U16 JPL 24/25 - Hitchin Belles Blues

So today was truly a baptism of fire on our debut match Division 1. Instructions were clear we must keep switched on at all times. Game underway and it was fairly even  until a soft free kick was awarded against us 10 yards in from the halfway line right of centre.  The player struck a fantastic free kick that no keeper was stopping. The girls responded well and chances were being created. Then in the 21 min on her debut Caira picked the ball up and headed for goal she got her shot off and keeper got a slight touch but could not prevent it hitting the back of the net. I’d say we probably edged the majority of the first half bar for one moment where Leyla and Charlotte some how combined to keep a ball out that must of been on the line but they did and a good clearance from Charlotte kept it level with   a few mins to go.  A thrown on from the left somehow softly found its way towards the near post with no one taking responsibility to win the ball and it fell to their player who tucked it away. The girls almost from kick off got the ball through to Chloe whose pace was too much and as she entered the box we was sure she’d bury it but unfortunately she found the right upright. From there a goal kick bounced into the middle no one got a challenge in ball hoisted forward for their striker to run onto and bury the gift. HT 1-3 

Team talk was simple as our girls never give up let’s start right and get early goal. 

Second half underway and we started well  getting into final third but just not being clinical or having enough numbers in the box. 13 mins in was the start of a 15 minute period we’re it felt like Groundhog Day ball from the back through the middle and over the defence for the pacy strikers to run onto soon we was trailing 1-6 the heat was getting unbearable which granted was the same for both sides yet when trailing it was tough to motivate ourselves and another 2 goals followed. FT 1-8 

Manager assessment: it feels strange to say yet I wasn’t disappointed with the girls today as such. There were areas that we need to work on in order to compete in this league but they must not forget the results we had last year against Div 1 sides in the cup games won 1 drew 2 lost 1. Todays result wasn’t a true reflection of the match as for large parts we competed. We played a well established league 1 side and their quality showed today. We go again next week and learn from today 💜🦩

POTM today went to a player that every time she picked the ball up she took it forward trying to create or score goals. Her hard work putting pressure on  ended with her scoring on debut so we was proud to give the award to Ciara 🏆

Ciara ⚽️