12/09/2026
💛🖤 SANDOWN SPITFIRES U13’S OPENING GAME OF THE SEASON! 🖤💛
Today we welcomed Vectis to our new pitch for our opening game of the season. IOW Girls Football League
Finally, a chance to see if all the hard work the girls have put in throughout pre-season would pay off — and the opening 15 minutes was a very even contest.
After a bit of pressure, Pru followed up her own shot and calmly converted the rebound to put us 1-0 up! ⚽️
Vectis then came back at us all guns blazing, creating 3 or 4 chances. One attempt from just inside our box found the near post, leaving debutant goalkeeper Chloe with very little chance. From there until half-time it was another evenly matched battle, with the score 1-1 at the break.
After a really positive team talk, the Sandown girls came out flying! 🚀
Within the first 10 minutes we must have had 6+ shots — some saved, others just missing the target. But our relentless pressure finally paid off.
Sarina struck a great shot from distance which was parried wide. She immediately got her head up, delivered a fantastic cross into the box and Olivia expertly chested it down before volleying into the far corner! 🤩
Sandown 2-1 up! 💛🖤
The rest of the game saw a few changes, with Bella trying midfield for the first time and working incredibly hard, winning tackles and driving the ball forward towards Lexie, Sarina, Bea, Olivia and Daisy, with another 5+ chances flying over the bar!
The final whistle went with the hosts securing a 2-1 victory — and what a performance it was.
The coaches recognised this as one of the best collective performances we’ve ever seen from this group. 👏
A special shout-out to Amber, playing her first competitive game for the club, and also a shout out to Captain Bea — both their voices were ever-present and their work rate matched it perfectly. 💪
And our entire defence of Leah, Rosie and Maya were absolutely unbreakable for 90% of the game. 🧱
