely on, giving their all throughout the game. Reward from the effort came just before the break, a long range and speculative effort wrong footed both Stortford defence and keeper and crawled over the goal-line.

Early second half exchanges saw Tia and Ellie-Mae both go close and Skye make a save, Scarlett thread a beauty of a pass through to Tia whose shot was thwarted, before a corner produced the next goal for the blues. Ellie-Mae crossed to Scarlett who looped a ball goal-wards, nodded home at close range by Tia to make it 4-1 to the visitors. A second headed goal nearly followed, Scarlett providing the chance for Abigail whose effort was grasped by the keeper. 

At the other end a bouncing ball in the Stortford penalty area was struck onto a defender's raised arm, the ref pointing quickly to the spot and Newmarket left eagerly anticipating a second goal. Skye dashed their hopes though, dealing with the powerfully hit spot-kick with a two handed parry over the bar.

Newmarket's spirit had run its course and in the final quarter the play was all in the blues favour, Ellie-Mae, Scarlett, Elly and Faye all going close. A free kick from Emily was parried down into the area, Scarlett quickly pouncing to score her second and the team's fifth. Then, in the final minutes, Tia broached Newmarket's defences twice in quick succession. Her hat-trick was secured when a super ball from Scarlett put her in position to jink into the box and find the net and her fourth coming with almost the last kick of the game, a rebounded ball of a defender falling to her feet for the sweetest of tap-ins.

A fine win in atrocious conditions but a pitch that suited us down to the ground. Oh to play there in spring sunshine and T-shirt warmth!

Result: won 1-7

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

Subs: Elly

Scorers: Tia (4), Scarlett (2), Ellie-Mae