Match Report: U11RA 05/04/25

leamington lions U11RA 2 - 3 Lillington Wildcats u11

Captain: Lily

Goalie: Freya

POM: Chesca

Goals: Chesca '48, '52

After the girls successful run through the group stage, they today faced perennial league titans Lillington Wildcats in the quarter final of the cup. The girls were well prepped having spent the week gently teasing tactical information out of their opposition schoolmates 😂 and approached the game this morning in a determined manner, with a number of players proactive in making strong suggestions and volunteering to pick up the trickiest tasks. This was exemplified by Freya who volunteered to go in goal for the day, picking up the challenge of stepping into Jessie's shoes. Great team spirit also shown by Lyra who turned up to show off her war wound and very vocally/visibly support her teammates. 👏🏻🦁

The girls started off well, driving into the oppo half, only for the opposition to show their cards early, picking it up the ball off our attack, and finding their #7 who steamrollered down half the pitch and slotted it home. 👏🏻

A marginally stunned team reset and got on with things quickly, playing out a widely contested sequence of play where the Belle and Mia were both unlucky not to capitalise on creative play by Rosie in the middle. The opposition began to ramp up the pressure and after Freya dealt with an oppo shot from their #10 they came straight back via their #7 who managed to carve her way through for a second goal. The girls were themselves creating chances with Orly whipping in a free kick after some good attacking moves. However the opposition kept at it, a key tackle from Rosie temporarily stopped them, but only a couple of minutes later the oppo #7 again headed straight for goal to claim her hat trick 👏🏻

3 nil halftime.

The girls had an ace up the sleeve in the form of Director of Football, Terry. They received a motivating, concise and insightful half time talk, noting the dimension deployed by the oppo to score and ways to counter it.

The girls went out newly determined and started creating greater pressure on the opposition, with Lily, Belle and Mia all getting shots off only to be denied by the oppo goalie. The girls were doing a better job of nullifying the oppos very talented 7/10 combination but Freya was still called on to tidy up at the back a few times when the opposition threatened goal. At the other end Orly tested the opposition goalie on several occasions but unable to get it past her.

With 15 minutes left the opposition changed goalies as part of their rotation. We shifted to 2 upfront and the whole front 4 were asked to take advantage of the oppo transition, ramp up the pressure and shoot on sight. 💪🏻

The whole team started to build pressure but no more so than Chesca. A classic strikers performance, relatively quiet by her standards at the start of the game, at the first sniff of a goal she suddenly burst into full flame, played through by Immy she hurtled into the oppo half, brushed off her marker and calmly slotted it home. ⚽👏🏻

Sensing the classic 'change in momentum' happening the girls repeatedly hammered the opposition goal, utilising Chesca and Belles pace and directness to great effect.

The game was still wide open, with the oppo #10 managing to get into space and launch a screamer at the goal that Freya managed to palm away. The girls quickly countered, Orly finding Chesca who elegantly repeated her trick from a couple of minutes earlier, this time under greater pressure, but still the same result ⚽👏🏻

With the opposition now firmly on the back foot the girls made their final effort to try and break even, with Chesca in particular very active in front of goal hunting for a hat trick but the opposition defense managed to hold firm into about the 65th minute of play (despite the girls throwing the kitchen sink at them numberswise) before the final whistle closed out a classic cup tie.

Very proud of all the girls efforts during their cup run, some lovely passing play on display, great maturity and determination plus some fabulous teamwork. 👏🏻🦁

Captains Nominations

Some tough choices for Lily today, but solid conclusions on nominations and award 👏🏻

Defence.

Great work in goal by Freya, some great teamwork in defense with Lily, Orly, and Emmy all providing solid work, some excellent work at RB by Rosie, Z immense as always but Immy was pivotal in leading the team today and we are all very proud of her play and attitude. 👏🏻

Midfield.

So much energy on display in midfield, Orly, Emmy, Rosie, Lily, and Mia all working hard to create opportunities through the teams passing play but Belle was on top form, great work rate and creatively 👏🏻.

Attack.

Some lovely play from Orly, as usual a creative hub and a threat in front of goal but hats off to Chesca, 2 lovely strikers goals today to nicely round out her average to a goal a game during the entire cup run 👏🏻⚽⚽

Always appreciative of a good goal, Lily picked Chesca - well deserved, great play Chesca. 👏🏻🏆

Thanks for everyone's help volunteering today, much appreciated

Go 🦁