The Shield Final 11th may 2008

West Riding Girls Football League U13 Shield Final

won 5 - 3

Outstanding.

This must have been a brilliant final for any neutrals to watch but it was nerve wracking stuff for the parents,supporters and coaches and every single player deserves credit for their effort and determination in seeing us through.

Elland started brightly and we barely got out of our own half in the first five minutes but Olivia and Chelsea never let their attackers get behind them and with the midfield dropping back to assist,we managed to restrict them to corners and throw ins instead of any serious attempts on goal.

Once we got into the match,we looked the far more dangerous of the two teams and Jenny gave us the lead after 7 minutes,following in her own shot and scoring from close range.Georgia made it 2-0 shortly afterwards,firing into the roof of the net from the edge of the box and only a brilliant save by Elland’s keeper from Jenny prevented us going 3 up.

Elland pulled a goal back after 20 minutes when we failed to react to a blocked goal kick but we continued to attack.Amy had a shot over the bar and the keeper saved at Jenny’s feet after she had run through the defence from halfway.

Elland then equalised with a fluke after Lauren saved a long shot but having bounced forward,the ball then spun back over her into the net.Georgia,Ellie and Jenny all had chances and whilst we went in level at half time,it only seemed like a case of continuing doing what we were doing and the goals would surely come.

So Elland intercepted that ball from our kick off and we went 3-2 down.From that point on however,we played the best 30 minutes of football we have ever done.Ellie had the game of her life down the left wing.The full back couldn’t tackle her and fouling her didn’t work either because she just got back up and ran straight back at her.No one had the speed to catch Georgia down the right but she still had the energy to get back to defend.Kristi was another who produced her best performance with a superb man marking job on Elland’s best player.Chelsea and Amy covered miles making sure that whenever play broke up we were first to the ball and up front Jenny frightened their defence to death.

The equaliser came with a shot from Jenny from outside the box that had to be seen to be believed and that would probably still be travelling now if the net hadn’t stopped it.She then completed her hat trick with a shot into the bottom corner but Elland refused to give in and seemed certain to equalise again from close range but Lauren made her best save of the season to turn the ball around the post.

With five minutes to go,Jenny beat 2 defenders to make space for herself in the box before sending the keeper the wrong way to complete the scoring.With a 2 goal lead to sit on,we were able to drop back and just keep our shape and with Elland unable to find a way through the Shield was finally ours.

With the game being so close for so long and with everyone playing so well,we were unable to bring on Emily and Nicole until the last couple of minutes and Olivia didn’t get back on after coming off in the first half.You can only win a final if you’re in it in the first place though and every player in the squad played their part in getting us there,no matter how long they played on the day itself.

Churwell Lions,West Riding Girls Football League U13 Shield Winners.Get yourselves down to London to buy Heat Magazine the lot of you.