Eagles U14 Buzzards Vs GSB F.C. Ladies U11 Dynamos Red

Arnold Eagles under 11 Buzzards v GSB Red 20/6/21

Away to local rivals GSB on a sunny day with a gentle breeze, with the girls looking forward to the game.

Starting line up was – Lacey, Alice, Michele, Ava, Millie, Mala, Evie-Rose

Subs were – Sav, Dobbo and Amarah

The girls started well attacking straight from the kick off. Both teams playing attacking football so it was end to end. Alice and Michele were confident at the back and the midfield trio, Millie, Ava and Mala passing the ball about well. Evie-Rose was chasing everything and linking well with the midfield. Both keepers playing really well and keeping clean sheets by the time 15 minutes were up for the drinks break.

Sav and Dobbo came on to replace Millie and Michele. The play was the same, attacking by both teams. Sav, in only her third game in midfield, growing in confidence, making important tackles and marking well. Dobbo was back to her old self with commanding clearances and strong tackles, supported by Alice who has a great knack for getting important tackles in and getting the ball away to her team mates. On 20 minutes Evie-Rose won a free kick just in the Reds half. Mala, instructed to hit it hard and on target, did just that and it whistled into the bottom– GOOOOOOOAL! What a shot and a real contender for goal of the season! All the girls rushed over to congratulate her.

Within a minute the Reds had equalized with a good bit of football leading to a fierce shot across Lacey and into the bottom of the net. Straight from the kick off the Reds won the ball back raced down the pitch and the striker placed it just wide of Lacey and into the net. Funny old game, as they say. We went straight back at them and the keeper had to make a good save from Evie-Rose. The last couple of minutes before half-time saw chances at both ends, Lacey making two great saves.

Another change at half-time with Millie back on for Sav, Amarah on for Alice and Michele replacing Dobbo. Again, both teams attacking, making for an extremely entertaining game, with plenty of chances being created by both teams. Amarah, in only her third appearance, started in defence alongside Michele and played well in an unfamiliar position with some strong tackles. Later on she was moved to the right side of midfield and had a couple of good runs.

Ava having a terrific game in centre-mid, winning lots of possession and releasing Mala and Evie-Rose but they couldn’t beat the Reds keeper. Lacey was also in the action and stopping everything that came at her. Millie was having a fine game with some good runs, beating players and getting passes away to Mala and Evie-Rose. Another drinks break and that was followed by the final quarter. The Reds were putting the pressure on more but we were defending stubbornly, Michele outstanding in defence and the whole team closing down and tackling like demons. We still made chances but credit to their keeper for frustrating our attacks. The game ended with us on an attack.

The coaches felt it was the best performance of the season with the linking of the play the highlight. When we played the Reds in October, suffering a heavy defeat, it was only our fourth game; today was our fifteenth league game – and what a turnaround!

Player of the Match was Millie, for a typical battling performance in the midfield.