U14 Reds March On

Avoid banana skin Vs Improving U14 Blues

The Reds returned to League duties to face their Blues counterparts, in a match which could well have been a banana skin, given inter-club rivalry and improved confidence in the Blues since their recent victory over Teddington.

In a slightly changed line up, the Reds back 5 consisted of Rebekah, Jessica, Shola, Lucy and Tayla, with Megan, Mia L and the two Hannah's on the wings, and Elle and Rebecca up top, a with a strong bench of Emily, Kayleigh, Elizabeth, Mia Q and Maya, this was the first time in many weeks all outfield players were available, the only absence being Caitlin who was "enjoying" the Liverpool fixture..

On a pitch which was pretty cut up, the match started in much the same way as prior fixtures against the Blues, their initial high tempo disrupting the Reds desire to pass the ball quickly, however outside of a couple of strong individual runs the Reds goal wasn't really threatened, and both Hannah's, Mia L and Elle all had half chances to score, however the Blues keeper was in typically fine form.

As the half wore on, the Reds passing game became more solid and Megan, Shola and Lucy displayed some great vision with raking balls to the wings for both Hannah's to feed on and it was obvious the first goal was going to be very important. A series of corners were won by the Reds as the Blues struggled to contain the strong wing play and the Blues progress when in possession was limited to a series of long throws, which, after a while became routinely mopped up Lucy and Shola.

The first goal same from a breakdown in play where Mia L, surefooted and swift on the bobbly surface was stopped from breaching he Blues defence and from the loose ball Elle picked it up, only for her low shot to be well saved by the keeper.
The ball broke loose, and Kayleigh, recently on the pitch, showed what Rick expects from his strikers, following up in anticipation of a loose ball and calmly steered the ball home.

1-0

The Blues heads did not drop and they continued to play in their familiar pattern, and for a while had a good period of pressure in the Reds final third, but were limited to one shot for Rebekah to save. Slowly the tide turned and Hannah W began to dominate her opposite number, forcing her and a fellow defender to double team her, and from one of a number of incisive runs, released Kayleigh just outside of the box, who calmly approached the keeper and steered the ball home at the near post, having waited for the keeper to commit to a dive at her feet.

HT 2-0

The second half saw many changes for the Reds with the whole bench, over time coming onto the pitch, and the continued in a similar fashion, the Blues, when in possession leveraging long throws and direct passes behind the defence and the Reds endeavouring to keep their passing game going. The Blues dominated the midfield at the start of the half as the Reds lost the defensive qualities of Megan and Shola for a while, however the Reds created chance after chance with all of the offensive players (Mia Q, Elizabeth, Maya) were unlucky to face one of the better keepers at this age group in fine form or being too tentative to shoot from distance.

When called upon the defence continued to be incredibly difficult to beat (this team must have a clean sheet record!) and Emily, Jessica, Tayla, Lucy, Shola/Megan and Rebekah are turning into a rock solid, flexible unit, allowing the attack to flourish and eventually the Blues dam burst and 3 goals flew in quick succession (sadly the author of this knows he'll probably get the order wrong!)

Megan struck twice in quick succession, the first being a great long range effort which left the keeper flat footed and the second from a similar distance which, whilst goal bound, took a horrible deflection into the opposite corner.

Elle completed (I think!) the route with a smart low finish from the right had side of the goal after good progressive work from the midfield.

FT 5-0

Another clean sheet, another victory, 4 games to go, is the title edging closer?