SCOTTON SCORCHERS U16S 2 BEDALE U16S 1
Saturday 8th March 2014
Well this really was the match that everyone wanted to see!
A consistent Scorchers team at home to the unbeaten League leaders - Bedale!
With Scotton almost back to a full strength squad, a few positional changes were made to try overcome probably the strongest team in the league.
With Sam C in goal, Georgina Emily T and Molly at the back, Honor just in front of defence, a midfield of Eloise Grace and Nat B with Chloe M leading the attack, the Scorchers girls started with the same high energy and tempo that was seen last week.
Rebecca B, Emma P and Lowenna were on the bench but ready as always to play a part!!
The first team talk in the new Pavilion really had an effect, as the Scotton girls pretty much 'camped' in the Bedale half for the first 20 minutes of the game. They just couldn't get that breakthrough goal!!
Chances were being created, the midfield and wingers really contributing to the cause!!
A couple of times, Bedale managed to cross the halfway line, but the Scotton defence held firm!!
A slight knock to the head of Georgina meant that Rebecca B joined in the action.
Eventually, Bedale broke and in their first major attack on Scotton's goal, managed to get through what was a solid Scotton defence and scored - 1 nil to Bedale!
However, Scotton didn't let their heads drop and within minutes of the restart, they put Bedale's defence under pressure once again, and through great football and positional sense, Grace fired home a rebound and levelled it - so 1 all it was at the break.
There was a lot of praise, especially to Nat B who had played three different positions in the first half - credit to her for just getting on with it!!
After the break, and against the now strengthening wind, Scotton started brightly again and showed they really wanted to win this fixture.
Bedale started brightly too, with a number of chances going wide or just over the bar!
Probably the save of the match came from Sam - a nifty piece of work by Bedale lead to a one on one situation, and as the Bedale attacker tried to take the ball around Sam, she made an incredible save to take the ball away from goal!
This spurred the Scorchers on.... some fantastic football followed - end to end stuff - and great for the neutral! A through ball from Chloe, lead to Grace in front of goal - a little knock forward almost losing the ball, but she held her nerve and finished it like Suarez... 2-1 to Scotton!!
With 10 minutes to go, Bedale as expected, pressed consistently looking for that equaliser.
With Lowenna back in defence, Emma P playing her part at right back and Emily T strengthening midfield, the Scorchers held on to what was a fantastic result - it was like watching a Cup Final!!
Full credit to the Bedale girls, who like Scotton, played some fantastic attacking football and made this a match to remember!!
It was a truly superb team performance again from Scotton - where very one played their part!
Player of the match for her all round commitment, team performance and effort - Chloe M!!
Go Scorchers!!!
