U16 Girls - Lucy's legs 'n' lungs land her MVP

Well, we knew from the start that it was going to be a tough match. We were down to the bare minimum in terms of numbers against one of the top clubs in the league.

I had high hopes that the change in the team dynamic and the good work that everyone had put in at training would have been enough for us to play to the standard we achieved against Blandford at the start of the season but unfortunately it all came apart at the seams and the final result of 11-0 was a difficult one to swallow.

However, when I reflect on it the match I have to say there were some very good individual performances and more importantly the whole team kept working hard all through the match and encouraging each other on. That to me was the high point of the game as it’s easy to be smug and comfortable when things are going well but it’s really, really difficult to stay positive and determined when they’re not.

At times we played some good quality pass and move football but unfortunately we just couldn’t get ball far enough forward (with accuracy) often enough for any of the forwards or midfielders to do any demolition work.

Despite the rather disappointing result (yes it’s true I am a master of the understatement) everyone worked hard and at the end there were a two candidates for the MVP award. Rachael was nominated for her outstanding defensive runs (without her brilliant pace and commitment in tackles things could have been even worse) but she was just pipped by Lucy who had worked tirelessly from the first to last whistle not only with her feet but also by actively encouraging the team, making some good decisions and showing gritty determination. Well done Lucy!

We now have 6 matches to cram into the next 5 weeks and it’s going to be a demanding schedule that’s not going to be assisted by ski trips, holiday, school stuff and the good old Duke of Edinburgh himself! But we’ll be there for every game and give it our very best shot!!

Next match is Poole Town Youth in out first Wednesday night fixture.

Photo above courtesy of Emily K.

U16 girls. 12 hannahnother,hannahnother,hannahnother, hannahnother makes 16

This week’s match was a mixture of pleasure and pain (quite literally for some) as we beat the Terras 8-1.

At the very start of the game despite the team being in great spirits it looked a little untidy with too many random punts up the field for my liking. However it was thanks to one of these punts that after 4.04 Rachael scored out first goal with a superb strike into the bottom corner, excellent work.

I think this bought the game back into focus and the quality of the passing and thinking improved no end. Everyone was playing their parts well and forced the play into the opposition’s half for most of the time. During this time Hannah had been working out how to meet the personal objective I set her at the start of the game and polished up her shooting boots. With the help of some great through balls (Daisy and Emily as I recall) as well as an exceptional cross from Kat she got her name on the score sheet at 15.25, 17.06 and 18.54 with some clean, well aimed and powerful shots!! Another hatrick for Hannah!

The match raced ahead and once again Kat showed us her increasingly brilliant striking skills by bursting through the defence and slotting home our 5th with the time at 20.15.

Unfortunately it was about now that Rhea picked up a thigh strain which (unfortunately) put her on the side line but (fortunately) put Cookie on the pitch as her replacement.

It was also sometime around now that Jaggi came so close to scoring from a set piece we practiced in training, it was totally brilliant to see and I’m sure that before the end of the season you’ll do it Jaggi (I can’t describe what she did here cos there might be spies reading it J)

Meanwhile Hannah had been polishing her boots again.

With the clock counting down to the half time whistle she intercepted a well delivered through ball (I can’t recall who sent this one on its way but THANKS) and parked it squarely in the net. My watch told me it was 31.48 and time was running out for us to add any more to the score-line, or so I thought.

Shortly after the Terras kicked off following Hannah’s goal we won a corner and Emily stepped up to take it. With her usual style she delivered an inch perfect corner right into the middle of the 6 yard box and close to the line. This time it wasn’t Hannah or Kat or Rach who got their shooting boots to the ball but…….Cookie who scored her first goal for the team 38.15 into the first half! Congratulations Cookie!

The whistle blew and everyone enjoyed a well deserved breather.

The second half started full of promise but really didn’t live up to the standard of the first half. This time the Terras bought the game to us and we spent too much time in our own half of the pitch. However, there were some good interceptions, determined tackles and defensive runs and once again everyone played their positions well.

On the pitch Daisy was enjoying the match and clearly liked the idea of shiny boots. After giving them a bit of a polish she decided to get them muddy again by connecting with the ball and slamming it into the back of the net scoring her first goal for the club too! Congratulations Daisy!

This one went in at 50.32 and from then on it was much more to and fro with the Terras keeping up a really good pace and testing our defence at regular intervals but Crizza, Ro, Liverrr, Jaggi and Lydi worked as cohesive unit to shut down their attacks.

But it was in the last few minutes of the game that the pain of the injuries we had sustained turned to agony for Emily who took a really unlucky tumble. Fortunately, after a lengthy wait at A & E it turns out that it’s a nasty sprain rather than a break but it will mean she’ll have to rest it for a few weeks to give it time to heal.

Thanks to everyone who helped us to get her off to hospital and also thanks to Rhea who volunteered to go back on despite her own injury.

After play resumed the Terras turned put together a good attack and were rewarded with a goal from a well hit, low shot that found its way into the net.

Shortly after that the final whistle blew and by a unanimous decision Hannah got MVP and now has 16 goals to her name.

We now have 15 points and a healthier goal difference which is going to be very important as our trip up the table gains more momentum. Well done team!

We now have a couple of weeks to rest, relax and heal all those injuries (Ro, Crizza, Rhea, Rach, Emily and anyone else I've missed) before our game against Parkstone Heights.

U16 Girls - Happy Dayze

Happy Dayze!

Our season took an unexpected turn for the better on 28 February when, for the first time in the 4 year history of the squad, we beat Dorchester! So, just like the match against Poole Town Wessex history was made and with such great style too as we beat them 5-2.

I noticed that after having a team night out on Friday everyone was in great spirits and with this in mind I made an offer of another night out at my expense if we won…..talk about opening your mouth and putting both feet in it!

The game started well and unusually was well balanced with possession being split around 50/50. There was good work going on all round and the defence (playing deeper than usual) did a great job of working the offside trap, midfield got stuck in and showed their dedication to winning night out I'd promised. Our forwards, as ever, were looking for scoring opportunities and found a few in the early minutes which didn’t quite make it.

It became obvious that the essential ingredient we need to make the difference between winning and losing was definitely there and as we rushed up to half time the team was clearly in control of the game.

Just as Shelly and I were getting the water bottles ready for the half time break Hannah broke through Dorchester’s defence and had an attempt at goal. They tried to save it but no luck on this occasion, Hannah had put us 1-0 up!. The time on the clock was 39.30…only 30 second to the whistle, what a great place to be.

Some excellent input from the team during the break supported a few tactical changes and ensured we stayed fired up for the second half.

From the whistle we were all over Dorchester (who by this time looked a bit bewildered) and 8.51 minutes in to the half Kat once again proved her skill as a striker blasting the ball past the keeper to bring us 2-0 up.

Dorchester responded with their first goal 7 minutes later and shortened our lead to 2-1.

Seven minutes after that we were awarded a penalty for handball and Emily stepped up to take it.

Despite the pressure of the moment she deliver a low, powerful shot right into the bottom right hand corner of the net leaving their goalie standing – text book perfect! Now we were 3-1 up.

Unfortunately our buffer of 2 goals was short lived as Dorchester replied with a well hit shot that just squeezed by Daisy (Dayze) who had stepped in to replace Lydia. Now it was 3-2 and I was beginning to chew my finger nails down to the elbow.

I was now becoming concerned that the game could slip away but I was wrong as after another 10 minutes (at 77.22) Hannah once again ran like the wind down the left wing and delivered a convincing strike that their keeper had no chance of stopping…we were 4-2 up with only 3 minutes to go. Shortly after this she had another goal disallowed for an offside infringement (despite having stopped in order to cancel this out).

A couple of injuries kept the clock ticking but once everyone was back on their feet it continued at high pace and by now we had most of the possession. The icing on the cake came at 81.39 when Rach beat a number of players in a goal mouth scramble and slotted the ball in the net………5-2

The final whistle blew.

On reflection I think this was an exceptional effort all round with every single member of the team playing their parts really well. Match reports, quite naturally, tend to centre on the goals that we scored but that’s only part of the picture. Without good quality through balls, strong defending, good communication, team work and off- the-ball runs we wouldn’t get near the opposition’s goal. So congratulations to all of you on a job well done and a great match to watch.

Our journey to the middle of the table is now very much back on and if we can keep up this standard of play and enjoy that magic ingredient we’ll get there sooner than expected.

As already mentioned, Dayze volunteered to be our goalie as Lydi was away and earned the respect of everyone for not only doing this but also for doing a great job. The most impressive save involving a well hit, dipping shot that she tipped over the bar. As a result she was unanimously voted this week’s MVP – happy Dayze indeed.

I'm yet to hear fom the team as to where I'm buying them the next night out but I'm sure I will!

Next week Weymouth Terras