u16 Girls A Team beat Brighton and Hove 5:1

The u16 girls A team braved the wind, rain, the M25, the M23 AND the indignity of bibs (who knew blue/pink and black/yellow are indistinguishable) to venture into deepest Sussex for their latest league game in Tier 2 West.

An unusual thing happened. For the first time this season the opposition took the lead! Brighton scored from a breakaway after 6 minutes. During the break, Maddie wiped out Chloe, leading her to have to spend 10 minutes off the pitch with an ice-pack to recover.

We were just a little off in the first half - passes weren't quite crisp enough. Shots were just a little too close to the keeper.

Despite this, we were the dominant team, and could easily have equalised earlier than we did, but a succession of chances came and went, and it was starting to look as if we would reach half-time behind. Brighton always looked dangerous on the break, and Maddie and the defence were called upon to clear several times. Then just before half time Mia struck twice to turn the game around. Firstly after 29 minutes, Felicity played Mia in just outside the penalty spot and her first time sweep found the corner of the goal. 3 minutes later Olivia played a through ball to Mia in the inside left channel. Mia took it to the the byline then managed to find the net from a very tight angle to put us into the lead our pressure deserved.

At half time, the girls identified that they just needed to be a bit crisper with their passing, a bit more positionally disciplined and then further chances would come.

Immediate dividends were paid. Mia received the ball just inside the D in the inside right channel. She turned towards goal, and then slipped the ball to her left where Iola had drifted in from left half and calmly placed the ball into the corner of the net for 3:1. In the 13th minute, Felicity won the ball just outside the D. She drove in and finished calmly to make it 4:1. The final goal in the 29th minute of the half was almost identical. Felicity won the ball, drove in and finished.

This was a very impressive and controlled performance against troublesome opposition. Maddie was calm in goal. The defence kept Brighton at bay - especially in the second half. The midfield battle was decisively won, and the forward line caused Brighton problems all game. Everyone can be very proud of how they played today. Special mention to Elena Onesti who made her full A team debut in the absence of Beks and Naomi, and had a good game - breaking up several attacks with tackles and playing some good passes. Well done ?

Thanks to Nathan for umpiring and all the parents for their enthusiastic support.