Coaches | Coton FC

3 weeks ago

Coton U16 Girls were worthy winners today away against a struggling Cambridge City side, rooted to the bottom of the table.

After many years of close battles against so many City teams at different age groups, we expected another today, but this was to be a very different game. You could see moments of quality from individuals in their team, but such was the brilliance and utter domination of our girls, it was only scraps today for the City players. Grace started the scoring within the first 5 minutes, after we’d threatened from the off. She’d added another within minutes, almost a carbon copy with neat skills from Shannon slipping her in to slot across the keeper. Next up was Amelie. Played in wide on the left after Seyma and Ilazki, both in complete control of the middle, combined. The City defender pushed Amelie to the goal line, but with her trademark sole roll, she skipped through and then released an audacious chip that dropped into the far top corner. Absolute quality! Shannon had a few chances next. Two ruled out for close offsides, another hitting the bar and another going over. Lexie, also had chances after her pace and skill got her into the box. Not long later, Grace completed her hat trick, Shannon and Alice combining, a nice first touch from Grace to maintain her run and a drilled finish that the City keeper could only watch. Annie, AJ, Lia and Bam were immense, calmly mopping up and setting us back on the front foot. The introduction of Kate, first appearance after injury and still with strapping on her wrist, closed out any hope City might have had of getting back into the game. Ilazki was already bossing the midfield, and Seyma was in beast mode, first to every ball, even the ones she had no right to. So Kate was free to push further forward, linking the attack. Bam was playing on the wing now and Elliyah looking quality behind her, taking a touch, looking for the passes and never giving the City winger a sniff. Captain Charlotte had hardly had a touch, only the odd one when our defence remembered she was there. As the half drew to a close, Lexie fought hard to win a bouncing 50/50 just inside the City box, turned and fired in her shot for our fifth.

We switched things around in the second half, partly to give opportunities for the girls to try out different positions, and partly to try to even things up. We took some time to adjust, but once we’d found the rhythm, we were amazing again. A majestic touch by Amelie to control a high ball kicked out by the City keeper, way out wide on the big Girton pitch, followed up by a rocket cross fired over to Alice to bring down, touch past the defender and thunder her strike into the back of the net. Honestly, top top quality from both girls. A brilliant goal! AJ up top now, and not long before she was on the scoresheet too. Shannon enjoying it at the heart of midfield, dictating play and sliding AJ in for a well taken effort. She could get used to this!! In fact, she did…more skill by Shannon, in to AJ again, back out to Grace, skipping inside the defence and laying back to AJ to slot in her second. Moments later, and looking for her hat trick, AJ rifled another effort at goal, but this time the crossbar denied her. Such was the change of playing positions and formation, City were having a couple of chances of their own. Most chances had been defended well by our, now, back two of Lia and Elliyah, when their central defending partner Seyma had wandered into midfield. But now City crafted a chance, moved quickly from right to left and finding the winger with time and space just outside the box. Captain for the game in the absence of injured Tes, Cha had had little to do this half, but as the City striker closed in, out came Cha to perfectly execute one of her trademark blocks. Fantastic! Another clean sheet for her team. Just before the final whistle, and having snapped at lots of previous efforts, Shannon finally closed out the game. A deserved goal, after unusually struggling to find the net today. Ilazki, won the ball again in the middle, popped it out to Grace, now marauding down the right. Beating her defender and whipping in the cross. An AJ flick and great first touch by Shannon, bringing it down and slamming the ball into the back of the net. The final whistle followed quickly.

Feels bad to be critical of a City side who seemed to be made up of players we’d never seen before, some from the age group below, and all doing their best. But such are the high standards set by City as a club over the years that we did expect more of a challenge. Of course you can only play what’s in front of you and, oh did our girls do that! Quality today. Some brilliant flowing moves and great finishes, all backed up by a mean defence. A joy to watch girls! 👍⚽️ ... See MoreSee Less

Team	Title	Name
U8	Manager	Duncan Gray
U9	Manager	Angus Chudleigh
U10	Manager	Michaela Miller
U11 Blue	Manager	Alpay Yahya
U11 Red	Coach	Trevor Munns
U11 Girls	Manager	Michael Wisbey
U12	Manager	Simon Walker
U13	Manager	Tom Smith
U13 Girls	Coach	Toke Skovlund
U14	Manager	Andy Hoy
U15	Manager	Lee Sanders
U15 Girls	Manager	Sam Hain
U16	Manager	Simon Hale
U16 Girls	Manager	Clive Sandhurst
Senior	Manager	John Doyle