Another kind of green

Greenleas Celtic 10 - AFC Waverton 2

Oh dear. Disappointment. Heads up.

Ah well look at the positives-

• Great goals from Elia and Caitlin
• Great performance from Lucie again in goal
• Some good defending and passing
• Kate and Lauren coming on strong
• Greenleas Celtic are a very good team and we have now played 3 of the top league teams in succession
• Rebecca didn't get totally lost and miss all of the game
• Emma's Dad didn't break his ankle when falling into the hole beside the pitch
• It was sunny and the sea looked nice

What do we need to learn from today?

• Need to tackle effectively even if the girls are bigger than us
• Belief that we can win that 50-50 ball.

We'll work on these in training over the next couple of weeks.

Training this Monday (1 November) with Heather and Mike at Christleton School Gym (not the sports centre - go through the school entrance - call Mike on 07901552261 if uncertain) 7pm-8pm. Cost £2

Robbie is running u16s training on Weds at Old Hall Leisure 6-7 and any u14s who want to pop down to train with Robbie are welcome to. £2/session.

Game v Greenleas Celtic away on Saturday

How's the half term going?

This Saturday we play Greenleas Celtic away at St Georges School in Wallasey with a 9:30 kick off. Come on girls, we'll bounce back from Saturdays disappointment. Play like we did on Saturday and we will do well this week.

Directions below. Don't go to the wrong school (there are two - it is Claremount Road) and be careful with those SatNavs they have caught people out on this one before for some reason.

Meet there at 9:10. Lifts offered as usual. Text or tel Mike on 07901552261. Please let us know if unavailable asap.

No training this week. Too flippin' dark. Indoor training with Heather and Mike starts on Monday 1 November at the Christleton School Gym, 7-8. £2 per session.

8.	Follow 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 Rdheading 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 Go past Windsors garage and turn left onto Grove Road.		0.4 mi
13.	Go past the Nelson pub and then a field on the right then turn into Claremount Road:		0.3 mi
14	Claremount Rd SCHOOL IS ON THE LEFT UP THE HILL. WE PARK ON CLAREMOUNT ROAD OR LYNDHURST ROAD JUST BEFORE THE SCHOOL ON THE LEFT

(I am always touched) by your presence dear

AFC Waverton 2 - Birkenhead Youth Ladies 4

Something in my consciousness told me you'd appear
Now I'm always touched by your presence dear
You can read my hand, I've got no defence
When you sent your messages whispered loud and clear
I am always touched by your presence dear

We saw things today we'd never seen before. We heard things today we'd never heard before.

Great performance from the team today, but unlucky to lose to a physically strong side. Two brilliant goals from Ellie and some great play all round from everyone else. Well done to Kate for making her debut in a difficult match. Well done to Lucie for another MOM award.

It went black and the heavens opened just as we were setting up, forcing a race to the shelter of the lock up. A bad omen for a dark physical presence, which later came and stood beside us.

The Birkenhead Youth minibus got stuck in the rain (must have been some serious rain) on the M53 allowing more time for us to practise and more time for Emma and Ellie to hug the whole team again and again. This is a bit of a new thing isn't it?

With debutant Kate and the learning Lauren starting as subs, the team lined up in regular fashion. Lucie (who said she fancied getting muddy) in goal; Emma and Ellie at the back; Kiera in the centre of the middle with the Lilster and the Beckster outwide; and Elia up front.

A good start from the home side with some good pressure and Kiera was unlucky not to score. Then Elia too had a great chance and was unlucky not to open the account. Ellie though made sure when she got near goal with a great effort and that was it, we were 1-0 up. The dark presence amongst us said 'we're still in the van'.

And so that was how it continued. Waverton on top but the Yoofies looking like they could get one back. We have Lucie though and she doesn't let things go past her easily. Especially the ball.

Lauren replaced Elia who had run out of breath. Kate came on for her first game in 3 years. She looked to pass the ball to the twins, but realised after 5 minutes that they left the club years ago. Just stay in the centre we said. And so she did.

1-0 at half time. The dark presence was no longer with us. The game could be ours, or it could be lost. Guaranteed there would be more goals in the next 30 minutes.

At the start of the second half things were ok, but then after 5 mins a double disaster. Two goals within 3 minutes gave the Yoofies the lead. The first was a brilliant shot from the left which crashed into the top of the net past poor Lucie.

The yellow shirts came back though and Ellie ran through and chased a loose ball, just beating the 'keeper to it by a whisker whilst the whole field winced. Ellie's determination was fantastic and we were back in it at 2-3. The brave goalkeeper looked injured and Ellie checked up on her, but she was fine. Just a spot of the Ristey treatment.

Further efforts followed. Lily did really well to put over a decent cross from the right, Elia was unlucky, Kiera shot wide, Rebecca just couldn't connect, and Ellie shot too early. Somewhere in that lot we nearly scored from a corner too. Unlucky girls. Then the Yoofies go and score a fourth. Game over? Well not really but heads went down a bit. The chance had gone. It was ours for a few minutes but it went.

We have never seen players deliberately trying to block Lucie at corners in this League before, but we saw it today. She's too flippin' good you see. Instructions to block her had been sent out from the dark side and instructions must be obeyed. What is the FA's key message about Junior football coaching? 'Let the game be the teacher'. Quite.

MOM Lucie for Waverton, Charley Jo Williams for Birkenhead Youth. Apologies to Blondie.

Birkenhead Youth game this Saturday

This Saturday we welcome Birkenhead Youth Ladies down to Waverton. Kick off is 9:30 and again help from parents with setting up the goals and pitch from 9:00 will be needed. The girls are asked to be there by 9:10 at the latest for a decent warm up.

Despite half term we will have a strong team out and welcome Kate for her first game for the Club since 2008.

Lets see if we can get back to winning ways. See you there!

Park Life

Wirral Hawks Ladies 7 - AFC Waverton 0

Right that's it, we're not playing Wirral Hawks again. No way. Girls team, Ladies team, even their Old Age Persons team, not again. That's nothing against the Hawks players who are a good set of girls, nor Tommy and Glen who look after them and who we have a lot of time for, it's just that we do not get any luck. Don't do the lottery on the days we play them.

Anyway, back to the game. Nice sunny Autumn morning with nice views down across Victoria Park to the Mersey. The girls decided to use a novel warming up method. Play on the children's playground. Why bother stretching and jogging when you can swing on the monkey bars?

The team lined up with the ever impressive Lucie in goal and captain for the day; Ellie (wearing baby sized boots) and Emma at the back; Lily, Rebecca and Kiera in the middle; with the Wiltshire Wonder Caitlin up front. Elia and Lauren took their turns to start as subs this week.

Lucie won the toss and decided to kick up the slope for the first half. The team had decided that that was the best course of action hoping that the Hawks would be tired in the second half. Last season we decided the opposite hoping that we could bag a hatful in the first half and defend the lead in the second (that plan lasted 10 minutes).

And so the game kicked off with our girls kicking up the hill and it was all fine for a while. The trouble was that we couldn't get out of our own half and when we got the ball to Caitlin the support wasn't there. The Hawks got a goal and then another and then another. We had some great chances though and we tried to play the ball forward. Lily made a brilliant run and was given the ball from the left but was unable to beat the 'keeper. Elia had a definite penalty appeal when she was brilliantly through on the 'keeper but was brought down. The ref apologised that he didn't see it.

5-0 at half time but the advice was to press like mad for 10 minutes and try to get a goal back. The second idea was for Emma and Ellie to swap boots with Emma now wearing the size 2s.

The plan worked and we were awarded a penalty in the first few minutes of the restart following great pressure. Kiera bravely stepped up to take it but unfortunately hit her shot at the keeper. Kiera's head went down after that but she is an inspiration to the team and should let that miss affect her.

Lucie was in fine form again diving bravely at the feet of strikers and making a string of fine saves. Emma too was defending brilliantly making some last ditch tackles and setting off attacke with some great long throws. Rebecca was playing well in her wide position, making players twice her size uncomfortable with her persistence to win the ball.

Later Caitlin's bullet shot hit the post from a long way out with the keeper completely beaten. Ellie Riste had a couple of great runs from the back right into the heart of the opponents box but couldn't make her shots count and Caitlin on another break screwed her shot wide. Lauren put in an improved performance for only her second ever game and her enthusisam is infectious.

So we have to look forward to next week when we welcome Birkenhead Ladies (noooo nooo not another Ladies team) to Waverton for a 9:30 ko.

The final outdoor training session is this Wednesday 5:30-6:30 at Waverton with Heather.

See you there!

MOM - Kiera

Saturday at the Hawks

We seem to be getting familar with Wirral Hawks since we play their 'Ladies' team this Saturday after playing their girls team last Saturday. Surely they don't really mean their "Ladies' team do they? I think we shall be checking out their player passports very carefully!

Saturdays game kicks off at 11. Meet at Victoria Park (oh no its the pitch with the huge slope!) in Birkenhead at 10:40. Lifts offered as usual. Directions below.

Caitlin should be back. Lily has recovered from being ill. Lauren is available but we haven't been able to sort out Kate or Molly's league registrations yet so they will not be eligible this week.

Victoria Park is a really nice park near to Tranmere Rovers ground.

Take the M53 to the Clatterbridge junction (J4). Go up to the roundabout over the motorway and take first left. This is Mount Road the B5151. Follow this through Storeton past the Travellers Rest pub.

Keep on this road for a while until you get to a funny little double mini roundabout. Take the right hand turn at the second mini roundabout onto Thornton Road. At the bottom turn left onto Borough Road and then first right onto the Wiend. Follow this through a junction and it becomes Mount Road again. Keep on this road and when you get to the end, you'll come onto a little funny roundabout. The park is on your right, but take third exit and park on the main road just after the roundabout thing or pull into Victoria Park Road on the right and park. The entrance is on the main road. If you get to the Black Horse pub on the right you've gone too far. If lost call Mike on 07901552261.

One of those days

AFC Waverton 2 - Wirral Hawks Girls 8

Ah well, it was just one of those days. After the drama of last Saturday against a very good Upton side, today's performance was low key. Goals from Kiera and Captain Ellie (brilliant header from a corner) couldn't stop a heavy home defeat. Well done Lucie for MOM for brilliant keeping and a special well done to Lauren playing her first ever football game and only given an hours notice to step in for the sick Lily. Well done all the girls!

Report to follow

Training Thursday/Game Sat

Everybody recovered from Saturday?

Training is Thursday this week. 5:30-6:30 at Waverton.

We have another home game on Saturday when we welcome Wirral Hawks Girls to Waverton. Kick off again is 9:30 and all girls are asked to meet by 9:10 at the latest. The help of parents in setting up and taking down this season has been brilliant and we will need it again this Saturday. If helpers could get there about 8:45 that would be great.

Wow!

AFC Waverton 7 - Upton JFC 7

Whatever happens this season, this game will be remembered as one of the best displays of the whole year as it had everything and was a brilliant advert for girls football. A win for either side would have been unjust given the effort, skill, bravery and determination put in by all of the girls on both sides.

Waverton lined up in a usual formation with Lucie in the nets; Kiera, Elia and Rebecca in the middle and Caitlin up front. Lily volunteered to start on the bench. Upton included former Wallasey League's player of the year Aira Templeman, who has played very well against us in the past.

A good start from the home side could have resulted in an early goal but it Upton who got the advantage when an unmarked player poked the ball past Lucie into the net. A great response from the home side though when immediately Elia equalised. The rest of the game was end to end stuff but in the second half Waverton took a clear advantage and looked to have the game sealed going up to 5-3 at one point. Lily scored a fantastic goal just after the interval, definite candidate for the goal of the season following great work from the team. Lily picked up the ball in the centre of midfield and hit a strong high shot into the net from way out. Her goal celebration was a joy to behold. Caitlin completed her hatrick with a lovely tap into the right corner at the end of another attack.

Upton had other ideas and not only came back to equalise, they nicked the lead with just minutes left to take it to 6-7 as the home side tired. Lucie made a brilliant save to keep another goal out and she is getting better and better every week.

With the clock ticking to full time, Caitlin picked up the ball wide left and tried to pass it beyond the defender. Caitlin though was taken out by the defender winning a free kick on the wide left. With Mike looking at the stopwatch and only seconds left, he sent all outfield players up into the attack, leaving two Upton players puzzled as they remained up front. Kiera took the kick and Ellie got onto the end of it and poked the ball home sending the home girls into celebration.

Great game. All played really well and the team is really geling together. The new girls Elia, Lucie and Rebecca are all improving so fast. Rebecca was excellent in putting herself around today and was very unlucky not to score. It's a great team and we have a great season to look forward to with one win, one draw and one defeat so far this campaign. We have Lauren, Molly and Kate to come into the squad as well.

Aira from Upton got hurt in a tackle and was taken to hospital afterwards but she was checked over and no damage was found. She'll need a rest for a couple of weeks but we hope to see her get back on the pitch as soon as possible.

Player of the match - for Waverton Kiera, and for Upton Emily Sullivan who had a great game wide on the right.

Training this Tursday instead of Wednesday. Apologies but it's to do with coaches availability. If you can't make it don't worry.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Well deserved.