U13A v Dean Close0-2
The Under 13 As are showing improvements with every match. The Under 12 contingent have particularly improved in confidence and determination. Once again we were up against a stronger team and had to work particularly hard on our defensive game. Dean Close worked the ball around the pitch very well and scored first quite early on with a solid strike off a short corner.
At half time the score was 0 - 1 with plenty to play for and captain Jenny had lots of tactics and encouragement to share during the team talk. In the second half Abberley had their share of posession and attacking play. Alison and Olivia S provided plenty of long balls up the wing for the midfield and forwards. Jenny worked hard on numerous occasions to drive the ball forward and then, unselfishly, distributed the ball to another player who would unfortunatley be tackled by the Dean Close defense.
At one point nearly all Abberley players were determined to score a goal and were up in our attacking third of the pitch when two Dean Close players broke away with no defenders between themselves and our goalie Elsie. Despite having 2 on 1 Elsie remained calm and made a great save to allow her defenders time to get back down.
The final score was 0 - 2; another positive result against a strong team who put the girls under a lot of pressure. We need to keep working on our determination and confidence as well as discipline in our positional play.
U13B v Dean Close 0-8
With our ranks depleted by illness and playing away from home on a cold, almost wintry afternoon (all the excuses up front) the B's were well and truly walloped by a very capable side from Dean Close. What was good to see, nonetheless, was that all our girls kept their spirits up and their sense of perspective intact - not one of them stopped trying. Well played Pippa and Philippa in particular, and thank you to Rosalind for nobly stepping into the role of goalie at very short notice.
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