%20new.jpg)
Latest News - Fixtures - Photo Gallery - Contact Us - Anglo French - Sponsors
Under 11's Robins Girls
MATCH REPORTS
NSJAFC U-11 Girls
Northumberland Girls League, U-12 Championship
Saturday 29th March 2008. 1000hrs kick off. Venue - Cramlington
Wideopen 0 North Shields Robins 1In a language somewhere in the world, Cramlington must mean ‘the place where the wind is born’. Another very windy day greeted the girls as we took on a Wideopen team that had given us a bad defeat earlier in the season. However, this time the opposition could only muster 6 girls. How would the Robins respond?
The answer came early in the first quarter, as Wideopen fought like tigers, never giving an inch. The game was evenly matched on a horribly bumpy, dry pitch, with a swirling wind blowing from one end to the other. The team took an early blow as Emily Glass received a stud on her ankle, but Courtney Ward almost scored the goal of the season - a clearance from defence found her in the open on the halfway line. Taking control of the ball, she sprinted toward the Wideopen goal, slipping the ball past the advancing ‘keeper, only to see it cannon off the post! End to end play finally ended with the first quarter all even.
After a pep-talk, the girls laid siege to the Wideopen goal, with Katherine Gartland finally stabbing home the ball. The Wideopen keeper made a couple of brave saves as the Robins missed some great chances to put the game away. Wideopen almost equalized but Kaysey Fairbairn made a good save low down. This was the only real chance that Wideopen had, highlighting a solid defensive display. In the third quarter, Kaysey even had a run out in midfield, showing what a versatile player she is.
Going into the final quarter, it was the Robins who looked the more tired side, with Wideopen using the wind to their advantage. The last couple of minutes did the manager no good at all, with a couple of goalmouth scrambles causing the watching parents a lot of worry! The final whistle was welcome, confirming how superbly well the Wideopen side had played. Again, the opposition manager complemented the girls on their display, saying it had been “our toughest game of the season”.
The win was a welcome one, the clean sheet even more so. The girls are on a good run, having lost one game in four, and that one being the narrow loss to the Bugattis. Brooke Dunn was Man of the Match for her efforts in front of goal, while Emma Clark won the Gaffer’s Girl of the Game for a solid defensive display with partner Sarah MacLeod.
NSJAFC U-11 Girls
Northumberland Girls League, U-12 Championship
Saturday 6th October 2007. 1130hrs kick off. Venue - Cramlington
Forest Hall Vipers 6 North Shields Robins 4A bright, sunny day welcomed us to Cramlington for our third game of the season, this time against Forest Hall’s U-12’s. Once again, the opposition was physically bigger, and employed an unusual formation - a striker, supported by a four-girl midfield, with a defender who rarely stepped out of her own penalty area - an interesting tactical choice!
The girls made a slow start and were 1-0 down in 30 seconds. However, this side will never make it easy for the opposition and two goals from Brooke Dunn gave us an early lead. She then managed to miss a penalty, before the Vipers quickly squared up the contest at 2-2. Your manager was wondering if his heart would make it to half time!
The Vipers took charge as our girls found the opposition’s tactics rather bewildering, although their sole defender had an outstanding game, as well as their substitute striker who came on and proved to be fast and difficult to dispossess – a Man of the Match performance. Courtney Ward scored with her left foot before Brooke Dunn showed some wonderful skill on the edge of the box, keeping the ball up and then smashing it on the volley into the far corner – easily the goal of the season so far. David Ginola would have been pleased!
At 6-4 down at the start of the last quarter, and having lost our brave goalkeeper, Alex Horner, through injury, it would have been easy for their heads to drop. But, having been encouraged to make one last push, the girls responded wonderfully and camped in the Vipers’ half. Emma Stocks was unlucky to hit the post and the bar. Several shots were blocked or went just wide and the corner count rose. It seemed like the Alamo, but the ball just wouldn’t go in.
The Robins’ deserved a point from this enjoyable game, and once again, proved their spirit and competitiveness. There were excellent performances all round on a hot day with only one substitute, so the girls deserved their crispy cakes at the end. The Vipers’ coach chose Emily Glass as ‘Man of the Match’ for her hard work in midfield and defence, while the ‘Gaffer’s Girl of the Game’ had to be Brooke Dunn for her superb hat-trick.
Once again, the parents were magnificent, with lots of support and encouragement. Many thanks!
The girls have the next two weeks off, so the next match report will be for Saturday 27th October against the Bedlington Diamonds.
Saturday, 29th September 2007. 1230hrs kick off.
North Shields Robins 4 Newbiggin Hall 6.After the bruising encounter last week, the Robins were faced with the physical challenge presented by the big girls of Newbiggin Hall. The girls struggled to contain the physical play of the Whites and were 2-0 down at the end of the first quarter. The girls began a great fight back and scored their opener before Newbiggin Hall scored again. But, instead of letting their heads drop, the Robins passed the ball and ran at the Whites, equalising at 3-3 and then 4-4. It wasn’t until the latter stages of the game that Newbiggin Hall scored two goals to seal the result.
This game will be remembered for the Newbiggin Hall ‘penalty that wasn’t’, although it was missed! Justice at last. Lucy Sherburn came close again, this time rattling the bar and surely her goal will come in the next game. A great hat-trick from Emma Stocks earned her the ‘Gaffer’s Girls of the Game’, although she was hard pushed by Alex Horner, who made several great saves – one diving save to her right hand post sticks out. Alex Roberts weighed in with her customary goal, well worked from the back of defence, through midfield with a great finish into the far corner. Hard work up front by Courtney Ward earned her the Newbiggin Hall nomination as ‘Man of the Match’, but everyone worked hard for this game.
Although the result was disappointing, there were many pluses to this match. The girls competed against an older and much bigger side, came from behind on two occasions and deserved better luck in front of goal.
As usual, many thanks to our very supportive parents. The atmosphere was great. Well done all round!
Saturday 22nd September 2007. 1000hrs kick off.
Blyth Spartans 2 North Shields Robins 6The new season kicked off at Cramlington with a tough, bruising contest against Spartans. Alex Horner made her league debut in goal and made some excellent saves, earning her the ‘Gaffer’s Girl of the Game’. The girls made a solid start and were soon well in the lead, but Spartans are a resilient lot. It wasn’t until the latter stages of the game that the points were made safe, but a superb hat-trick from Alex Roberts ensured she was awarded the ‘Man of the Match’ from the Blyth coach. Alex was well supported with goals from Courtney Ward and Emma Stocks, but the goal of the game was a real screamer from the right foot of Brooke Dunn. Solid defending and great wing play from Emma Stocks and Lucy Sherburn, who deserved at least a goal for her efforts, made for an entertaining morning.
The Blyth goal had a charmed life as the girls hit the post three times, the bar once and Emma Stocks missed a penalty! The Blyth Goalie was easily their Man of the Match, which tells you a lot about the pressure the girls were applying.
A great start to the season!
