Sunday, 1 October 2006
Hitchin Town Belles U14 4 v 2 Enfield Town Ladies U14
Home Counties Girls Football League; U14 Division 1
Players: Elise, Alex, Roisin, Louise, (Captain) Sarah, Natalie, Lauren, Kerry, Monica, Sammy, Sian, Stephanie, Eva, Joanna.
Scorers Hitchin; Sian (2), Sammy (2)
Match facts;
On a blustery and breezy day Hitchin Belles recorded their 3rd straight win in a compelling and entertaining football game played in good sportsmanship by both sides. Enfield are an able and well-organised team who were beaten by some very neat pieces of attacking play. They tested the Hitchin defence well but a strong defence and midfield performance allowed quick balls through to the very fast attacking Hitchin players who took the opportunities their play created. This is a great start to the season and lifts Hitchin well into the top half of the table and they have already amassed more points than the whole of last season. So far in the last 3 games Hitchin have scored an incredible 14 goals and conceded just 5. Long may this continue!
Enfield started with a very good attack but Hitchin managed to counter and win a corner through Kerry. Failure to capitalise on this led to another Enfield attack, which Eva came out well to deal with. Sammy sent a good pass through to Louise who hit a good shot. Jo was very solid in defence and Stephanie gave the midfield some bite in the tackle. Hitchin pressed forward and some excellent running by Louise saw another Hitchin corner which caused a goal mouth scramble. Another Hitchin corner and Natalie arriving late at the far post was unlucky not to have scored. The pressure was building and a neat piece of interplay saw Sian free to hit the ball sweetly into the bottom left hand corner of the net. Hitchin 1 Enfield 0. A very swift counter attack saw Enfield hit back to make it 1-1. Half time was beckoning and Sian struck again to pounce on a good through ball from Louise to make it Hitchin 2 Enfield 1. It was then hearts in mouths time especially for Paul and the home spectators as in 2 very good moves Enfield nearly equalised, however a cracking corner from Louise drew out a great save from the Enfield goalkeeper to end the half.
A bright start from Hitchin who sensing another goal pressed forward with Sarah influencing midfield, and following another Hitchin corner chased down well by Elise when it was forced out, the ball found Sammy who hit a good shot into the net to make it Hitchin 3 Enfield 1. Playing against a blustery wind this was not going to be enough against a determined Enfield side who struck back almost immediately to make it 3-2. 15 minutes to go and the match was very well balanced and being played at a great pace, with tiring legs there were going to be further chances. Monica played well in defence clearing up a number of dangerous balls with a no nonsense approach but it was Sammy who unlocked the Enfield defence with a trade mark jinking run that ended up with her being fouled on the edge of the area. Sammy quickly took the free kick and stunned the crowd with a beauty of a shot straight into the goal despite a brave effort by the goalkeeper to save it. Hitchin 4 Enfield 2.
The last 6 minutes were dominated by Enfield forcing corner after corner looking for the goals to bring them back into the match. The Hitchin defence with Roisin playing well on the right never gave much away and with Sarah having one of the last shots of the game meant the match ended 4-2 to Hitchin. Overall a great result against a capable team, but Hitchin were the better and more skilful team who always looked the likely winners.
Player of the match: Louise.
Report by Mike Thompson