Tense Cup double over Wednesday
The Crosspool Girls Under 9s and Under 10s pulled off a great double-headed cup quarter-final win over the Sheffield Wednesday girls.
In the first match, the Under 10s faced the Owls girls for the first time without the benefit of inspirational former captain Sam Tierney (now at the FA’s Centre of Excellence and unavailable for Crosspool matches), and that certainly allowed Wednesday to put Crosspool under much more pressure than ever before this season – the league fixtures were both wins for Crosspool, 4-2 and then 6-0. The game was very tight, with neither side scoring until well in the second half. After some early Crosspool threat, it was Wednesday who dominated the first half, with Crosspool continuing to look dangerous on the break, but it was the defences and the two goalkeepers who had the better of it.
The deadlock was broken by Eve Sharman for Crosspool, and top scorer India Thompson-Carr followed a few minutes later to give the home side a bit of a cushion. Even at 2-0 the Crosspool girls could not relax as, although the second half was much more even than the first, the Wednesday girls still looked very much capable of getting back into the game. The result reflected a game in which both sides played very good football, and Wednesday probably had the balance of the play, but Crosspool converted two of their chances whereas Wednesday failed to do so.
An excellent performance by the Crosspool team, and although the team shape was a little out in the first half, all the Crosspool players played well. There were some individual performances that stood out above even the general good standard. Greta Barber-Stones in goal made a number of vital saves and had a very good game. New captain Laura Ridal put in a towering performance in defence, especially in the siege conditions that prevailed for much of the first half. Eve Sharman was fantastic both attacking and defending in the middle of the pitch. However, all the players did well and this week “player of the match” was shared amongst all of them. Well done, girls!
Straight after this match had finished, it looked as though the same fixture was being replayed immediately, as the Crosspool and Sheffield Wednesday Under 9s took the field for their own Cup quarter final. The first half was much more in Crosspool’s favour than the first half of the Under 10s match had been, with Crosspool dominating, but Wednesday looking very dangerous on the break. Mind you, at least one excellent save from the Crosspool goalie was required to keep the sides level to half time.
Second half, the Wednesday girls pushed forward a bit more and things were fairly even, and it was Wednesday who broke the deadlock with a goal from a corner. It was then a case of all out attack from Crosspool, who had to get an equaliser to take the game to extra time. Fortunately the required goal was scored by Lydia in the last minute or so of normal time, much to the relief of the watching Crosspool parents.
1-1 at full time, and 5 minutes extra time each way, to be followed if necessary by penalties! The first period went by goal-less, and it was only a couple of minutes away from penalties when top scorer Kira Roberts rescued the Crosspool parents with a very well taken winning goal. 2-1 to Crosspool after extra time, and very much a fair result on balance, as both teams played very good football but Crosspool had the bulk of the attacking possession and generally a very solid defensive line. Player of the Match was Lydia, although again there were good performances throughout the team.
So a very good day at Coldwell Lane in the end (the Under 11s had started the day well, with a heavy league defeat of Whiston Wildcats before the Cup matches started), but one which has probably shaved years off the lifespans of many middle aged local residents (the Crosspool parents). There was obvious relief at the end of both matches – something that has not been the case generally this season for either team.
In the first match, the Under 10s faced the Owls girls for the first time without the benefit of inspirational former captain Sam Tierney (now at the FA’s Centre of Excellence and unavailable for Crosspool matches), and that certainly allowed Wednesday to put Crosspool under much more pressure than ever before this season – the league fixtures were both wins for Crosspool, 4-2 and then 6-0. The game was very tight, with neither side scoring until well in the second half. After some early Crosspool threat, it was Wednesday who dominated the first half, with Crosspool continuing to look dangerous on the break, but it was the defences and the two goalkeepers who had the better of it.
The deadlock was broken by Eve Sharman for Crosspool, and top scorer India Thompson-Carr followed a few minutes later to give the home side a bit of a cushion. Even at 2-0 the Crosspool girls could not relax as, although the second half was much more even than the first, the Wednesday girls still looked very much capable of getting back into the game. The result reflected a game in which both sides played very good football, and Wednesday probably had the balance of the play, but Crosspool converted two of their chances whereas Wednesday failed to do so.
An excellent performance by the Crosspool team, and although the team shape was a little out in the first half, all the Crosspool players played well. There were some individual performances that stood out above even the general good standard. Greta Barber-Stones in goal made a number of vital saves and had a very good game. New captain Laura Ridal put in a towering performance in defence, especially in the siege conditions that prevailed for much of the first half. Eve Sharman was fantastic both attacking and defending in the middle of the pitch. However, all the players did well and this week “player of the match” was shared amongst all of them. Well done, girls!
Straight after this match had finished, it looked as though the same fixture was being replayed immediately, as the Crosspool and Sheffield Wednesday Under 9s took the field for their own Cup quarter final. The first half was much more in Crosspool’s favour than the first half of the Under 10s match had been, with Crosspool dominating, but Wednesday looking very dangerous on the break. Mind you, at least one excellent save from the Crosspool goalie was required to keep the sides level to half time.
Second half, the Wednesday girls pushed forward a bit more and things were fairly even, and it was Wednesday who broke the deadlock with a goal from a corner. It was then a case of all out attack from Crosspool, who had to get an equaliser to take the game to extra time. Fortunately the required goal was scored by Lydia in the last minute or so of normal time, much to the relief of the watching Crosspool parents.
1-1 at full time, and 5 minutes extra time each way, to be followed if necessary by penalties! The first period went by goal-less, and it was only a couple of minutes away from penalties when top scorer Kira Roberts rescued the Crosspool parents with a very well taken winning goal. 2-1 to Crosspool after extra time, and very much a fair result on balance, as both teams played very good football but Crosspool had the bulk of the attacking possession and generally a very solid defensive line. Player of the Match was Lydia, although again there were good performances throughout the team.
So a very good day at Coldwell Lane in the end (the Under 11s had started the day well, with a heavy league defeat of Whiston Wildcats before the Cup matches started), but one which has probably shaved years off the lifespans of many middle aged local residents (the Crosspool parents). There was obvious relief at the end of both matches – something that has not been the case generally this season for either team.
posted by Randal at
14:47
