Up on the roof

Heygarth United 1 - AFC Waverton 3

The clash of the yellows, except Heygarth had kindly arranged to play in their second strip of light blue to avoid the confusion of players, the referee, parents and the man on the roof. More of him later. And very nice Heygarth looked in the blue strip too.

With only six Waverton wonders in Eastham with a minute to kick off, a repeat of the Caitlin at Greenleas affair was looking on the cards. However, Olivia was not lost, just at the wrong ground and was being driven at high speed down to the very twee sounding Plymyards field.

The referee being a nice young chap gave us an extra five minutes to wait for Olivia and so we were happy. More time for Cara's jokes.

With no subs and no sign of Nicola or Aimee on the horizon, the team picked itself. Cara in Germany away kit (football kit that is) was in goal of course, Ellie R and the returning Emma were the Guardians at the back, K and the 2Ls were the Expresses in the middle with Olivia the red topped Star raring to be unleashed up front.

Waverton got the early breakthrough when a few minutes into the game, Kiera slotted the ball home, a 'gift of a goal' according to the Heygarth coaches. After that though Heygarth looked very keen and were not in the mood for being beaten. Our girls though were still not really sorting themselves out. There were missed kicks, misplaced passes, missed tackles, dropped bobbles and a strange desire to keep coming to grab a drink from the touchline (in February?). Thirsty work this football lark as Lisa and Julie noted from the touchline, wondering where the nearest coffee shop was.

Halfway through the half things still looked a little disorderly, quite different to some of the excellent 'on the ground' football played this season against some of the really good sides. There was only one team though who was going to bag the next goal and it wasn't Waverton. Except it was, with Olivia smashing the ball into the net following a good run. 2-0 and Lily nearly made it 3 with a great run but the shot was just too weak.

Heygarth wouldn't give up and took advantage of some ball watching and failure to be positive in our own box to make it 2-1. Game on as they say.

At the halftime break there was much talk. Lots of it and most of it one way. Olivia needed her laces tightening. Kiera changed back into her original new white boots after putting on her old blue boots halfway through the half after shouting that the shoe shop had sold her the wrong size!

Cara wanted to show everyone her slides (not the hair ones) and wanted to come out of goal for part of the second half. Suddenly there was a rush of excuses from the rest. Everyone had oddly developed problems with their arms or elbows and one was on the verge of producing a Doctor's Note which said that under no circumstances should this girl be allowed to play in goal as it would lead to a case of serious injury or worse. Fortunately captain Kiera showed some leadership and volunteered to take the last 10 mins in goal. Well done Kiera, it hasn't gone unnoticed.

In the second half the team were given 5 mins to score another or it was Plan B. And Plan B it was. Olivia and Emma swapped positions with Emma having opportunities to put the ball into the net and Olivia having opportunties to come forward with the ball from the back. It worked when soon after the change, Olivia set up Laura who attacked down the right and her narrow angle shot was deflected into the net. 3-1. Will that be enough.

The man up the ladder on the nearby house ventured gingerly onto the roof. Spectators feared disaster, even worse an Ellie rocket clearance knocking his ladder away.

Heygarth tried very hard to get back into it and played really well. Kiera dropped into goal and made a tremendous save. Ellie moved into midfield and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet after some excellent runs and interchanges with Lily. It was a great encounter and all credit to everyone on the field. Emma Gould in the United goal was very brave and in superb form and rightly was awarded MOM.

Job done as they say on Match of the Day. Three points in the bag, we'd have taken this at kick off, and all that.

MOM - for AFC Waverton Kiera Berry, for Heygarth Emma Gould.

Thanks to the coaches and the girls at Heygarth. Good luck for the rest of the season.

Training with the U16s this Monday again at the High School gym 6-7. We'll be outside soon though, Spring's coming. Yipee. Enjoy the weekend.

Heygarth game this Saturday

This Saturday we play Heygarth away in Eastham. We have had some very good games with Heygarth in the past and played very convincingly there back in September in a pre-season friendly. In July last year the u12s played in the Vicars Cross tournament final stages against Heygarth and we won narrowly. Like us Heygarth are a team who just like to play football irrespective of whoever wins and we look forward to meeting them again.

Kick off is 11am. All players are asked to meet there at 10:30. It will take place at Plymyards in Eastham. This is the playing field on Bridle Road in Eastham and is very easy to find from the M53. For those with a long memory it is where we played Heygarth in a friendly back in 2008.

Anybody needing a lift call Mike on 07901552261.

Ellie M and Caitlin are unavailable, but all others are expected.

Looking ahead we have been invited to put a team into the Poynton Sixes Tournament in June. We played in this tournament at u12 level in 2008 and it was a really excellent day. It will take place on Sunday 20 June (u14s) and is filling up fast. It is a fantastic end to the season. Mike will need to know who is interested in playing asap.

Directions to Heygarth United:

1.	Head northeast on Eggbridge Ln towardWaverton Mill Quays	0.2 mi
2.	Take the 2nd left onto Brown Heath Rd	0.5 mi
3.	Continue onto Rake Ln	0.4 mi
4.	Rake Ln turns slightly right and becomesStamford Ln	1.2 mi
5.	Turn left at A51/Tarvin Rd	1.2 mi
6.	At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto the A55ramp to Ellesmere Port/M53/Manchester/M56/M6	0.3 mi
7.	Merge onto A55	1.3 mi
8.	Continue onto M53	8.4 mi
9.	At junction 5, take the A41 exit to Birkenhead/Queensferry	0.2 mi
10.	At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto A41/New Chester Rd heading to Birkenhead	0.8 mi
11.	Turn left at Bridle Rd	0.3 mi
12.	Keep going along the road and the playing fields appear in about 0.3 mile. We're on the left.

Bridle Rd Eastham, Wirral, Merseyside CH62, UK

Irby colts game off

Irby colts have tonight called and said that they now cannot get a team together for tomorrows game so we have had to postpone the match. Enjoy your lie in and rest of the weekend.

Training with the u16s 6-7 on Monday in the High School gym.

Next sat we are away at Heygarth.

Irby Colts game on

Saturday's game at home to Irby Colts will go ahead after a discussion with the away team tonight.

With some players still soaking up the sun on their holidays, the team will be:

Cara, Laura, Ellie R, Ellie M, Olivia, Emma and Caitlin. 7 a side and no subs. Early bed for everybody then and porridge for breakfast. Mike and Heather are on scouting missions so Sven Mageean will be in charge for the second time this season.

Irby Colts will be looking for revenge for our victory in the u12s Presidents Cup Final last June. Only two of that side will start for us on Saturday.

Kick off at Waverton is 9:30 and players are asked to meet at 9:10. Help with setting up the nets, corner flags and respect barriers will be very much appreciated. The u16s will be on after us, so you can leave them up.

Good luck and send us a text!

Just count them up again for me

Upton 3 - AFC Waverton 0

With 6 players away on international duty, the faithful five lined up against their Upton opponents just before 12:30. Then they all came running to the touchline showing considerable prowess in mathematics, shouting 'they've got 7, they've got 7'. They were right and the pre-match deal with Upton about playing 5v5 appeared to be broken before kick off. Oh here we go again. Fortunately one of the Upton parents saw sense and persuaded their coaches that it would be unfair to play anything other than 5v5.

And so two muttering striped shirts were shown the touchline and the game kicked off with equal numbers. 8 Upton subs went for a kickabout on the adjacent pitch.

Well wrapped up Cara was between the sticks, captain Riste at the back, Lily and Laura in the edges of the middle and the returning Olivia in the middle of the middle. A sort of diamond formation with a yellow shirt at each of the four points.

Upton had the upper hand in the early stages with Abby Bateman looking a handful for Ellie Riste. Abby is a very strong player and playing alone up front she showed great touches and turns. Ellie though was up to the challenge and was superb in her sliding tackles and determination to challenge for the ball with her bigger opponent. This was a real tussle and Ellie was certainly up for it showing just how good she is at defending.

Upton took the lead but after that Waverton seemed to settle and could have easily have got the equaliser. Olivia had a great chance and shot wide and then Lily intercepted the ball fantastically near the halfway line and ran all the way to the box but her low shot was saved by the 'keeper. Laura was playing well tracking back and making some key challenges. The MOM award was certainly well deserved given her performances this season.

Towards half time though Upton got two more goals., making the score 3-0.

After a conversation with the girls and the coaches, we agreed to play the second half as a friendly with Ira and Hannah joining the Waverton team. The friendly was won by Upton 2-0.

MOM Laura, and for Upton, Abby Bateman.

No training this Monday. Robbie is training the u16s this Wednesday and has invited any u14s to come along. 4-5 at the field at Waverton. We hope to get back to Wednesdays on the field at Waverton very soon. The light is getting much better in the evenings now, so it won't be too long.

Have a good half term week.

Game this Saturday v Upton?

Game is now definitely on. It's 5 a side. Team Cara, Ellie R, Laura, Lily, Olivia.

Meet at Overchurch School at 12:00, for 12:30 ko. Anybody needing a lift call Mike on 07901552261.

Directions :

.	Head northeast on Eggbridge Ln towardWaverton Mill Quays		0.2 mi
2.	Take the 2nd left onto Brown Heath Rd		0.5 mi
3.	Continue onto Rake Ln		0.4 mi
4.	Rake Ln turns slightly right and becomesStamford Ln		1.2 mi
5.	Turn left at A51/Tarvin Rd		1.2 mi
6.	At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto the A55 ramp to Ellesmere Port/M53/Manchester/M56/M6		0.3 mi
7.	Merge onto A55		1.3 mi
8.	Continue onto M53		17.5 mi
9.	At junction 2, exit toward A551		0.5 mi
10.	Merge onto A5027/Moreton Spur		0.3 mi
11.	Slight left onto the ramp to Upton		0.2 mi
12.	Turn left at A551/Moreton Rd		0.3 mi

A551/Moreton Rd Overchurch school is on the left about 200m down the road.

Lost in Fog

Greenleas Celtic 5 - AFC Waverton 3

As the fog rolled in from the nearby sea, thoughts turned to whether the game might finish. Although it ended in defeat for Waverton, not completing the game would have been a real shame for it was an excellent end to end affair, a real advert for girls football.

With Caitlin lost somewhere between Wallasey and New Brighton, on a road which her Dad could only name on the phone as being 'Zig Zag Road' , only six yellow shirts kicked off against seven green hoops. The team was, the nicely warmed up Cara in goal, the two Ellies at the back behind the two 'L's with K in the centre. A kind of christmas tree formation but without the fairy. She arrived after about 15 minutes.

Straight from the start, Waverton looked up for it with Laura obviously having eaten three Shredded Wheat for breakfast. She was here, there and everywhere.

Greenleas scored after about 10 minutes, but Cara had done really well to keep them out before then. Then through the fog came a yellow shadow. It looked like Caitlin, but something was wrong, she had her knee strapped up and was hobbling. Ah well give it a go and she did, setting up Kiera with a delightful pass from which Kiera ran forward on the right and hit a great shot into the net. 1-1. Game on.

Greenleas scored another just before half time but Lily was unlucky not to back on equal terms when a great run found her in front of goal, but the defender and keeper managed to catch her just as she was about to shoot.

In the second half Caitlin dropped into defence where she wouldn't have to run so much and Ellie Riste went up front where she could run onto the balls coming through. It worked with a great shot from Ellie Riste whistling into the net.

Caitlin came off injured with Lily dropping back into defence. Caitlin was off for about ten minutes before hobbling bravely back on.

Greenleas fought back and got a third, but Waverton soon equalised. It came from a free kick deep on the right. Kiera took it and her great effort hit the crossbar and bounced up and then down and Laura was there to put it into the net for her well deserved first goal of the season. Greenleas got two goals late on though, one very unfortunate for Cara with the ball slipping underneath her.

All in all a great game which really should have been a draw. Waverton were very unlucky and this was a much improved performance from last week. Laura had her best game of the season and was awesome, but the MOM went to Ellie Mageean for yet another display of accomplished defending.

MoM for AFC Waverton - Ellie Mageean, for Greenleas Celtic - Francesca Warren

Training with the u16s this Monday 6-7 at the High School Gym. Heather will be there.

Another Green Saturday

Saturdays game with Greenleas Celtic has been confirmed tonight and will take place at Ste Georges School. Don't go to the Lower School on St Georges Road but to the higher school on Claremount Road. This is where we played Greenleas earlier in the season. Meet there at 10:30. Early arrivals will start.

Olivia and Emma are unavailable. Anybody requiring a lift let Mike know on 07901552261.

Directions from Waverton below:

.	Head northeast on Eggbridge Ln towardWaverton Mill Quays		0.2 mi
2.	Take the 2nd left onto Brown Heath Rd		0.5 mi
3.	Continue onto Rake Ln		0.4 mi
4.	Rake Ln turns slightly right and becomesStamford Ln		1.2 mi
5.	Turn left at A51/Tarvin Rd		1.2 mi
6.	At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto the A55 ramp to Ellesmere Port/M53/Manchester/M56/M6		0.3 mi
7.	Merge onto A55		1.3 mi
8.	Continue onto M53		19.0 mi
9.	At junction 1, take the A554 exit toWallasey/Birkenhead		0.2 mi
10.	At the roundabout, take the 1st exit ontoA554/N Wallasey Approach Rd heading toNew Brighton/Wallasey/A551 Continue to follow A554		1.0 mi
11.	Continue onto Bayswater Rd		0.3 mi
12.	Turn right at B5477/Harrison Dr Continue to follow B5477		0.4 mi
13.	Turn left at Sandy Ln		0.3 mi
14.	Turn left at Claremount Rd Destination will be on the right

We have games on Sat 13 and Sat 20 Feb, both either side of half term. Please let Mike know on 07901552261 if you can't make them as we will have to cancel if we can't get a side together.

The latest league table has been published. Hey not bad girls!

We're mid table just below Saturday's opponents Greenleas Celtic, are the highest placed of any of the Waverton Ladies teams in the League.

League Table as at 29 January (i.e. before last Saturday)

*** Division UNDER 14S GIRLS LEAGUE

Team P W D L F A Pts

W'Y WANDERERS WHITE U14 11 11 0 0 137 10 22

GREENLEAS U14S 12 11 0 1 76 21 22

IRBY U14S 11 10 1 0 86 11 21

UPTON U14S 12 8 0 4 58 39 16

W'Y WANDERERS RED U14 10 6 1 3 46 30 13

GREENLEAS CELTIC U14S 12 6 0 6 48 46 12

WAVERTON U14S 11 3 1 7 35 68 7

B'HEAD YOUTH LADIES U14 11 2 2 7 38 50 6

DELTA COLTS U14S 8 2 1 5 14 53 5

WIRRAL HAWKS U14S 9 2 0 7 34 44 4

IRBY COLTS U14S 10 2 0 8 7 58 4

RIDGEWOOD RANGERS U14S 9 1 0 8 8 61 2

HEYGARTH UNITED U14S 10 1 0 9 4 100 2