Game v Upton Rangers this Saturday

We have tonight been told that we will play a home game against Upton Rangers this Saturday. Kick off is 10:45. Please meet there at 10:25 for a good warm up.

Help is required from parents for setting up. Mark Brooks has kindly offered to help.

The team confirmed so far is: Lucie, Lily, Emma, Elia, Ellie, Caitlin, Kiera. If any others are available, please sign in on the right.

The Sandbach tournament team (21 May) is : Lucie, Lily, Elia, Emma, Ellie, Kate, Kiera, Rebecca.

What have you done today to make you feel proud?

AFC Waverton (6 players) 0 - Irby (7 players) 8

We've been here before but it still doesn't get any easier to take. With the seventh Waverton player pulling out last night for pressing and unavoidable reasons, Irby were on Friday night asked if they would consider playing 6v6. No came the answer. Would you like to lend us one of your 8 and we can play 7v7? No came the answer.

Another well known league side were similarly obsessed with on field domination in days gone by ('We've asked the girls and they would like to play with 7') and in the u12s days we came across this mission drive from an unnamed manager who had the cheek to say how at the end of an unequal 6v7 game that a spectator wouldn't have noticed we had one player less. Well mate thats not how it felt to our six who'd been flogging their legs and lungs out for an hour and consistently picking the ball out of the net. Strange though that other clubs, including our own u12s this very morning, take a contrary view in the interests of fair play. This game is about playing fairly and in the spirit of sportsmanship, not about demoralising 13 year old girls because of the win at all costs mentality of middle aged men.

Anyway. Rant over. The six yellow shirts lined up with Lucie in the nets, a back one of Emma, Kiera in the middle of the middle, Lily and Lauren in the wider middle and Elia up front. The team spirit at kick off was fantastic and the first 10 minutes arguably saw the 6 on top of the 7. Elia was unlucky not to give the home side the lead but generally Waverton's play and passing was top notch. Against the run of play though Irby scored with a low shot that beat Lucie. Soon after an incident happened that was pivotal. In diving to save from an on rushing attacker, Lucie clashed heads with her opponent and came off worse. She had a bad bump on her head and was shaken. Yet she did not want to come off. This is one tough girl. Shaken up, she did her best but some more goals went in.

At half time Lucie was not able to carry on. She felt shaken and sick and would later spend 4 hours in A&E. Kiera went in goal but in the corner of the field a solution to the impending 5v7 disparity appeared. Carlotta, Issy and Jodie were hanging around kicking a ball after their u12 game and once invited to make up the numbers they jumped at the chance. Except we had to choose two to start, so Jodie and Issy joined the 5 u14s for the restart. Touch of irony in the probability that they still had some energy left because our u12s had gone down to 6 as the opposition had only brought 6. See fair play will always win in the end.

We played so well throughout the match and were so unlucky not to score. Elia went close on numerous occasions and Lily was awesome in her trickery. Lauren took to the task really well and had a fine game. Emma was solid at the back and Kiera brilliant outfield and in goal. 'This is scary' she said of the 'keeping role. Lucie makes it look easy.

Elia fully deserved her player of the match award. She was excellent.

Lucie went to hospital as a precaution but apart from a cut, bump and a sore head, she was fine. A brave player she is. Well done to her and the other 5. Oh and the little helpers too, well done and thanks, Carlotta, Issy and Jodie. Huge thanks to Robin Parkinson for putting up the goals on his own at 9:30.

The u16s took to the stage as we left except the angry away team manager was on the verge of heading straight back up the M53 without a ball being kicked because he was arguing that the Waverton pitch wasn't big enough for 7 a side football. You couldn't make it up could you?

Training on Monday. 7-8 at the gym. Next week's fixtures out sometime soon. We hope. What a league this is eh?

Irby game this Saturday

The Irby game will kick off at 10:30 this Saturday at Waverton. Please meet there at 10:10 for a warm up. Help very much appreciated with set up. Sadly we now only have 6 players available.: Lucie, Kiera, Elia, Lily, Lauren and Emma.

There are caravans parked on the car park, so watch out and you'll have to park on the road.

One day like this a year will see me right

AFC Waverton 2 - Greenleas 2

A full turn out of yellow shirted girls arrived pretty much on time on a sunny Spring morning at Waverton. The grass had been cut, the pitch had been marked out (once before the cut and once afterwards, oh yes we are well organised at Waverton!), the goals set up on time by Mark and Robin, we'd had a good warm up, hugs and kisses had been had, so all the right ingredients were there for a great morning of football. And so it proved in a great end to end affair, another great advert for the game. 20 girls out giving everything they had for their teams. What more can you ask? Were you watching u12 boys? You should have been.

As promised, training attendees and early arrivals influenced the starting line up. In goal the leading player of the match Lucie, a back two of Kate and Ellie, a midfield three of Kiera, Lily and Elia and a striking one of Caitlin. On the bench were Rebecca, Emma, Emma's dog and fresh from her sleepover, Lauren.

A bad start to the game within seconds when a defensive mix up allowed Greenleas to nick the ball into the net. Heads shaken. Heads down. At least there's an hour to pull it back. However Caitlin soon sorted it going on a run and shooting past the 'keeper. 1-1. Game on.

Waverton had chance after chance. Elia was lively but couldn't score and Lauren had a great run and was inches away from connecting with what would have been a certain goal. Ellie too had a great run and shot. They scored again but so did Caitlin. 2-2 at half time.

In the second half the game was again very even. Greenleas defended well, with the goalkeeper making some fine saves. Lily was being very tricky and setting up chances. Keira was weaving this way and that way but needed some more options. Elia had a great shot from a corner, a shot that just flew over the bar but had it been 6 inches lower would have been goal of the season.. Rebecca went so close after a great run down the left. She deserves a goal as she gives everything and does it with a smile. Ellie turned another corner just wide with a great shot on the turn. Lily delivered some great corners and Caitlin was unlucky not to get a hatrick.

At the back Emma was excellent and back to her old form. On one occasion she stopped the ball going out in her own half, turned, beat the on rushing defender and set up a great pass down the wing. If that had been a Premier League move, they'd have been talking about it for ages. Not so good was the shot back to goal near the end which would have meant a quiet ride home in the car for Emma and her Dad.

Kate again learnt very well and made some good interceptions. Lucie was her usual, brave and agile self and her goal kicks are now first class.

It could have gone either way at the end, but for any of the girls to finish up as losers would have been unjust. A great advert for girls football. Well done everyone.

Player of the match - Lucie (5th time this season) and for Greenleas , Rachael Hall for her equally great goalkeeping display.

Thanks to Mark and Robin for their help with the goals and to Marissa and the others for their offers of help. Thanks to Ali for reffing a good game.

No training on Monday as Mike has to redo his FA first aid. Next game is at Waverton next Saturday v Irby. ko time to be confirmed.

Greenleas at Waverton on Saturday

Well, we have a new training game - the Wavo Wall. Ask Kate all about it and get yourself down to training. Skill, strength, endurance, agility, eye-foot co-ordination, oh yes indeed its all there.

This Saturday we welcome Greenleas down to Waverton for the game rearranged because of the bad weather earlier in the season. Kick off is 9:30. All players are asked to meet there by 9:10 for a warm up. Starting preferences given to training attendees and early arrivals!

Help is required from parents with setting up and taking down, especially as Mike has to disappear down south on a scouting mission straight at the end of the game. Help from 8:45 will be appreciated.

Can all players please confirm availability by texting 07901552261 or signing in on the right?

Come on Waverton, we can do it!

Sticky pitch, sticky patch.

Upton Rangers 9 - AFC Waverton 0

A disappointing result which, just like at Irby last week, didn't reflect the play in the game. For the first 15 minutes we were holding our own, but the Upton attack picked up on a loose ball, ran through and bang 1-0.

9 Waverton girls turned up on time ready for action sporting a mix of tights, hoodies, gloves and headbands. And that was just the parents.

On a sticky pitch (Mike this pitch is awful we can't play on this came the comments during the warm up) the team lined up: Lucie the cat, Emma and Ellie at the back, Lauren, Lily and Kiera in midfield and Elia up front.

The first 15 mins was very even until that first goal. Then Emma unfortunately handled in the box protecting herself from a shot, which resulted in a penalty and Lucie had no chance as the spot kick was hammered home down the middle. Waverton heads were down. Upton's were up. Kiera went close, Elia went close, but we couldn't score. 6-0 at half time.

In the second half Waverton again held their own without getting the vital goal. For the first part there were no goals scored but Waverton had the chances. Lily and Kiera produced some good neat passing work and Kiera's pass found Lily running through but her shot was just saved by the 'keeper. Elia also had a good chance and Lily delivered a couple of excellent crosses which nobody could meet. Rebecca was her usual busy self and Ellie too ran and ran. Emma defended well (and she and Ellie are getting very good with our attacking throw ins) and Lauren did very well and nearly scored. That would have been great. Kate learnt a great deal at the back alongside Emma. The final Upton goal was a great header from a corner, the goal of the game. Lucie once again made so many brave saves. She's a star.

Heads up girls.

Thanks to all who turned up early enough for us to have a good warm up which definitely paid off in our start to the game. Training at the gym 7-8 on Monday. Two home games now for the rest of March, Greenleas and Irby.

MOM for Waverton - Kiera Berry - for Upton Isobel

Upton away on Saturday

This Saturday we are on our travels again, making the journey up to Overchurch School to play Upton Rangers.

All players are needed. Please meet there at 10:40 so we can have a decent warm up. Anybody who needs a lift please let Mike know on 07901552261.

Directions to Overchurch School:

Take the M53 to J2 and follow the link road (Moreton Spur) off the motorway to the left. Come off at the first junction and head left. This is Moreton Road. Keep on this road for about 300m when a school appears on the left. This is Overchurch School. Pull into the school entrance and park in the car park. The field is at the back of the school.

Big pitch, big goals, big hearts.

Irby 7 - AFC Waverton 2

The girls were down to the hardcore seven today as a result of family commitments and a late night with an indie band. Didn't have this in the u12s. They were all tucked up in bed by 8:30.

With Lucie lost on the Wirral, at 11am there were only six in the warm up at Irby Mill. Caitlin talked of 'dynamic stretches' but Kiera said 'we'll do static stretches'. Top sports science debates for this team.

Fortunately Lucie made it just in time for the kick off. So the seven on show were the still puffing Lucie, Lily and Emma at the back, Kiera in the middle with Ellie and new goal machine Rebecca alongside and Caitlin leading the line up front.

The pitch was big. The goals were big. All pointing to a high scoring game and lots of action for our Lucie. From the start the girls looked comfortable and could have taken the lead. It was however the home side who took got in front and increased it to 4-0 by half time. This was undeserved as Waverton had played really well, taking nothing away from Irby of course.

Rebecca should have scored at the far post from a cross from the right. Oooh so close. Caitlin hit the post, rather her shot did. Ellie was unlucky with a run down the right that hit the side netting. Shots went wide but mainly straight at the excellent home 'keeper, just when one into the corner would have been a certain goal.

Straight from the restart, Waverton grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck. Straight from the kick off Caitlin ran all the way through from the centre and blasted the ball into the top corner. Her dad had offered her £20 for a hatrick. She should have offered the Irby 'keeper a fiver and job done.

4-1 and back in it. Irby scored again though but Ellie then thumped home a great shot from a narrow angle following a Kiera free kick. The home side grabbed a couple of other goals where Lucie stopped the ball hitting the net, but not crossing the line. Hard luck Lucie.

The only pumped up Irby ball owned was kicked into a neighbouring garden and the referee asked to borrow the Waverton ball. Don't you dare lose that one. We started with 12 balls this season and now only have 8. A Caitlin corner whizzed along the goal line and the in rushing Emma was very unlucky not to get the touch to score in successive games. A thumping Caitin free kick was well saved by Mackenzie Allen and her delight in saving it brought the best smile of the day.

With no subs to put on, the Waverton girls had tired after a full hours running. Emma was dead on her feet and struggling with a sore hamstring and Kiera, Caitlin and Ellie not far behind in the tired stakes. Water was called for. Water was given. We could have done with the fresh player. Rebecca hassled players three times her size. Lily ran and ran in both defence and midfield and Lucie was as brave as always. We got the short kicks right and used them to attack down the wide wide plains of Irby with Emma doing this job brilliantly.

The scoreline didn't reflect the game, but Irby did well. Waverton though played very well and had at least as much possession as the home side. Being a bit more clinical in front of goal would have brought us a hatful of goals. Well done girls.

We'll meet Irby again in three weeks at Waverton, following two games against Upton and Greenleas. This could be a good month for football.

Player of the match - Lucie (5th time this season) and for Irby, Mackenzie Allen

Training at the school 7-8 on Monday. See you there.