Hollyfields 2 - 0 U11RA Lions
Captain: Chesca
Goalie: Jess
POM: Jess
Thanks to everyone for getting over to Birmingham this morning for an early start. Not a bad day for it, Will brightly declared it the first day of spring as we warmed up 🌻, and Hollyfields strictly managed grass held up very well for the occasion. Thanks to our opponents for hosting. We sadly we had no Jessie in goal due to injury but as this was a non-league friendly we were very lucky to welcome Joss from our sister team (thanks for the loan Donna!) who came in as goalie for the day. 🦁
The girls had a tough game against Hollyfields only a few weeks ago, while we won three nil, under the hood it was actually a pretty hard game - which is why we were quite eager to have another game against them soon. Especially with the group stage of the spring cup starting weekly from this Saturday coming.
And a tough old game is what the girls got. The opposition were obviously looking to get a result after the last game and a close stalemate is how I'd describe large parts of the game, with a lot of the game contested in midfield and both teams showing attacking intent down the wings and through the middle. Despite the score the game was in the balance for the duration, so a few lessons to learn/remember off the back of it.
The girls were put under pressure on the ball from the off but were still managing to string together attacking moves. However they couldn't quite get the right contact or control on the ball at the decisive moment with Immy (twice), Rosie, Freya, Lily (twice) and Orly all getting into good positions to strike but not coming away with a goal. In contrast the opposition had slightly less opportunities but managed to use 2 of them to get a decisive lead, one in each half. As the game wound down, and spurred on by a formation rejig the girls went down fighting, with Belle, Mia and then Belle again all being found in the last few minutes by a determinedly pressing team but both girls were sadly unable to covert (that would been a heck of a turn around😂). So high marks for resilience, good marks at the end for intensity and some good work on creative play. 👏🏻🦁
Captain's Nominations
Another great display from Chesca today, a versatile player, Chesca did skillful work on both wings (always a threat in attack) and some sterling work at RB. Always amusing to watch a big oppo attacker think they might be able to get in goal with her marking them, only for them to find out she's both very fast and shockingly strong for such a petit lady. 👏🏻🦁
Defence. The girls did a good job against a strong opposition, with Hollyfield using all channels to try and get at goal. Some energetic work required with Zariah, Lily, Freya, Emmy, Immy and Chesca working well as a team. However as I started to ramble through the list of the days defenders Chesca quickly jumped in with one word Joss. Rapidly growing in confidence, today's #1 was decisive with her penalty box management, quick to pounce when needed, made 3 great saves and (my favourite) did some great distribution from the back. A safe set of hands at the back.🧤👏🏻
Midfield. Lots of contested ball and the need for quick passes across the middle made it a hard shift all round in the midfield. But the girls fitness, strength and determination were key as they kept at it, even when they went behind. Belle was working box to box all game, going shoulder to shoulder with much bigger girls but never giving an inch and unlucky not to score at end. 👏🏻
Attack. When you are playing a team of big Birmingham girls I would recommend having Lyra with you. After being bumped over in an early encounter Lyra was obviously not going to let it happen again, merrily throwing herself into everything in her path and not letting the opposition have a second on the ball. Defence starts in attack indeed 💪🏻👏🏻
🏆 Chesca obviously had an agenda from the start, as she very quickly opted for Joss in her conclusion. Great work from Joss in goal and very appreciated by the whole team and especially our back up goalie squad 🦁🦁
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