Bedlington Town Wildcats v Wallsend BC Girls

13 September 2011

On a Tuesday evening with a threatening sky and the tail end of a hurricane blowing across the Hartlands pitch, Bedlington Town Wildcats had a full squad available for the second game of the season against Wallsend Boys Club Girls under 13s.

We were playing in a 'bit of a wind' on Saturday, but this evening there was a very strong wind blowing diagonally across the pitch which would prevent any chance of a flowing game of football, and it would also be hard work for the girls when we were kicking into it. We would need to be very careful with our passing game, making sure that the ball was kept on the grass as much as possible and that it was struck with enough power to find feet; those of us who were at the Cramlington game last Saturday, saw how well we played into the wind that afternoon and we were hopeful of another good performance against a team we had never played, but which had been part of last seasons under 12s Premiership league and as such should be able to give us a better understanding of where we are in terms of the quality of the league and how well we might do in it.

We had a full squad to choose from for our first game on the Hartlands pitch which was looking in good shape, with a good covering of grass cut to a height which would not slow down the ball when it was played along the ground.

Once the nets had been attached to our brand new goal posts (it took three grown men, supervised by a woman to achieve this!!) and they had been secured in place to stop them blowing over, we were able to concentrate on the game in hand.

Bella was captain for the day and we lined up for the start of the game in the same 3, 3, 2 formation which had served us well in the last game.  Moley took her place between the sticks (or plastics actually) with Caz, Mazie and George in front of her. Midfield was made up of Demi, Ellie and Bella with Lauren and Erin up front. Amy and Alice were available to come into the game during the first half.

Wallsend kicked the game off and we were playing into the very strong wind, but we were soon making good progress up our left wing, with Bella and Lauren playing their way through the Wallsend defence only to see the first shot of the game hit the side netting. This was an encouraging start and it was soon followed by similar attacks up both wings and we saw Demi almost open the scoring with a header from a Bella centre which was just over the bar. Even at this early stage, it seemed that our girls were better able to deal with the conditions, and we were spending most of the game in the Wallsend half of the pitch with excellent penetration from the wings; we were strong in the middle of the pitch also and were able to break down most attacks by our opponents and anything which did get through our midfield was snuffed out by one or a combination of the three girls at the back. We were strong all over the pitch and this must result in goals sooner or later.

It was in fact sooner rather than later that we opened the scoring and it came from a good flowing move started at the back by Caz who took the ball forward and passed to Demi, she progressed further down her wing and found Lauren then Bella took the ball over on the left wing. Bella's centre fell to Demi who shot through a mass of players into the Wallsend net. One, nil to the Wildcats.

While our forwards had the beating of the Wallsend defenders, we needed the strength of George to thwart an attack and set up one of our own, and as the wind seemed to be getting stronger we were entertained by a clearance from Caz being caught on the wind and returning to the kicker without anyone else being involved. We were however entertained even more shortly afterwards when Erin fought for a ball against a number of Wallsend players, won it and hit a pass to Lauren who was in on goal and made no mistake with her shot to double the Wildcat's advantage.

A Demi run and shot was kicked off the line by the 'keeper and the ball came to Lauren who was just wide with her shot. Every one of our forwards and mid fielders were getting shooting practice at this point with good luck, good goalkeeping and the crossbar preventing further score. But again it was only a matter of time before we increased the lead and put the game well beyond Wallsend, and this came following another assist from Erin, who found Demi with all the time in the world to pick her spot and stroke the ball past the helpless goalie.

Erin was hurt when making a tackle, but after a short time she was back on her feet and involved in the game. Hard lasses these Wildcats!!.

At three goals to nil, it looked as if we could score at will and the goal tally kept going up as first Bella scored with a powerful shot when she found herself in front of goal with the ball at her feet and took the score to four just before Alice and Amy were brought on to play in place of Erin and Ellie.

Four became five when Demi and Alice combined to get the ball to Lauren who scored her second of the game. Demi herself almost increased the score with two well struck shots which were kept out by the goalkeeper, but the goalie was not able to stop goal number six when Demi  put Amy through on goal to enable her to score.

We continued to pound the Wallsend goal from all angles and we were making use of all opportunities to get the ball forward. A quickly taken throw in from Mazie to Alice enabled her to beat an opponent and pass to Demi who saw yet another good shot well saved, but we were not to be denied shortly afterwards when Demi collected a goal kick and was able to run on to goal unopposed to score number seven and complete her hat trick (two hat tricks in her first two games for the Wildcats is not a bad start!!!). She hit the back of the net again shortly afterwards only to have the goal disallowed for an offside decision.

As the half came to a close, Alice collected a ball from Caz and ran almost half the length of the pitch before seeing her shot kicked off the line. Alice had hardly got her breath back when the whistle for the end of the half blew with Wildcats leading by seven goals to nil…………..and we had the benefit of the wind in the second half!!!!!

Monty got the girls together at half time and decided to change the positions of some of the girls for the second half. Caz and Demi were rested and Moley (yes she was on the pitch, she just wasn't involved) was back in goal with Amy, Lauren and George in defence. Erin, Ellie and Bella were in midfield with Mazie and Alice playing as attackers.

Although we were playing with a much changed line-up, the pattern of play was still the same, we were still in control all over the pitch and we continued to play good skilful football in very bad conditions as the wind had not subsided and the light was getting worse because of a dark and overcast sky.

Bella was again causing all sorts of problems on the left and she found Mazie running in on goal from her right. Mazie's shot was just wide, and it seemed to run forever in the gale. Alice then found herself presented with a chance after a defensive error but the shot was parried away for a throw in and when she got the ball back from this throw, her shot was cleared by the 'keepers knee.

All of the play was in the Wallsend half and they were not able to get control of the ball to play it out of danger as we were able to do in the first half with the result that shots continued to be fired at the Wallsend goal with Alice striking the post and Mazie seeing her shot well saved. Alice did however get her reward when she received a pass from Erin and shot past the keeper for her first goal of the season, and number eight of the evening for the Wildcats.

The Wallsend goalkeeper is playing well at this time and but for her the score would have been enormous, she stopped shots from Alice, Bella and Mazie in very quick succession. Erin also had a shot from distance saved, and our forward players in particular were beginning to look a little tired which was not surprising; tired or not, we were still able to increase the lead further when Mazie shot into the back of the net for number nine.

Number ten came shortly afterwards when a Wallsend player was hit in the face with a ball, but the referee did not blow his whistle to stop play as Bella took advantage of the situation and ran through to score. Ellie tried her luck with a long range shot just before she and Bella were asked to make way for Caz (who slotted into right back to allow Amy to get further forward) and Demi (who did a straight swap with Bella) and once again this change was seamless and did not alter the style of play of the Wildcats.

What turned out to be the final goal of the game came when Demi met an Erin cross to put the ball wide of the goalkeeper.

With the sky darkening and the wind still strong, Wallsend gained their first corner of the game, but Wildcats were in no mood to allow them even a consolation goal as the ball was cleared up field with a slick passing movement down the Wildcats left. The final whistle blew shortly after this and a half where Moley did not even touch the ball came to an end with the Wildcats winning again, this time by 11 goals to Nil.

We were not advised of a girl of the game by Wallsend, but the managers award was given to Demi for her tireless display and four goals.

This game of football was an exhibition in how to play in atrocious conditions. We kept the ball on the ground (for the most part) and played to feet. Our control was excellent and even when players were played outside their normal positions, we were disciplined and kept our shape very well. We also coped well with the extra work rate required in the conditions and the extended playing time. The extra space we have in these games suits our style of play, and it will be interesting to see how we cope in the next few games when we come up against last years champions in North Shields away on Wednesday of next week and Montague at home next Saturday.

Very well done again girls. two games played; two games won; seventeen goals scored; no goals conceded. What a start!!!.