U11s Christmas 8's

16th December 2018 at Timperley

Game 1: Heaton Mersey A 5 - 3 Stockport
Goals:
Mia 2, one assisted by Fran
Fran 1

Game 2: Mellor 4 - 5 Stockport
Goals:
Mia F - 4, assisted by Carys, Jess B and Mia J
Fran - 1

Game 3: Norbury 7 - 2 Stockport 
Goals:
Mia F - 2

Game 4: Timperley 6 - 1 Stockport
Summer H - 1 (with a very good fist pump)

The girls did themselves proud!!! (Jess B, Millie and Jess E missing from picture)
I think you can tell our resident photographer was not in attendance as we only have one pic

A very well organised tournament by Cengiz and luckily the weather was favourable to everyone.

Game 1
Stockport started off at 09:50hrs against Heaton Mersey with Lauren at the helm. It was a very closely contested game with both teams getting used to the fast astro turf, unlike the nice 4G on Tuesday nights.

Mia J started off in goal and supported the team from the back. It was very nice to see Stockport's first goal by Mia F being assisted from Fran as the girls navigated the smaller than normal pitch and got used to some new rules to boot - one of which was that you had to make a pass before you could go to goal.

Heaton Mersey were linking good passes and had a number of shots on goal. Mia J Made some great saves keeping the scoreline close.

Fran got on the scoreboard early after putting in buckets of groundwork and playing hard all over the field. Mia F got her second of the day but the score finished up with Mersey winning by two.

Game 2
In the second game we faced Mellor and this had everyone on the sidelines cheering. Mia J started the game and came out of goal and was replaced by Daisy. She got an early shot off which looked like a certain goal until knocked away at the last second by the Mellor keeper.

Lucy P was a late addition to the game as she misplaced her mouth guard (agreed we wouldn't mention that) but when she got on the field she was leading from the front winning ground balls, demonstrating solid defence and getting a couple of good shots on goal.

In goal, Daisy was looking like a seasoned goalie stopping shots with her feet, hands and stick and being well supported from Effy, Carys, Jess E and Summer in defence. Jess B and Carys carried out of defence on numerous occasions and supported the frontal attack.

Mia F played another solid game picking up 4 goals, 3 of which were assisted from Mia J, Jess B and Carys.  Fran finished the scoring with a tidy move from behind the goal with a clinical finish. Amy T, Olivia A, Beau all got stuck in at the front end and  contested for loose balls and were finding open space in the tight field boundaries.

Mellor came back strong and finished one behind during a very well contested game.

Game 3
Norbury - semi final game. This game brought out the best in Amelie and Isla G who showed true competitiveness throughout, chasing loose balls, playing positional defence and Amelie making good chances on goal, only to be denied by the Norbury goal tender.

At half time the score was 3 - 2 in Norbury's favour and there was a real chance of making it to the next round. Norbury played tough and were very vocal, much to the delight of Jess B who was laughing as she cleared the ball in front of the parents. Carys joined in the vocal game and stepped up her defensive game.

Norbury changed gears and had a run of well worked goals while continuing with solid defence which took the final game out of our reach and they won out 7 - 2. Daisy, in goal again of her own choosing made four outstanding saves showing real signs of being a first class keeper.

Game 4
Timperley - third and fourth playoff.
The whole team continued to play hard in the last game of the day but Timperley seemed to have the upper hand and were making nice moves towards our goal and finishing tidily.

We had lost Jess E through illness and Jess B to other commitments, as a result we were running two down from the previous games.

I thought it was fitting that after so much effort had been put in, not only in the tournament but the whole season, Summer H got on the scoresheet. She and the whole sideline celebrated and the crowd witnessed a very pleased Summer executing a perfect fist pump - well deserved Summer.

The final score was 6 - 1 to Timperley and Stockport claimed fourth place. Carys, Olivia and Beau collected our winnings from the medal ceremony and the chocolates were shared out.

The team played with spirit and guts and worked hard through every minute of each game  - well done everyone and a massive pat on the back!!!!

Have a great Christmas and all the best for the New Year. See you all in 2019!