Girls Teams
U12s Title Bid Checked by Bishops Stortford
Posted by Debbie Mosely
May 24, 2010, 07:33

Cambridge City Girls U12 3 - Bishops Stortford U12 4

The Lilywhites hopes of a league and cup double ended in a closely contested game away to Bishops Stortford with the Cambridge girls going down four goals to three.

The game was played in scorching heat on a small pitch which meant the girls struggled to play their normal passing game. It couldn't have been a worse start with the hosts scoring in the first minute when their goal kick eluded the entire City defence and was poked home by the Stortford forward without a challenge. Despite going down so early on, the City girls rallied and created a number of chances mainly from either goal kicks and throws due to the size of the pitch. Carla Penny went close when hitting the post, Lucy Holder had a shot shinned away by the goal keeper and Saskia Capetti's attempt was hacked off the line. City continued to push forward looking for an equaliser and were duly rewarded when Zoe Lander's great shot from just inside the Bishops half (about 18 yards out!) nestled in the top corner.

Defending against the slope in the second half City came under more pressure than the first with long balls being sent in from the Stortford defence and it was from one of these that the City defence was undone again when an unmarked Stortford player poked the ball home at the far post.City was again quick to respond when Bronte Rapley's floated free kick was superbly headed in by Penny to restore parity. The level terms did not last long though, as a well executed free kick from the hosts central defender sailed in over City's Jade Drain to make it three two. The Lilywhites appeared to be rocked by this and very shortly after they were a further goal behind when Stortford's midfielder waltzed past three challenges and slotted home. With ten minutes to go City threw everything at the Stortford goal in a desperate attempt to get back in a game that for long periods they had been the dominant side. City deservedly claimed a third when Rapley and Penny combined with a second headed goal for Penny from a free kick with just five minutes left. Despite a tremendous amount of effort and determination from our girls the Stortford defence stayed strong and held on to win what turned out to be an exciting match.

Well done to all the girls for a great season!

Written by Tim Rapley - U12 Manager


© Copyright 2003-08 Cambridge City FC