Another nail-bitingly brilliant performance from our Under 15 girls football squad saw them dig deep and stay strong.
Preparations for the game were excellent, and after getting in behind their defence a number of times, early pressure forced mistakes from the FitzWimarc girls so an own goal put us quickly 1-0 up. FitzWimarc kept their heads and started to gain some space but Taya with Roxy marshalled the defence and alongside Ava and Maisie kept them to longer range efforts which Aaliyah comfortably coped with in goal. Play swung both ways but our girls always looked more threatening, especially out wide with Ellen and Jas pushing up in support at half time we were leading 1-0.
We started to control the match and after a number of corners and near misses Roxy found Taya at the far post for her to header home. 2-0. FitzWimarc didn’t seem to cause any problems and all attacks were dealt with and it only looked like we would be the team getting the third goal. A sublime pass from Claudia found Sadie who was one-on-one with the goalkeeper after a well-timed run and with a cool head, slotted it neatly past the oncoming keeper to put the us 3-0 up.
The second half saw something of a come-back by Fitzmarc. The game had swung and they seemed to have more time on the ball so with a thumping shot that dipped and skidded in front of our keeper made it 3-2. A last minute corner came in and the Fitzmarc girl headed the ball back across to an empty spot and made it 3-3 to take us to extra-time.
The girls were so deflated, but we had to pick ourselves up and go again. With 10 minutes each way of extra pressurised football – how would we react? The start of extra time couldn’t have gone any better. Their goalkeeper came out, but the clearance was quickly controlled by Mia and she swiftly struck a screamer from 35 yards to sail over the hastily retreating defence and in to the vacant net. 4-3 to us. We didn’t have it all our own way at 4-3 but our girls created chances and battled to keep them out with a wonder save from Aaliyah to keep it 4-3.
We look forward to a National Final against South Hunsley School from East Riding at The Hawthorns the home of West Brom. To our Eggbuckland girls – you have been outstanding. Now you can prove that you are the best in country - bring on the final!