U9 Turquoise 24/25 - Harpenden Colts Kites

GOG U8T 💜🦩💜 This Saturday, we were at home to Harpenden Colts Kites. The girls had all been on a half term break, with some of them still attending training and taking part in the football camp. We had a great team talk and warm up before the game.

In the first quarter, we started with Alara, Willow, Eden, and Lala. The girls showed no signs of rustiness and were straight on the attack. Willow made a great run down the right feeding the ball to Lala but the shot was just wide of the post. Lala shortly followed up with a great run and another attempt on goal which was saved by the keeper. Lala then picked up the ball in Kites half taking on a couple of players and then laying off a perfectly weighted cross 🤝 to Eden who despatched her shot well ⚽ giving us our first goal of the game. There was some fantastic fluid passing and moving being demonstrated by Willow, Lala, Alara and Eden in this quarter. Eden picked up the ball from a loose throw in and her effort on goal was just short of the target. Lala almost turned provider again for Alara but the shot was saved by the keeper. Alara then made a great ball recovery, driving towards goal and taking a great shot, which took the slightest of deflections off a Kites player ⚽ for our second goal. The girls continued on the front foot, giving very little away defensively. Willow then demonstrated some great feet and agility progressing the ball down the left and playing a great cross 🤝 into Lala who took her shot well ⚽ giving us our third of the game. Towards the end Eden made another direct run towards the opposition, eventually playing in Willow who's shot was ever so slightly off target.

Second quarter we had Nina, Evie, Olive and Ariana outfield. They started off really brightly with Evie making a great run towards the Kites defence, finding Ariana but her shot was off target. This didn't deter Evie who made another great run towards goal, showing great strength to shrug off the Kites players 🤝 putting the ball on a plate for Ariana⚽ who scored our fourth goal. The work rate of Olive and Evie in the midfield this quarter was extremely admirable with both showing great desire to win the ball back and progress the ball in attack. We had a bit more defending to do in this quarter, but Nina did very well with winning the ball back and getting her head up to make some clinical passes. Ariana then picked up the ball on the half way line and went on a good run through the middle, taking her shot well ⚽ and giving us our fifth of the game. The Kites almost got through us down our left, but our captain Olive showed great determination to get back and hustle for the ball. She did enough to put the attacker off, but hurt herself in the process. There was a brief pause to see she if she was alright and she picked herself up and thankfully carried on playing.

The third quarter we had Eden, Alara, Lala and Willow up front. The girls continued to shine in this quarter as they did in both the previous quarters. Lala recovered the ball in our half making a great run down the left, demonstrating some fantastic footwork and forcing the Kites keeper into a save. Shortly after, Alara made a great recovery, getting into space and taking a brilliant shot on target from just outside the box ⚽ for our sixth goal of the game. Shortly after the reset the girls pressed the Kites with Willow gaining the ball going on another of her skillful runs through the middle with her shot unfortunately hitting the post. The ball went out of play for a goal kick, with the girls pressing really well from the halfway line. Alara made a brilliant challenge on a Kites player to win the ball, driving forward and taking a great shot into the top right corner ⚽ for our seventh goal. After the reset, Alara turned provider winning the ball back making another run down the right on this occasion, playing a cross 🤝 into Lala who held the ball up well and slotted home ⚽ our eighth goal. We almost got caught on the break after the reset, but Alara did really well to track back and win the ball back, putting it out of play.

The final quarter we had Nina, Evie, Ariana and Olive. The girls continued to keep the effort levels high. Ariana had the first opportunity to start with, but her effort was off target. Olive with the confidence oozing, then used some good feet, taking two players down the left wing to stop her. Following this Evie made a surging run down the right carrying and putting in a good cross to the box. But the effort was seen out by the Kites for a corner. The corner was taken by Olive with Evie managing to put the ball goal wards but it was gathered by the keeper. Half way through a triple substitution was made with Alara in goal, Nina and Ariana making way for Willow in goal, Lala and Eden. Lala made a great tackle in defence bringing the ball out back and down the left flank, but her shot was just wide of goal. From the goal kick, Evie made a fantastic interception, progressing the ball towards goal with her effort forcing a good save from the Kites keeper. Shortly after Eden picked the ball up driving at the Kites defence and making a clinical finishing shot ⚽ giving us our ninth of the game. Olive then won the ball back in the opposing quarter, with some clever hold up play, set the ball 🤝 to Eden who took her shot well ⚽ giving us our tenth goal of the match. Lala then made a good interception and clearance, which made its way out to Olive who broke down the left, but forced two Kites defenders into getting the ball back. Coming up to the end, the Kites caught us on the break and with the last kick of the game scored a goal.

The game was evenly fought with some great officiating from Thomas and positive reactions from all the coaching staff involved.

The girls are starting to play more fluidly as a team and less as individuals. Every single one of them made a positive contribution towards the result of this match. We'll continue to build with these girls with more improvements to come. Well done Alara, Ariana, Eden, Evie, Lala, Nina, Olive, and Willow! Keep up the great work from Coach Stephen and Coach Dan 👏🏻👏🏾

POTM went to Alara today. Alara really shined bright like a diamond not only in defence, but also in attack with goals and assists from midfield. She has really good instincts for positioning and when to time her interceptions. She's really developed the attacking side of her game, providing an extra outlet and security to the team. She always plays with heart and is highly thought of throughout the team. Her hatrick and assists were the rewards for her efforts today. Well done Alara 🏆

Opposition POTM went to Eden today. The opposition coach and players all voted for her and commented on how tough she was today. She is always such a team player and gives it everything. She has become really good with the ball at her feet, rarely gives the ball away, makes good decisions and is proving to be a deadly finisher in front of goal. She has become a really important part of the team. This was clear for everyone to see with her hatrick and overall game play today. Well done Eden 🏆

Alara ⚽⚽⚽

Eden ⚽⚽⚽

Ariana ⚽⚽

Lala ⚽⚽

Assists: Alara Willow Evie Lala Olive 🤝

Captain: Olive ©️

POTM 🏆 Alara

Opposition POTM 🏆 Eden