U16G If Only......

You get more drama with the U16 Girls than watching a whole week's episodes of Eastenders, Coronation Street and Casualty all at once. No only were the team forced to start with 9 players due to injury and prior engagements, our usual manager could not make the match for personal reasons. A new manager was headhunted from the myriads of capable candidates and Em's dad accepted the temporary post and even declined the golden handshake, performance bonus and retainer usually snapped up by new coaching staff. This was a Wednesday evening kick-off as we now had to catch up on the matches lost to bad weather earlier in the season (something we seem to do every year!).

The pre-match huddle was used to remind the team that they are all good players and with a bit of luck could hold a draw or even win. Poole Town Youth were just above us in the table and so we were not expecting an anihilation. A safe 3-3-2 formation was chosen to give a strong defence and as the shadows grew longer on the grass, we kicked off at 6pm.

The defensive formation was well chosen and the team controlled well in their half, but lacked the numbers to carry the ball through from the halfway line to score. It continuted for 17 minutes of valiant effort until a corner against us left a couple of our players (who shall remain nameless) in space, together, on the goal line, with the ball at their feet. Panic set in, they stared at each other, one kicked it at the other, whom it bounced off and flopped into our net. Mental note: must get the players to communicate.

The first half finished 3-0 down, most probably due to our depleted number. But it was ONLY 3 goals! And everyone came off knowing they had done their best, running their socks off.

Lucy's fresh pair of legs put us up to 10 players for the second half and PTY struggled to score only 2 more goals against us, again probably due to unforced errors. These were in minutes 5 and 7 so for 33 minutes, 10 exhausted players held PTY at bay. The tired legs also started to hinder finishing off any of our attacks with accurate shots at the goal.

I was extremely proud of the effort the team put in both halves, and the "Running the Socks Off Award of the Week" is shared by Rhea, Rachael, Kathryn, Liv and Clarissa. These midfield players covered more ground than the rest of PTY did all match, sometimes covering defence and attack at the same time. However, Most Valuable Player goes to the defender who stifled PTY attacks many times, (one by blocking a pass with her cheek - ouch) and once by allowing herself to be brought down to gain a free kick. Clarissa was always there as the last defender and is always invaluable to the team in reducing the number of balls getting to Lydia.

The match sequence and final result has been seen too many times before. If only they had enough subs to rest the tired legs. If only they could transfer the excellent football into goals. They can play like the top team in the league for 10 minutes each match. If only they could keep hold of that magic that will let them play like that for the whole match.

After the final whistle, several of the managers of PTY were kind enough to compliment the U16s on how well they played and say how all of the girls had superior technical abilities. My only hope is that they come to realise how good they are and channel that self belief into winning games for the rest of the season and in the summer tournaments.

Lawrence