Under 12 Maroon vs Whiteley Wanderers Youth Comets

U12 Cup

Our first cup tie of the season was a tense affair as we traveled to face Whiteley Wanderers Youth Comets, and we came away with a narrow 2-1 victory to advance to the next round.

Despite starting with four players in unfamiliar positions due to absences, we began the match on the front foot. We controlled possession, moving the ball from side to side and front to back, though the strong winds made our usual passing game difficult.

Our pressure paid off with the opening goal. After a frantic period of play, the ball fell to Ava H, who charged onto it and finished with a low shot past the keeper to put us ahead. However, we let our guard down and soon found ourselves on the back foot. A free kick was awarded to the opposition, and their shot trickled past our out-of-position goalkeeper to level the score.

At halftime, we regrouped, discussed where we were falling short, and made some minor positional changes. We started the second half with renewed energy and at times, played some excellent passing football. Despite this, we struggled to get the ball forward to our striker, who made countless runs that went unrewarded.

Our second and winning goal came from a bit of good fortune. A scramble in the penalty box saw Teà poke the ball in from close range, giving us a crucial 2-1 lead.

With no substitutes available, our players started to tire towards the end of the match. However, we showed great resilience, digging in and absorbing the opposition's late pressure to secure the victory.

Congratulations to Zosia, who was named Player of the Match for her composure in defence. It was great to have her back in the squad, and she was rarely troubled throughout the game.

We now look forward to the next round of the cup!