The growth of this team over the past two weeks has been remarkable. Their willingness to listen and to work hard has resulted in significant improvement on an individual and team level. With a solid win against Akeley U14As and a very good practice match on Friday against our own A team, there was confidence as we came into our block fixture against St Edward’s Oxford. Yet again we found ourselves playing against an 14As side, but it turned out to be the breakout performance that the girls had been promising.
From the first whistle the Stowe girls were on the attack. Some changes to our midfield set up enabled Katie to push forward and instantly we looked dangerous and fast through the midfield. Tash and Whistley rotated in the CM position, and were it not for their dogged tackling and determined defensive running, Katie and Kitty wouldn’t have been able to push forward and press the Teddies defence. After 10 minutes Katie drew the short-corner, which was expertly executed by Kitty and Molly to set Willow up. A firm sweep of the ball into the bottom corner and Stowe were 1-0 up.
Good teams set up their attack from defence, and once again the aggressive press by our defenders was key to our forwards and mids finding space to run (which is always when we look dangerous). Sofia and Lucy (on loan from the As this week!) controlled the middle together and the increased talk between them was indicative of their growing team-within-a-team mentality. Isabella and Isla were excellent in sending the ball quickly and accurately up into space, with Isla in particular playing her best match as she stepped-up to take free hits as far as the 25. Matilda continues to prove herself extremely reliable, and her deft tackling at just the right moment (along with Whistley, Lucy and Tash) clearly frustrated the Teddies girls. When they eventually did make it through our defence, they were confronted by Taryn who kept yet another clean sheet.
Our forwards have worked hard in every match, but today it all seemed to click. Luna on the right, Willow on the left and Mollie in the middle all created opportunities in their own ways. It was great to see us draw 4 short corners today, and score from 3 of them! Luna and Willow found space and the bottom corner each time, earning Willow a well deserved hattrick. Georgie worked hard to create space but like Willow in previous weeks, didn’t necessarily get the rewards for her work.
This was a great all round performance. We didn’t have any passengers today, though we still have more improvements to make. Post half term we will face tough matches against Rugby and Bromsgrove (both away). Another challenge … and another opportunity to improve.
Rev Righetti