U9 Turquoise 24/25 - Berkhamsted Raiders Youth U8

GOG U8T 🩵🦩🩵 This Saturday, we were away to Berkhamsted Raiders Youth u8 Greens. This hasn't been an easy place for us to come to in the past, with some difficult games previously. But we've learnt a lot about this ourselves and were looking for a positive result.

First quarter we had Alara, Eden, Ariana and Lala. The girls started and continued on the attack throughout this half. Eden fed a great ball to Ariana but her shot was put wide. Lala then played a pass to Eden, who then put Alara through on goal, a great effort on goal from her drew an equally great save from the Greens keeper. Alara then almost turned provider putting in a low cross from the left, which made its way to Lala. But the shot was blocked and out for a corner. The corner was taken by Ariana and the Greens cleared the box. Eden then wins the ball back in the middle of the pitch, makes a great run with the ball through the middle, but the shot was just wide. The Greens almost got the breakthrough goal when a run of there's was tracked and blocked by Ariana hitting our post out for a corner. Following this Lala played a pass 🤝 in to Eden, who's shot rattled the post, falling to Ariana who's followed up hitting the same post, eventually falling back to Eden ⚽ to tap it in for our first goal. Alara remained solid at the back. Unfortunately, for us we conceded a penalty for hand ball in the area. The Greens then got the equaliser. Alara was visibly upset, but we reassured her that these things happen and not to let it knock her confidence. We then had a chance to go ahead when Eden played in Lala but her shot was wide. Alara then went on a brilliant run down the left, playing a great pass to Lala who got the ball but ran out of space to get her shot off.

Second quarter we had Nina, Evie, Olive and Willow. In this quarter we had to do a lot more defending and the Greens were on the front foot. Evie, Olive and Willow worked tirelessly to support a returning Nina, who was playing her first match in defence. Willow played a nice pass into Nina who got forward for an attack, but the shot was straight at the keeper. Shortly after we got caught on the break with all our players forward. However, Lala pulled off a fantastic double save to keep the game all square. Willow continued to put in a captains performance, playing through the lines and driving the ball forward. She played two great passes in quick succession to Evie and Nina, but we're weren't able to convert them. We got caught on the break again, but Lala pulled off another great save diving to the left to retrieve a Greens shot. Nina then blocked another Greens shot, which was picked up by Willow, who drived forward placing a powerful shot into the top corner ⚽ for our second goal. This didn't deter the Greens who were now chasing an equaliser. Evie and Olive did brilliantly to snuff out the danger in the middle of the pitch. A clearance up the pitch from Nina 🤝 then found its way up the pitch annf into the path of Olive who executed a first time shot to perfection ⚽ for our third goal of the game. Just before the break, we were stunned by a great long range effort from the Greens giving them their second goal.

Third quarter, it was still all to play for and there was more work to be done. We fielded Nina, Ariana, Lala and Eden. They didn't disappoint with Eden intercepting the ball and smashing in our fourth goal ⚽ After the restart, Eden nearly did the same again but this time forced a save from the keeper out for a corner. The corner was taken and the Greens cleared their lines. The ball was recovered in midfield by Lala who drove forward and slotted in our fifth goal ⚽ of the game. Shortly after the restart, Lala one the ball back high up the pitch, making no hesitation in smashing in our sixth goal⚽ of the game. Lala and Eden then both went chasing a loose ball, but the shot was put wide by Eden. Ariana then made a block which ended up at Lala's feet with some good control, but the shot was saved and put over by the goalkeeper. Lala then picked the ball up from midfield, driving past a few Greens players and placing a shot firmly into the goal ⚽ for our seventh of the match. After, Ariana almost turned provider for Eden, but the shot was saved. We then conceded a throw near the half way line. The Greens throw was read well and intercepted by Lala who carried the ball forward, unleashing a fantastic shot from outside the box ⚽ leaving the keeper rooted and giving us our eighth of the game.

Final quarter and we had Evie, Alara, Willow and Olive on. A throw-in from Olive in the Greens half 🤝 found its way at Alara's feet who made no error with dispatching her shot ⚽ for our ninth of the game. A celebration fitting of the goal followed and it was great to see Alara with a smile back on her face. After the restart we nearly got caught out by a Greens attack, however Evie did brilliantly to win the ball back and put her clearance out of play and out of danger. We then conceded a freekick when the ball was handled by our keeper outside the area. However the girls stood firm and the all did its job. Alara then broke down the right with a great run, but the shot was saved by the Greens goalkeeper. Evie who put out attack after attack in this quarter then almost turned provider for Alara, but her shot was just wide. Willow then kept the ball moving with some good hold up play and clever passing.

A great game of football and equally great hosting and officiating from the Berkhamsted coaching and referee. The girls are continuing to improve game by game and training session by training session. While the result was great, there were still dynamics and improvements that could be made to our overall game. Something that Coach Stephen and Coach Dan will look to address in the coming weeks. Well done Alara, Ariana, Eden, Evie, Lala, Nina, Olive and Willow.👏🏻👏🏾

Player of the match went to Willow this week. Willow was Captain Marvel today showing real desire to win the ball back and play the ball forward. Her goal gave us the lead and galvanised the team into a great performance. Another great thing that Coach Stephen picked up on was her positioning on the pitch in certain situations. Willow is starting to show real in game intelligence and her reading of the game is continually improving. Well done Willow 🏆

Opposition player of the match was Lala. She was clinical with all four of her goals today. The opposition coach commented on how well she took her shots during the game. She scored every type of goal at this level. She showed real desire to win and also made some great saves when she was in goal. Well done Lala🏆

Lala ⚽⚽⚽⚽

Eden ⚽⚽

Alara ⚽

Olive ⚽

Willow ⚽

Assists: Nina x1 Olive x1 🤝

Captain: Willow ©️

POTM 🏆 Willow

Opposition POTM 🏆Lala