Arnold Eagles under 11 Buzzards v Nottingham Youth 27/6/21

Our last game of the season and our final one at 7 a side was against another new team, Nottingham Youth.

Starting line up was – Lacey, Dobbo, Michele, Ava, Grace, Mala and Evie-RoseEvie-Rose

Subs were – Sav, Alice, Millie, Amarah, Violet and Mossy

The girls started well attacking straight from the kick off. Both teams playing attacking football so it was end to end. Dobbo, clearing an early attack with a huge pass into midfield, and Michele were confident at the back and the midfield trio, Grace, 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, Alice and Millie on for Mala, Alice and Grace. 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. Millie was busy making tackles, blocking passes and finding Evie-Rose every time.

Alice, strong at the back, passing wide and centrally and clearing balls out of danger. We haven’t mentioned Lacey yet and she was a having great game, catching a couple of high shots and diving at players feet when required.

Approaching half time Nottingham Youth pushed forward and put a great shot in; Lacey saved at the second attempt and kicked it downfield for Evie-Rose to latch on to and she beat a defender and smashed it into the net GOOOOAL! Then the whistle blew!!

Second half saw Millie and Grace back on, along with Mala and Amarah, who made a couple of surging runs down the right, leaving defenders in her wake. Their keeper was very alert and snuffed out the danger. Mossy and Violet entered the fray and were soon in the action, Violet bringing the ball out of defence and finding Ava…on to Mala….driving forwards…to Evie-Rose, full of confidence now, who shot inches wide! Mossy was in midfield for Ava and was beginning to find her feet, after a couple of months out, using Mala and Amarah down the wide.

The last quarter had us struggling a little as we kept losing the ball, but the defensive line was coping well with strong tackles and solid defending. With 8 minutes to go Nottingham Youth forced Lacey into a terrific save as she blocked a shot and scampered along the line to clutch it on the line!! A long ball found the ever-willing Evie-Rose take in her stride as she shot, the keeper diving to her left for a superb save. With a minute left to play we were dis-possessed in midfield, a shot went in – pushed out by Lacey, another shot came in, blocked by Alice, the ball cleared by Grace, another shot whistled in and parried by Lacey and as it was going out for a corner one of their girls just managed to reach it and tap it in. Football can be cruel sometimes. No sooner had we kicked off and the whistle went. Despite that the girls were still smiling and had played magnificently. 

So the end of our first (and last) 7 a side season and on to 9 v 9next. Happy days.

Special mention to our referee today, Rosie, who is one of the coaches and is starting a referee course soon and did very well in her first game.

Players of the Match were Evie-Rose, for a typically energeticperformance and Amarah for her hard work on the right hand side of midfield