U15

On Tuesday night, our U15s picked up second place in the District Football tournament at Hertswood Academy.

This newly formed side showed great class and tenacity to defeat several strong sides and – with a touch more luck – could easily have held off the favourites, Hertswood in the crunch game.

The team’s success was built on outstanding strength at the back from Isobel Beynon who covered every blade of grass with aplomb – dispossessing anything that moved. She was ably assisted by some of the most robust tackling seen in many a year by Lucy Fishpool, who appeared to have taken a personal dislike to any midfielder that ran towards her. Some excellent goalkeeping from Joanna Jacovides and Maddy Davies (who popped up to score in our final game) completed a very fine back line that rarely looked troubled.

Going forward, there was some lovely creativity on display from the midfielder trio of Scarlet Ward, Yasmine Adams and Alex Lawrie – whose intelligent movement and clever passing smoothly moved us into several superb striking positions for the tireless Shania Bedi. We could have scored many more goals from the work of these four, had not some excellent goalkeeping from the player of the tournament in the Mount Grace goal consistently kept us out.

Our biggest disappointment was not quite being able to hold off Hertswood – despite taking an early lead. However, these were our first games together as a team (following our first practice session last night) and things look very promising indeed!

U14

The U14s had a more difficult time in their tournament. However, credit must go to the extremely classy Tio Ibikunle who was never daunted in her attempts to match the dynamism of the opposition. Time and again, with the assistance of Antonia Steinberg and Kara Walwyn, we repelled sweeping attacks. Sophie Dutton in the Q goal was extremely busy as shots came in from all angles, but kept her composure with admirable tenacity and dedication. The excellent work of Leanne Tyme and Nikita Bedi up front must not be forgotten, both of them constantly creating chances that, on another day, could have seen us finish much higher up in our group.

We return, not perhaps champions, but with clear signs for the future, and the knowledge that, with a tiny bit more luck, things could have been very different. The nucleus of this side will return to Hertswood for the U13 and U12 tournament after half term in good spirits.

Yet more good news for Q football.