Saturday 22 March 2025

ISFA Southwest Girls U18 Girls Development League

Clifton College 2-2 Sherborne Girls (A Pearson, R Arbuthnott)

Captain's report

For our last match this season the SG football 1st team battled Clifton College in a match that determined the winners of the independent league.

In the first half we started off strong with some strong passing down the line, with Camila and Annie working well as a team. Amelia scored an amazing goal in the first 10 minutes of the game giving us the leading score of 1-0. We put up a strong fight with some solid defending from Tive and our goalkeeper Kath making some good saves.

In the second half, after a inspiring team talk, Rosie came on playing up front and Lizzy Downer for right wing. Their was some beautiful football skill and teamwork between Lizzy and Cici during this half against the opposition. There was some desperate defending but Clifton managed to equalise. Half way through the second half Rosie scored an outstanding goal, meaning the score sat at 2-1 to us. However, Clifton scored soon after to even up the score.

Although we drew 2-2 overall we left the game happy with our play and are still at the top of the league. We played all our games so we can proudly say that having done so and completed the league within the time scale we are champions.

Coach's viewpoint

This was our last game in the league and a win over tough opponents would ensure us winning the league outright on the day. We started brightly and had our hosts on the back foot with clever midfield play from Cici A and Lizzy D who dominated that area. We created a fantastic chance for Amelia P to run in behind the defence. She took some great touches and then shot powerfully past the goalkeeper to give us a 1-0 lead inside the first 10 minutes. We had numerous chances to increase the lead but we wasted those opportunities. Our opponents came back at us and we had a few scares at the back but Tive D, Isla B and Matilda B cleared up quite well and in a couple of occasions where they were through Kath H did enough to prevent any equaliser.

At half time the focus was to make sure our chances counted but to be also aware that we should not mark so tightly high up the pitch as we would then be prone to balls over the top into acres of space. It was exactly this scenario that led to their equaliser early in the second half. A ball was not dealt with on our last line of defence and their player placed the ball in the corner of our net. Not be deterred our substitutes, Rosie A and Simone A came on to add more energy up front. A pass from Imogen C and a flick on form Simone A sent Rosie A through and she made it look easy by shooting past the goalkeeper to put us 2-1 up.

We continued to put pressure on with Annie P, Camila R, Zoe Q and Imogen C all looking for ways to add to our score line. However, as we were entering the final 10 minutes of the game our mistakes became more common as fatigue set in. We allowed players too much space in our half and a high defensive line was once again exploited and the host team equalised. We also had to thank Kath H for tipping a high shot against then post as well as some last ditch defending to ensure the draw.

It was a tough, physical game with both teams sharing the points but we will be disappointed not to get all three points. We are still top of the league and will remain there as Clifton College and Bryanston failed to make arrangements for their game which would give the chance for Clifton to jump above us in the league. As it stands we are top having played all our games so we have done our part.

To summarise, it has been a fantastic season and this team have done the SG badge proud with their never say die attitude.

It has been a pleasure to have coached them all this year.

I wish our leavers in the U6th, Amelia P, Simone A, Tive D, Zoe Q, Imogen C (v/capt) and Isla B (capt) all the best and thank them for their contribution to SG football. I hope that they will continue to play wherever they end up after leaving school

all the best

123SG

ISFA Southwest Girls U18 Football Development League

Table
	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
Sherborne Girls	10	6	3	1	18	10	8	21
Clifton College	8	5	2	1	18	6	12	17
Taunton School	8	4	0	4	18	17	1	12
Millfield School	10	3	3	4	21	24	-3	12
Bryanston Girls	8	2	2	4	9	10	-1	8
Kings College Taunton	8	0	2	6	9	26	-17	2