Under 9 Maroon vs Portsville Park Vulcans

U9 Cup

Our U9 Maroon team delivered an outstandingly confident and composed performance today, securing a dominant victory against PVP Vulcans in the Hampshire Girls Youth Football League Cup. From the first whistle, the girls executed their game plan brilliantly, controlling the match with maturity and skill.

The team set the tone immediately, demonstrating patient build-up play and maintaining possession. In the opening quarter, the team held an estimated 90% of the ball, methodically working the ball forward. Despite a resilient effort from the PVP goalkeeper, who made several crucial saves, the persistence of the U9 Maroon team paid off, securing a deserved lead.

The second quarter saw the team transition into arguably their best football of the season. The players were intelligent in their movement, consistently finding space and making purposeful runs that tore through the opposition's defensive lines. This spell of dominant, flowing football resulted in a further three goals, sending the team into the half-time break with a commanding advantage.

The second half allowed the coaching staff to challenge the players with positional changes, broadening their understanding of different roles on the pitch. Crucially, even with these adjustments, the team’s core identity remained intact.

The girls continued to play the 'Atalanta Way': disciplined, creative, and composed, refusing to ease the pressure on the opposition. They successfully closed out the game with three more goals, rounding off a comprehensive victory and progressing in the cup.

A special mention goes to Aubrey Bellows, who was named Player of the Match. Her outstanding work rate was evident across the number of positions she played. Her distribution was exceptional, with her passing described by the coaches as being 'like Pirlo'—constantly setting the tempo and finding teammates with pin-point accuracy.

A fantastic team performance—well done, girls!