Ladies Under 13's side
STAMFORD GIRLS U13 0-1 ESTOVER U13
Looking at the present league positions and the football performance last weekend, Stamford Girls were expected to confirm a convincing win at home against Estover, however after a lively start from both teams, Stamford’s efforts just didn’t pay off. Stamford Girls had numerous attempts at goal throughout the whole game but just lacked commitment and striking power to give them the lead they probably deserved. Stamford’s only real chance came from Amy Ward with an excellent strike with her right foot hitting the cross bar but no one was there in the 6 yard box to put a mark on the scoresheet.
Positive defending from Charley Gilbert and Lily Hyland and some great tackles in midfield from Sascha Smith and Hannah Worthington kept the ball mainly in Stamford’s half for the majority of the game but the final touch on the ball towards the goal was just not good enough.
At this stage the homeside just seemed happy with a nil nil draw, however, Estover made one real attacking challenge towards the close of the game and their main striker scored a great goal leaving Stamford no time to score an equaliser.
All in all a rather poor performance from Stamford who really needed a win to keep them in 5th position in the league table.
Stamford Girls - Georgia Ireland, Charley Gilbert, Ellie Cotterill, Lily Hyland, Claire Walpole, Olivia Kettleborough, Hannah Worthington, Sascha Smith, Grace Ferry, Katie Henshaw, Amy Ward, Holly Swietanowski, Chloe Bailey
SUNDAY 7 MARCH 2010
CUP GAME – SEMI FINAL
LINCOLN GIRLS U14 6-0 STAMFORD GIRLS U13
After Saturday’s 4-2 win, Stamford Girls made an early Sunday morning start to Lincoln to take on the might of Lincoln Academy U14’s in the semi final of the Lincolnshire Cup. Stamford Girls gave a very spirited display against an older, stronger and much bigger team, who also had to contend with playing 11 a side instead of the normal 9 a side.
Although losing the match, the experience of playing at a higher lever will stand the girls in good stead for the future. The Lincoln Manager took time out after the match to speak to the Stamford Girls and their Manager/Coach, Phil Bailey, and told them how impressed he was with their football, passion and conduct during the match.
The whole team were awarded the “player” trophy for their team spirit and effort from start to finish.
Stamford Girls – Georgia Ireland, Claire Walpole, Ellie Cotterill, Charley Gilbert, Lily Hyland, Hannah Worthington, Olivia Kettleborough, Chloe Bailey, Grace Ferry, Katie Henshaw, Sascha Smith, Amy Ward
SATURDAY 6 MARCH 2010
STAMFORD GIRLS U13 4-2 WISBECH U13
This was Stamford Girls ideal opportunity to gain a win and gain a move up the league table with a home fixture against a side positioned just below them. Stamford had beaten Wisbech on their first meeting earlier in the season but needed to keep concentration early on, which unfortunately didn’t happen with a defensive error in the first 5 minutes allowing the away side to take an early lead.
Stamford played some positive football and passed the ball well between the midfield and attack forcing openings at goal but the Wisbech goalkeeper certainly played her part in the game and made many confident saves forcing Stamford to keep pushing forward at every opportunity with Katie Henshaw firing an excellent lob from the left side over the goalies head into the back of the net, shortly followed by Amy Ward increasing the score with a ball landing at her feet and a swift, neat turn, finding the goal. Sascha Smith confidently tidied up in midfield any lose balls when Wisbech attacked and any balls passing her were dealt with neatly by Cotterill, Hyland and Gilbert in defense.
A couple of good corners from Hannah Worthington followed with a chance for Chloe Bailey to strike the ball which deflected off a defender to give Stamford a 3 1 lead. Walpole had an excellent opportunity with the ball just sweeping along the line but no foot on the end of it to get that ball across the line. An error by the Wisbech goalkeeper then led to Ward scoring her second. A good team performance on the day, but just allowed Wisbech to slip another one in towards the end of the match, but all in all a confident game with some much improved play.
Stamford Girls – Georgia Ireland, Charley Gilbert, Lily Hyland, Ellie Cotterill, Sascha Smith, Grace Ferry, Olivia Kettleborough, Hannah Worthington, Claire Walpole, Chloe Bailey, Sascha Smith, Katie Henshaw, Holly Swietanowski
Player of the Match – Hannah Worthington
Saturday 27 February 2010
Stamford U13 4-0 Wisbech St Mary U13
Stamford played two types of football in this game. In the first half, defending deep, Stamford were over elaborate in attack, repeatedly offside and lacking in both self confidence and a killer punch. Wisbech St Mary offered little in attack. The half ended 0-0.
Following a rousing half time team talk by Coach Bailey, audible from the opposite touchline, Stamford pushed up in the second half with Worthington playing a more advanced role. The team attacked as a unit and shot on sight. Ward and Henshaw both found the net twice with shots from just inside the area. Bailey, Ferry, Worthington and Smith all went close but were denied by a superb display by the Wisbech St Mary keeper. Second half Stamford looked like scoring with every attack and the final result did not reflect the team’s dominance.
Provided the team play with the verve shown in the second half, Stamford remain in the hunt for third place in the league . With Wisbech St Mary playing a return fixture this Saturday, confidence should be high going into a crunch 11 a side cup semi final on Sunday in Lincoln.
Stamford:- Georgia Ireland, Lily Hyland, Charley Gilbert, Claire Walpole, Ellie Cotterill, Hannah Worthington, Grace Ferry, Chloe Bailey, Katie Henshaw, Sascha Smith, Amy Jane Ward
Player of the match: Lily Hyland
LEAGUE GAME
SUNDAY 14 FEBRUARY
ESTOVER U13 0
STAMFORD GIRLS U13 3
Thinking the girls would be very tired today as this was their 2nd match of the weekend, they came out firing on all cylinders and certainly dominated the whole game from start to finish. This was an important win for the away side and the girls well deserved the victory playing some excellent football and really passing the ball well across the pitch. Ward hit a beautiful lob into the corner of the net after an excellent string of passes from Walpole to Smith to Ward in the 18 yard box to finish.
Smith had many chances throughout the first half but the Estover goalkeeper certainly kept them in the game by confidently saving everything that came into her view. A slight lack of confidence in the Stamford defense could have led to an equaliser but luckily Ireland managed to get to the floor and sweep up the ball. Kettleborough, player of the match, fought hard in defence and in midfield, clearing up any loose balls.
Walpole had 2 good attempts from the right wing and also many more passing the ball over for Smith and Ward to just miss increasing the score. Bailey then got her foot on the end of a ball that dropped in from a corner and this put Stamford a well deserved 2 0 up.
This was certainly the most competent game Stamford Girls had played for a long time and had numerous attempts at goal. A brave save from the Estover goalkeeper led to the ball being hit directly in her face after a one to one with Worthington who within the next 3 minutes scored a fantastic goal once again from an excellent cross in from Ward. All in all a very pleasing solid team performance and a well deserved win for Stamford.
Stamford Girls – Georgia Ireland, Charley Gilbert, Claire Walpole, Lily Hyland, Olivia Kettleborough, Grace Ferry, Hannah Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Sascha Smith, Amy Ward
Player of the match – Olivia Kettleborough
CUP GAME
SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY
STAMFORD GIRLS U13 1
WYBERTON WILDCATS U13 2
This postponed cup match draw took place at Uffington Road and the home side knew it would be a tough draw with Wyberton presently 2nd in the Fenland League. Stamford normally start slow and often make mistakes in the first few minutes of the match but they started very strong and very determined. The midfield and defenders played well together with some good maneouvres of the ball and positioning and this performance paid off with Katie Hensaw making an excellent run down the left side and crossing the ball on her left foot into the back of the net. With this early lead Stamford kept fighting with Henshaw nearly increasing the score line.
It was an even match of skill and effort throughout the game and Ireland, in goal, made some good solid saves until the Wildcats main striker hit the ball straight over our gaolies head into the far corner of the net, followed again within the next 5 minutes by a practically identical goal. Stamford were 2 1 down at half time but they kept pushing forward with Bailey having a great game controlling the ball and feeding into the box.
Wyberton missed a sitter towards the end of the match with the ball hitting the right hand post, landed at the feet of Ireland to collect and Walpole making the solid clearance. An unfortunate defeat by Stamford Girls in the local Cup but the defense certainly played a very confident 70 minutes, with Gilbert covering every inch of the pitch.
Stamford Girls – Georgia Ireland, Lily Hyland, Ellie Cotteril, Charley Gilbert, Chloe Bailey, Claire Walpole, Olivia Kettleborough, Grace Ferry, Katie Henshaw, Hannah Worthington, Sascha Smith, Amy Ward
Player of the Match – Charley Gilbert
PETERBOROUGH DIAMONDS 2-1 STAMFORD GIRLS U13
On a bleak and very cold Saturday morning at Peterborough, Stamford Girls were determined to change their luck around and walk away with a win against the team currently 2nd in the league, however the match never really got going for both sides and there were very few chances at goal either.
Stamford defense made some errors early on and allowed the home side to take the lead within the first 10 mins of the game and for the following 15 to 30 minute period of the 1st half Stamford really looked likely to equalise and possibly take the lead but Smith only managed to pass the confident Diamonds’ goalkeeper from a side throw in where the ball fell neatly at her feet for her to turn and strike the ball into the far left side of the net. But within 5 mins Peterborough regained the lead with another defensive error.
All in all not a very hard fought or exciting match for both sides and this result now leaves the Stamford Girls more work to improve their goal scoring abilities and gain points to start moving up the league table.
Stamford Girls U13 players - Georgia Ireland, Lily Hyland, Charley Gilbert, Claire Walpole, Ellie Cotterill, Hannah Worthington, Grace Ferry, Chloe Bailey, Katie Henshaw, Sascha Smith
Player of the match – Claire Walpole
STAMFORD GIRLS U13’s 3-6 HUNGATE U13’s
This should have been a very evenly matched Saturday afternoon game however Stamford Girls started very slow having not played since early December and within the first minute found themselves 1 0 down with the defense being caught asleep and totally unaware where the ball was. Not the best start for the home side, however Stamford attackers had many chances with Ward just missing the far left post with her first attempt of the match.
Stamford tightened their defensive play but Hungate managed to increase their lead after a corner ball was struck and swept past Bailey. This storyline continued and within the first 20 minutes Stamford were 3 0 down. Stamford kept their heads up and the next 15 minutes were the best of the game with the local girls having many unlucky attempts at goal but finally luck was on Stamford’s side and Ward finally managed to secure the first goal after several attempts..
Ferry then missed “a sitter”, with Henshaw also trying hard to increase the scoring. Worthington then scored a fantastic goal with a lob over the goalies head from just outside the 20 yard box followed by Smith cooly sweeping the ball to the left hand side of the net.
It was 4 3 and Stamford were finally looking as though they could pull through and actually win the game however half time came at the wrong time for the girls and the second half was very disappointing indeed with only one attempt from Stamford which lead to a “save of the season” from the Hungate goalkeeper.
Heads went down and the final score was 6 3, which dropped Stamford to 7th in the league however they do have 6 games in hand.
Stamford Girls – Chloe Bailey, Charley Gilbert, Ellie Cotterill, Grace Ferry, Olivia Kettleborough, Hannah Worthington, Grace Ferry, Sascha Smith, Amy Jane Ward, Holly Swietanowski, Katie Henshaw
