Match Report: U14 08/03/25

WELLESBOURNE 3-3 Leamington Lions U14

POM: Bethany

PPOM: Enaiyah

Captain: Sophie

Goals: Ava, Enaiyah

Wellesbourne 3-3 Leamington Lions

A great morning for football, after weeks of feeling like we were living in a failed underwater experiment, the sun finally made a guest appearance. 😆☀️🌧️

Today Leamington Lions U14s earn a hard-fought 3-3 draw away to Wellesbourne. With every player available for the first time in a while, the squad was at full strength, welcoming back Ava from injury and Willow playing only her second match.

Before kick-off, both teams took a moment to reflect on the events in Kendal with #1Minute4Poppy.

The game began with the sun on our backs, both sides battling for possession, creating opportunities with end to end football. A few minutes in and things started to settle with our defensive line holding off Wellesbourne and Amaia pulling off a couple of saves. Not to be out done once we got the ball into midfield we pushed forward determined to get a goal. But just like us Wellesbourne’s defence stayed strong. The game continued to ebb and flow until Wellesbourne struck on 15 minutes, but the Lions responded well, and in the 24th minute, Enaiyah hit a confident shot across goal, deflecting off a Wellesbourne player to find the net , bringing the score to 1-1.

Leamington started the second half strongly, pressing and pushing Wellesbourne back into their own box and within a few minutes of the half starting, Ava who had been supporting the attack hit a strong shot through several defenders and into the Wellesbourne goal to put the Lions ahead 2-1.

The warm weather meant substitutions were necessary to keep players fresh, and with four on the bench, we had the flexibility to rotate. However, at times, these changes disrupted the team’s tempo, allowing Wellesbourne back into the game.

Wellesbourne equalized again 10 minutes later, but the Lions continued to push forward. Winning several corners and pressing Wellesbourne back towards their goal. Several well-placed corners into the box which just couldn’t find the net and one speculative corner directly from Sophie falling just on the line and cleared around the post. In the 54th minute, our constant pressure was rewarded as Enaiyah again struck and got a second well-earned goal, restoring the lead at 3-2. Despite strong defensive efforts, Wellesbourne found another equalizer late on, resulting in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Special Mentions

⭐ Captain: Sophie – Strong in Defence and almost came away with a goal from a well struck corner

⚽Ava

⚽⚽ Enaiyah

🏆 Parents' Player: Enayiah – A fantastic performance, working hard for the team throughout the match, getting on the scoresheet, and constantly pressing the opposition.

🏆 Manager’s Player: Bethany – Faced tough opponents but defended brilliantly. Almost scored with a looping strike and at times showed great composure under pressure.

Standout Performances:

Amelia – Outstanding defensive effort, covering Wellesbourne’s attacks with tireless running and crucial ball recoveries.

Amaia – Back in goal despite not being 100% fit, making several excellent shot-stopping saves to keep us in the game.

Lilly-Mae – A tireless display in midfield, battling for every ball and helped to keep the team in control.

Willow – Only her second game, but already making an impact, winning key challenges and clearing the ball.

Ava – Full of energy, despite being her first game for several weeks, always running in support and providing attacking options.

Enaiyah - 2 great goals and is always looking for the ball to make an impact on the game.

It was a fantastic team performance full of effort, teamwork, and determination. A game we could have won but in the end a well-earned draw, with plenty of positives to take forward!

Already looking forward to the return fixture on a few weeks’ time!

Next Match Dosthill U14 Away.