Ashford Under 18 Girls 6 v Yateley Under 18 Girls 2

Sunday 15th February. It’s 2pm and seven U18’s have turned up to play again Yateley. A bit apprehensive with the lack of players, due to it being half-term, they were pleased when the opposition announced they too, were lacking players. The game was to be 7 Reds vs 8 Pink. The atmosphere was lively from the Ashford side, despite all the moans and stiffness from playing the day before. The red’s were off to a good start as within 10 minutes skipper LIV YOUNG took a tremendous strike which the Goalie could do little about but watch it go over the line. Excited with how AHC was dominating play, deserted defender ELINE SIBIA was desperate to push up but was told to restrain herself as Yateley had some players hanging deep. Indeed, soon enough Yateley got a break. With the three defenders marking players and the midfielders unable to get back in time, Yateley had a spare man who was given way to drive all the way into the circle. SIBIA came off her marker to go for the tackle but the ball was pushed to the Penalty Spot where all havoc broke out as there were sticks, bodies and goalie all over the place. ANNA PROTHERO repeatedly put the ball upon the opposition’s foot but trainee umpire Freddie Cottrell failed to pick this up and so Yateley proceeded to score. The score 1-1, AHC managed to get numerous shots on goal but unfortunately they all went wide. At one point there were a lot of lifted shots on goal by KELLY TAYLOR, EMILY REED, LIV YOUNG and NIKKI CROXON within a small amount of time, but their GK was on top form and saved all the spectacular shots. Finally after a while, KELLY TAYLOR and NIKKI CROXON both managed to score goals. The score at half-time was 3-1.

At half-time, they were absolutely shattered from all the running, but the girls kept spirits up and refused to let the positive score make them lazy. Coach LAURA QUINN made some changes to the formation leaving only two defenders and adding another player to the midfield. Three more goals followed: skipper LIV YOUNG’s second one and KELLY TAYLOR scored two more meaning she’d scored a hat-trick! Seeing all this attacking play, defenders PROTHERO and SIBIA were absolutely itching to get up the pitch. YOUNG & TAYLOR generously offered to switch with them and so the dynamics changed with both defenders enjoying being up-pitch. However, Yateley got another break and this time natural forward, YOUNG, was unsure how to deal with it. A long corner was given and somehow they managed to get a token goal despite goalie BECKY HEWES great attempt to save it.

Overall I would say that U18s really worked well as a team, because we had to help each other, otherwise the pitch would be simply too big. Communication and support was really there today and it was a particularly fun, but tiring, game to play!

Written by Eline Sibia