Under 11s | Coton FC

3 hours ago

Back to football at Coton Rec this weekend for Coton U15 Girls, at the start of a run of five fixtures in the space of three weeks that will decide where the title goes this season. Opponents today were Cambourne, ever improving and always a tough fixture in the calendar.

A good prematch warmup for the girls and out we went, full of enthusiasm to be playing again after the Easter break. We were confident to have the lions’ share of possession in this game, but knew the threat Cambourne have up front, combined with a well-organised defence meant taking our chances would be key. It took us a while to get our passes going and early sloppiness that has dogged so many of our performances this season was on show again. Never for want of trying, but final passes executed poorly, or first touches bouncing up making the second get away. Not for Kate though who put on a masterclass today from start to finish at the centre of midfield, alongside ever dependable Mads who tackled hard, and was always an option for both defence and attack to play into. Quality from both. Lexie on the right was growing into the game, pace to burn down the wing and causing many problems for the Cambourne left back. Indie the same on the left but tightly guarded by their quick right back. Alice had a battle on against a strong centre half with Shannon buzzing around in the hole behind. Across the back line, Tes on the right, AJ and Emilia central and Bam in her usual position on the left, always available to start our buildup. We were creating chances but shots were soft or from distance, and besides, Cambourne seemed to have signed Mary Earps, as we watched the most accomplished goalkeeping display today from an opposition that we can remember. As our threat grew, so did the awesomeness of the Cambourne keeper, plucking balls from the air, coming out early to through balls, and diving when needed. Suffice to say, she already deserved player of the match by halftime. It was clear something very special was going to be needed to beat her, and so that’s what Shannon delivered!…Now I know I won’t do this goal justice trying to explain it, but I’ll have a go because we think it may be the best team goal we’ve ever scored and the final cross and finish were applauded by both benches and both sets of spectators. Working the ball neatly with 1 touch, 2 touch across our backline, AJ to Emilia, Emilia to Bam. Up to Indie and back in to Mads. Close control and skill needed in the middle with Cambourne chasing us down, the ball worked across to Kate to thread one of her pinpoint passes into the run of Lexie out wide on the right. We’d seen her test the defender with pace, but this time, slowing it down, back to Tes, Kate and then Lexie again to whip a cross from so far out into the danger area on the edge of the six yard box to perfectly meet the late run of Shannon from deep who cushioned her header past the retreating and diving Cambourne keeper. Honestly, proper quality from the girls. One of those moments that makes you so proud of them all. Not long after, Shannon thought she’d grabbed another, but after bursting through and finishing neatly into the far post, the offside flag was raised. Ikazki, Annie, Lia and Amelie on now. Big crunching tackles from Lia and both Annie and Ilazki making sure those big kicks from their keeper didn’t get a chance to bounce. Amelie dancing down the left, working well with Mads and Alice, and bursting through herself but denied a goal by another good save. Cambourne saw the half out and would be pleased to have kept the scoreline to just the single goal.

The second half was a repeat of the first in so much as the Cambourne defence just would not let us in. Charlotte had had a quite game, doing the simple stuff neatly, coming out quickly to collect the through balls before they became chances, working with the defence to play across when needed and firing those thunderous but pinpoint kicks out to get us going forward. We’d had a succession of corners in the first half that had all been collected brilliantly by the Cambourne keeper. Kate had been tasked with trying to get close to her for corners in this second half. Lots of pushing and position changes back and forth, between Keeper, Defender and Kate, as Indie lined one up. Fired in by Indie and the keeper burst round Kate to try to get to the ball first, but the flight was high and she misjudged only able to punch into her own net. Felt a little bit guilty having asked Kate to do that, particularly given what a brilliant performance their Keeper had put in, but on the other hand, it’s all part of the game! With a two-goal lead the game was much more confortable. Emilia had a runout at no 10, Lia thundered a shot that was sneaking in at the near post and had to be palmed away for the corner. Tes stepped out and combined with Kate and Lexie. Alice was a constant threat. Ikazki, Mads, Amelie and Shannon took turns in the middle and closed the game out. But in the end, no more goals. Just those important three points from a banana-skin fixture.

Credit to Cambourne for how far they’ve come in a short space of time. We were reminded this fixture last season finished 12-1, so a massive difference, and we were made to work very hard today for the victory. Every player on the pitch will be proud of how they played today, and we know there will be more of these tight games in the future. Well done girls 👍⚽️ ... See MoreSee Less

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