17/01/2024
Coach Gav's match report for our awesome U14 Blues
*Pontefract Collieries Blues 2 – 2 West End Terriers (Pens 4-5)*
_A fantastic cup tie ends in heartbreak for the Blues after a penalty shoot out defeat to West End Terriers._
Beechnut offered a cold and muddy venue for this League Cup fixture between the two top teams so far in the league this season. It was the visitors who started much the better side, controlling much of the ball, but the Blues back line of Liv, Martha and Ila defended the box well restricting West End to a number of long range efforts. It took until 13’ for one to pay off, a long range shot looping just over Emme for a deserved lead and after 23’ West End made the score 0-2 with another long range shot that Emme again had no chance with.
The score line could have been worse but for some fine saves in net from the brilliant Emme and some excellent cover defending. At the other end, chances for the hosts were limited and they struggled to impose their usual dominance. A big ball and all tackle from Lexi late in the half reminded West End that the Blues were still in this game.
The second half was a completely different game, the Blues sparked into life, closing the spaces to the opposition with pace and aggression and it didn’t take long to pay off. After 38’ Lexi won the ball in her own half, played a long pass to Anna over the top who broke clear of the West End defence to fire a shot towards the goal, hitting the post. Anna’s rebound effort was superbly defended but the Blues were not to be denied with Poppy timing her follow up expertly and firing low into the corner to make it 1-2.
Spirits were high, Teegan was now in full control of the middle of the park with Lexi and Erin, the width and aggression in defence provided by combinations of Freya, Bella, Ila and Olive was now causing problems. The defence of Martha, Liv and Maya were now first to the ball and dealt comfortably with the West End attack. Anna battled hard up front against a physical back line and after ’44 the pressure paid off, Anna pressing the opposition deep in their own half, the ball eventually breaking loose to Freya to fire calmy into the bottom left corner, 2-2.
The accidental awarding and then denying of a penalty to the hosts soon added to the drama and confusion, the tackles were now flying in from both sides and there were chances at both ends. Emme made several acrobatic saves and was superbly assisted by the woodwork a couple of times late on, but there was to be no winner in normal time of this frantic and entertaining cup tie.
Teegan, Olive, Anna, Freya and Liv bravely stepped forward for the Blues scoring an impressive 4 of 5 penalties, but the opposition took 5 excellent penalties of their own and heartbreakingly march on to the next round of the cup at the expense of the Blues.
Player of the match today goes to Teegan for a tireless and strong performance in the middle, Emme was unbelievable in goal making a number of outstanding saves and could do nothing about the two long range goals in the first half.
The girls can be proud of how they raised their games in the second half, individually and collectively, to deservedly take the tie to penalties when all looked lost at half time. They can take that forward into next week's big game when these two teams reunite in the League.
*Minute Goal Assist*
38’ Poppy Anna
44’ Freya Anna
