Under 15 Performance Squad vs Woking Football Club

JPL Warriors U15 Purple Division

The U15 girls travelled to Woking this morning for a 10 am kick-off, delivering a performance defined by competitive spirit and determination, even though the final score didn't reflect their effort on the pitch.

The opening stages of the game were promising, with our girls settling quickly and demonstrating excellent ball retention for the first five to ten minutes. While this early pressure didn't result in any clear tests for the Woking goalkeeper, it set a positive tone. Woking, however, soon found their rhythm and started to create opportunities of their own.

We went into the break 3-0 down, but the scoreline certainly flattered the hosts. The conceded goals came from a few specific instances, including one from trying to play out from the back (a welcome risk that is part of their development!), one from a free-kick, and another where we just failed to commit to the tackle. Crucially, the team looked competitive and the overall balance of the first half suggested a much tighter contest.

The focus at half-time was simple: improve the intensity in duels and ensure closer marking out of possession. While the girls responded well, a frantic opening 10 minutes saw Woking extend their lead with a goal scored directly from a corner and a strong long-range effort.

Despite this setback, the team's heads did not drop. For the remaining 25 to 30 minutes, the U15s were the side creating the better opportunities and were arguably the more likely to score. This resilience is a huge testament to their character, and the management team is incredibly proud of the group for maintaining their competitive spirit right until the final whistle. The quality is definitely present in this squad. With a few tactical adjustments—namely tidying up defensively, finding more composure in possession, and winning those crucial 1v1 duels more often—future results against teams like Woking will swing in their favour. This is a great group to manage, and they will undoubtedly get better and better.

A huge special mention goes to our Player of the Match, Marsha. Her brilliant fancy feet and relentless tenacity meant she was a constant thorn in the side of the opposition's midfield throughout the entire match. Super work, Marsha!