31/01/2026
A rare home game this morning for Coton U16 Girls, having not played at Coton since the start of October. And pressure was on in this cup semi-final, against opponents, Huntingdon, who currently sit third in the league but with games in hand on the teams above.
Huntingdon are a great side, with a good mix of quality, strength, pace, and it’s no surprise they’ve been doing so well this season, but today they came up against our girls in unbelievable form. We dominated this match from start to finish with neat quick short passing and dynamic through balls feeding the speed we now have all across the frontline. Whilst Huntingdon battled hard, it wasn’t long before Amelie picked the ball up high high on the left side and with so much skill, danced round the defenders along the line, skipped the challenges and fired in for 1-0. Seyma was first to everything in midfield, so quick and determined, and her touch brilliant today. Next to her, Tes was in top form, slowing it down and speeding it back up, the right pass every time. Clipped in behind, short for the one-two or recycling to maintain possession. Really good. Lexie in the pocket and playing against her school friends was out to make a point. And make it she did, with pace, skill and an eye for that killer ball. And Grace charging down that right wing at unbelievable speed, cutting in and causing chaos. Shannon up top had so much service today, it was only a matter of time before her goal would come. As we pressed the Huntingdon backline, Amelie nicked the ball high up, and a quick cross for Shannon to take a good first touch and fire in. 2-0. Alice and Elliyah on now. Huntingdon looked to get back in it and Cha was called upon to make one of her trademark blocks, but also her involvement today with our backline in great form, was a joy to watch. There is such a confidence in each other at the back now, and with Kate playing a cameo alongside AJ, we were just sliding that ball back and forth along the backline and back to Cha to lead the distribution. Always out of reach of the Huntingdon press, and always with skill and composure. Bam out wide, Lia out wide. The ball doing the work. And Huntingdon! Annie on now, and Lottie into the middle. Seyma clipped a ball into Amelie’s run and she tucked away it with her left for 3-0. On the bench we were really enjoying the football and didn’t want it to stop when the half time whilst blew.
Second half, and more of the same. Huntingdon were looking up for getting straight back in this game, but Shannon, receiving a difficult pass showed good strength to hold off the midfielder and thread a ball through to Lexie to run in with and coolly finish across the keeper for our 4th. Great work by Lottie on the left, recycled to Kate, interchange with Shannon and finally a Shannon shot from distance for 5-0. Too good. It surely couldn’t continue like this. Could this be our best all round performance ever? Then unfortunately for Tes, who had arguably been our player of the game today, made the right decision to play the ball back to Cha, but not with enough on her pass gave a gift for their striker 5-1. Nothing Cha could do. A good finish mind! Huntingdon heads back up, but not for long. Annie delivered a perfect ball to break the lines and Alice was on her bike, first to the ball, but with a tight angle, selected to chip, and what a goal, up and over the keeper for 6-1! Not long left now, but just enough for Shannon to help Tes feel better, by repeating that mistake, this time from further out, playing the pass back to Cha but so loose and another gift to their striker for 6-2. And that’s how it finished.
Didn’t want it to finish though! The football we are playing is awesome. Everyone looking to be involved, with a confidence on the ball, moving it quickly and with some cracking goals scattered throughout. The girls fully deserve their place in the final next month. Please come along to support them 👍⚽️
