Girls U12's Lionesses - Diamond Academy

Away cup game for the girls today at Diamond Academy in Birmingham.

With a couple of girls missing and Emma out injured we had 9 players available for the game.

Mona was our captain in the absence of Peyton, and Mona got us off to a great start in the first minute breaking down the right wing and putting in a lovely cross to the front post where Erin met it with her right foot to give us the first goal of the game.

Our opponents were strong and direct and they soon equalized in what was turning out to be a very end to end game.

Their keeper had an outstanding game and made some key saves in the first half.  Sophia was having a great game in centre midfield making key tackles and also driving us forward.

Elysia and Mona were playing well on the wings and causing the opposition problems throughout the first half.

Lacey, Mayanna and Gracie had their work cut out in defence with the opponents direct approach. Mayanna did especially well during the game with a physical battle with her opponent, well done Mayanna.

Bella made some good saves in goal and tipped one onto the bar which was a great save.

Layla latched onto a great through ball and ran through to beat the keeper with a neat right foot finish to put us 2-1 up at the break.

Second half started and the opponents equalized after a back pass was picked up and they scored from the freekick.

Diamond Academy kept flooding forward and were rewarded with a goal with 15 minutes to go to put them in control of the cup tie.

Gracie was making some excellent direct runs from right back getting in some great crosses.  

Erin had a low shot saved by the keeper which seemed destined for the bottom corner, and not long after Erin had another effort heading for the top corner and the keeper again tipped it wide.

Layla’s turn next to have an effort saved and this was followed up by two really strong runs by Sophia from the centre of midfield which were so close to getting us back in the game.

Layla got us back on level terms near the end of the game with a right foot finish to end the game all square.

We went to penalties to decide the game, Layla go us off to a great start by scoring followed up by successful spot kicks from Erin, Sophia, Lacey, Gracie to leave Elysia to bury her spot kick to put us through into the next round.  Well done Elysia who did fantastic all game !!

Thanks as always to the supporters on the sidelines !!!