Can we start again?

Afc Waverton 2 - Wirral Hawks 8

Two brilliant goals the first from Nicola in the first half and the second after half time when Laura ran from the halfway line to put the ball past the Hawks keeper were the best moments of the game. MoM was Cara.

Report to follow.

No game this Saturday and no training either over Easter. Next game is away at Irby Colts on Sat April 10. Next training is Wednesday 14 April 6-7 at Waverton.

Game v Wirral Hawks this Saturday

Only six girls have confirmed their availability for this Saturdays' home game against Wirral Hawks. Therefore the team is:

Cara, Ellie R, Ellie M, Laura, Olivia and Lily.

Emma faces a late fitness test.

Please meet at Waverton at 10:30. Anybody got any friends who wish to play football?

No game on Easter Saturday (April 3) so the next game after that will be Saturday April 10. We do not know who this against yet. Training outside will begin on Wednesday April 14.

On May 22 we will be holding a special festival to celebrate gaining FA Chartermark Status. This is a fantastic achievement for the club. More details to follow but put it in your diary.

Dizzie rascals

Irby 10 - AFC Waverton 1

With no subs for the second week running, the atmosphere was a bit tense at 10:50 with only 4 yellow shirted juniors ready to do battle against the whole Irby squad. Fortunately sat navs were thrown out of the window and with minutes to spare, the remainder of the team appeared at Irby Mill. The playing field is a pleasant little park in Irby village.

Kiera had been ill all week and asked to start off in goal with Cara playing out in defence alongside Ellie R. Lily continued where she left off last week in the centre of midfield with Emma and Laura wide and Nicola up front. Irby are a good team, all Y9 girls and who are flying very high in the league.

For the first 10 minutes or so, Waverton held their own although Kiera had to be sharp to keep them out. But keep them out she did and everything looked possible. Halfway through the half though Irby got the lead, doubled it and added another. Heads down, but soon raised when great work from skipper Lily found Laura on the left and she somehow managed to squeeze her shot between the post and 'keeper. She has a knack of scoring goals like this. Halftime and certainly not all lost.

Kiera came out for the second half with Cara going into goal. Nicola was brought back into the centre of the midfield to try to block them coming through. Soon after the restart though, a great shot just beat Cara although she was so unlucky not to stop it diving fantastically to her left.

Lily nearly got one back for Waverton before some more Irby goals flew in, one an absolute peach of a shot which would have been in the Dee Estuary had it not been stopped by the net. Near the end though Emma, who had been magnificent all game had an amazing run starting from inside her own half on the left side. Reminiscent of John Barnes' wondergoal in the Maracana against Brazil in the 1980s (what do you mean you don't remember it?), she jinked one way then the other then feinted this way and that way, beating at least 5 Brazilian Irbyites on the way before hitting a shot which was unfortunately saved by the 'keeper. A brilliant run which deserved a goal and led to the referee coming over to Emma after the game and telling her so.

Nicola hurt her hamstring, Laura and Kiera both got knocks and all bravely carried on as there were no subs to replace them. Kiera was also not fully fit due to still recovering from a cold. Looks like a busy morning in the AFC Waverton treatment room on Monday.

This was always going to be a difficult game against the Irby A side, but all credit to the Waverton girls for sticking with it and Irby coach Rob came over to talk to the girls at the end to say so. He gave MOM to Kiera but had praise for all of the girls. You've got the love, you've got the Irby love.

Learning points from the game were:

• We definitely need more players to join the squad. For the second week running we carried injured players who should have really had a rest.
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• We have to get the goal kicks better sorted, as 4 of their goals came from our goal kicks not getting out of our half. We will work on this in training next Saturday.
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• Don't get disheartened by it, Irby are all Y9 girls who are physically stronger and bigger than our girls. Look at our league position and be proud of what the team has achieved this season.

MOM - Kiera, for Irby - Laura Shone for her brilliant defensive display.

Training at Christleton with Robbie this Monday 6-7.

There is no game next Saturday so, after consultation with the girls and parents, there will be a training session for all the squad 11-12:30 at Waverton next Saturday. Please arrive on time.

Irby game arrangements

Irby have confirmed the game for Saturday. It will be played at Irby Mill with a ko of 11:00. Please be there at 10:35 so that we can warm up and prepare properly.

The team is: Cara, Emma, Ellie R, Laura, Lily, Kiera, Nicola. There are no subs for the second week running.

Directions below.

We are right in the middle of the League and easily the highest of three Waverton girls sides, so very well done girls.

** Division UNDER 14S GIRLS LEAGUE

Team P W D L F A Pts

W'Y WANDERERS WHITE U14 14 13 1 0 144 14 27

GREENLEAS U14S 15 13 1 1 107 30 27

IRBY U14S 12 9 3 0 76 15 21

UPTON U14S 16 10 1 5 74 49 21

W'Y WANDERERS RED U14 13 8 1 4 51 41 17

GREENLEAS CELTIC U14S 15 7 0 8 50 62 14

WAVERTON U14S 16 5 2 9 49 92 12

B'HEAD YOUTH LADIES U14 13 4 1 8 44 50 9

WIRRAL HAWKS U14S 12 3 1 8 42 53 7

RIDGEWOOD RANGERS U14S 13 1 1 11 17 86 3

IRBY COLTS U14S 11 1 0 10 4 66 2

HEYGARTH UNITED U14S 12 1 0 11 9 109 2

Directions to Irby Mill below. Don't go via Clatterbridge junction or Brimstage Road as there are roadworks and there is a diversion. Ring Mike on 07901552261 if lost!

Google Earth Streetview now covers the Wirral and Chester so you can see the whole route. It's brilliant!

.	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.	Continue onto Stamford 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/M'way/M6		0.3 mi
7.	Merge onto A55		1.3 mi
8.	Continue onto M53		15.5 mi
9.	At junction 3, take the A552 exit toBirkenhead		0.2 mi
10.	At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto theA552/Woodchurch Rd ramp		0.2 mi
11.	Merge onto A552/Woodchurch Rd		0.6 mi
12.	Slight left at Woodchurch Rd		200 ft
13.	Continue onto A551/Arrowe Park Rd		0.7 mi
14.	At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit ontoB5138/Thingwall Rd E (I depart from Google Directions here but then turn right on Thingwall Road East (this is quicker honestly)		0.6 mi
15.
16.
17.	stay on Thingwall Rd		0.1 mi
18.	Turn right at Thurstaston Rd		171 ft
19.	Take the 1st right onto Manor Rd Then at end turn left into Mill Hill Road. Field is on the right hand side. It's a nice little park.

Irby game, Poynton tournament, knees

We are still waiting for confirmation from Irby that Saturday's game is on. Kick off will be 11am and we understand it to being played at Irby Mill. Directions and confirmation on the website as soon as we know.

Thanks to the parents and girls who have confirmed availability for the Poynton tournament on Sunday 20 June. Team so far is: Emma, Ellie R, Lily, Laura, and Kiera. One more girl needed and we'll put a team in. We need to know straightaway otherwise it could be full. Ellie M and Cara are unavailable but we are waiting for Nicola, Olivia and Caitlin to tell us.

Good luck to Heather tomorrow for her knee operation and we hope it all goes well.

Spirit in the Sky

AFC Waverton 6 - Ridgewood Rangers 6

Every so often a game comes along which restores your faith in the wonderfulness of football and this was just that occasion. A great advert for girls football, as good and exciting as the boys and indeed the men can deliver. Definite.

This game had everything. A comeback; injured players; hard tackling; misses; shots hitting the post; great goalkeeping; passion; Laura asking if the game was over at half-time: commitment; and above all fantastic football.

With leading goalscorer Nicola unable to find her boots, Ellie M ill, and Kiera ("I'd rather be playing football") at a wedding, the team was down to 7 fit players at kick off time. Most were there early meaning that there was good opportunity for a warm up, helped by the parents sorting out the pitch preparation.

At kick off the Waverton girls lined up with Cara in between the sticks, Ellie and Emma the defensive duo, Lily, Laura and Olivia the midfield trio and Caitlin the sole striker. Laura wore the captain's armband, which kept falling down her arm during the game, eventually mysteriously disappearing from the Queens Field altogether. The truth is out there.

Soon after kick off, disaster. A great high Ridgewood punt from the left looped high into the Waverton sky. It was picked up on the radar at Liverpool Airport air traffic control, but as Newton (Issac not Athletic) found out all things going up must come down. And so it did heading like a meteorite towards Cara's goal. Is it a bird? A plane? No its 0-1. An uphill struggle on the cards.

Waverton could have caved in easily at this point but present Caitlin with a chance and she'll do the business, even if she is hobbling. And so it was Caitlin who struck the equaliser. 1-1.

Waverton failed to clear properly before it was 2-1 and then two more Ridgewood goals and another one from Caitlin made it 2-4 at half time. Despite the scoreline the performance had been good in periods with Lily having a fantastic battle in midfield, so much so that she moved to the centre of the midfield. Ellie and Emma were tightening up at the back and things were retrievable. Emma had injured her shoulder but was absolutely awesome at the back. As solid and brave as they come, Emma showed today just why Vicars Cross loss is Waverton's absolute gain.

Mike and Heather told the girls to have faith and believe that they can win the game and they took that advice. Caitlin got another two goals knocking Nicola off top spot in the goalscorers table. Laura grabbed two as well, one a great effort from the left another a second chance when the excellent goalkeeper could only parry the save to the little Waverton player. Lily was bossing midfield and at 6-5 it looked as though Waverton would win. Caitlin had been struggling all game with an injured knee and couldn't run anymore, but at the other end Ridgewood equalised. Caitlin went in goal with Cara playing in defence (and how well she did) alongside Emma with Ellie pushing forwards. It nearly worked with Ellie running herself towards goal and then Olivia having a great chance in the last minute but she pushed the ball just too far in front of her. In the last few seconds Laura was knocked over in a collision and both girls had to have treatment.

A draw was the fair result, and all players were a credit to their clubs. It was fantastic. They should put this stuff on telly.

Laura searched the pitch after the game for the 'Respect' armband which won its battle with her arm and eventually had slid off onto the grass sometime in the second half. No sign of it. Strange business.

MOM - Olivia Rhodes, for Ridgewood Milly Powell.

Thanks to Graham at Ridgewood and all the girls for the great game. Thanks also to Matt for his time and thanks to all the Waverton parents who helped set up and take down the goals.

Same again next week please, if your heart can stand it.

Game v Ridgewood Rangers this Saturday

Saturday's game has now been confirmed for a 9:30 kick off at Waverton. Please meet at Waverton at 9:00. The early arrivals will start the game.

Help is required from parents to put up the nets, corner flags and respect barriers.

We beat Ridgewood away in an excellent game in November, so lets see if we can do the double and keep up the winning streak.

Kiera is unavailable but no others have said they are not. Please let Mike know asap if you cannot make the game.

game v Ridgewood Rangers this Saturday

This Saturday we play Ridgewood Rangers at home. Kick off time will either be 11am or 9:30am, and we'll post on here as soon as we know.