Stamford Bridge 0 Scotton Scorchers 1
The U16s travelled to Stamford for their first game of the season against a very good strong side.
The girls looked splendid in their new strip and attacked the Stamford goal playing down hill in the first half with Jayde taking goalkeeping duties with Emily,Ellie and Hannah protecting her in defence, in midfield the girls set up with Ciara, Becky C, Becky S and Georgie R with Georgia T leading the line.
After a good warm up the girls started well against a big strong SB team and were soon putting pressure on the SB goal and started to pepper the goal with some long range shots but SB withstood everything the girls threw at them and even had a couple of chances themselves.
The girls in defence for Scotton had to be on their toes as SB's striker was very tricky and threatened to run through a few times but the girls combined well to thwart her.
Scorchers girls started passing the ball round well but just could not find the finishing touch and so went in at half time all square NIL-NIL.
The girls got their heads together at half time and discussed how they could break down Stamford and score the goal they needed to win.
It was decided everyone was going to lift their game and work harder for each other and the desire to win was going to be the difference so the girls went out again with a renewed sense of determination.
Playing up the hill and with Becky C taking over in goal the second half was as tight as the first half but the girls kept plugging away and the chances were coming but they just could not find the killer touch until Becky S was flying into the box and a SB defender stuck out her leg and sent Becky flying and the ref had no option but to point to the spot.
Up stepped Georgie and she had the experience and calmness firstly to ask the referee to control the SB's encroaching players and then to blast the ball past the SB keeper. 1 nil!
Then it was time for the girls to defend like they had never defended before as SB really pushed hard for the equalizer. The girls were dead on their feet but they kept going and kept getting their bodies in the way of the SB's shots and held on for their first win of the season.
A great game with a high level of skills shown from both sides showcasing what will be an extremely tough and tight league this season.
Well done to the Scorchers for grabbing their first points and girl of the game went to Georgie Ryan for a great all round game.
