Match Report: U11RA 15/03/25

Knowle Swifts 1 - 2 leamington lions U11RA

Captain: Freya

Goalie: Jessie

POM: Belle

Goals: Chesca '4, Belle '20

Another chilly but sunny day for football and the improving overall weather gave the girls a much firmer pitch to play on (home team coach said it was the first time it was really playable in many weeks which sounds familiar😂).

Very pleased to see a very bright and alert warm up from the girls, after a few slow starts and subpar results recently we have got the girls to focus on prep and other fundamentals to help them remain on track.

I think this showed with the girls having a strong start, going ahead after only a few minutes - with Orly playing Chesca through, who honed straight in on goal and smartly placed it past the keeper. ⚽👏🏻

The girls continued to build momentum with Chesca returning the complement to Orly just a minute later, only for our #10 to be denied by the keeper and Rosie was then unlucky not to capitalise on the keepers loose distribution.

However the girls were overcommitted numbers-wise in their enthusiasm. Knowle's fast front three picked up a long ball in our half and hurtled down the pitch, sliced a pass through our defence and found the back of our net. 👏🏻

Knowle maintained pressure for a few minutes as the two teams dualed for possessional dominance. Orly found Belle in space but our #11 couldn't quite get her shot squared - but only 30 seconds later Jessie was making a fine save at the other end. 😅

Gradually the girls began to gain control over the game. With space opening up on the wings, Belle became increasingly influential, with the girls feeding her down the left and Belle using her pace and skills to pin back the opposition. She was unlucky not to score after driving straight at goal, then again after being set up by Chesca but on the third attempt she didn't leave any doubt, beating her marker and decisively thumping the ball past the goalie. ⚽👏🏻

The girls didn't want to leave it with a one goal lead and did their best to increase it before half time. The opposition keeper had a say in that, saving from close quarters from a good Lyra shot and then somehow managing to fingertip away a lovely 20 yard strike from Orly. Obviously having warmed up her feet, and with time running out of the clock, Orly launched another 20 yard screamer which pinged off the crossbar. 🔥

2-1 half time. Emphasis on passing game, remaining compact and, you know, scoring more to seal the deal without getting caught out and back on they went!

The girls went at it again in the second half, producing a procession of opportunities for the first 10 minutes of the half... but no goal, with Lyra (twice) and Belle all unlucky not to extend the lead.

After failing to score the girls began to lose a bit of momentum, allowing the oppo to get in on our goal a couple of times - only to be stopped by the ever reliable Jessie in goal and then by some very decisive tackling by Lily. 🧤+💪🏻 👏🏻

The girls weren't done yet, and dug in. Lyra was obviously determined to try and score, firstly getting behind the oppo defence but unable to get her shot past the keeper and unlucky on another occasion to be deemed to have infringed on the goalie whilst she was in the middle of merrily smashing the ball into the back of the net. Refs decision is final. While disappointed Lyra kept at it and the girls finished the game with Lyra launching a final stylish attempt at goal but the score remained at 2-1. Well done to the girls 🤩

Captains Nominations:

Well done to Freya for another very reliable game in defence, winning ball and systematically threading it up the left channel - plus pound for pound easily the loudest girl on the pitch😂👍🏻

Defence

Tough to select, with Jessie, Immy, Zariah, Chesca and Emmy providing great work alongside Freya, but Lily's strength and decisiveness were crucial at certain points and kept the girls ahead 👏🏻

Midfield

Great work on middle, Chesca involved in a lot of the most creative work today, Emmy providing her usual robust presence, Orly driving play all day, and Rosie rampantly enjoying trying out the CAM role, but Belle terrorised the oppo defence all day, either meaning they resorted to backing off her or - when they realise that was football suicide - triple team tackling her allowing her to release team mates. 👏🏻

Attack

Another goal for Chesca to add to the tally. Great work from Rosie leading the line in the first half before going deeper to drive play. Orly and Lyra both so unlucky not to get a goal, with Orly launching some spectacular strikes and Lyra would have got a hat trick or more on another day 👏🏻

Well worth ⁨Dave Perry⁩ rapidly driving across at I am sure legal speeds after being spectaculary let down by somebody on the logistics front (sorry Dave!😂). Well done Belle a brilliant effort today.

Go 🦁