Eagles U16 Lightning Vs Southwell City F.C. Girls U13

LIGHTNING EDGED OUT IN THRILLER

20/6/21

Under 13 Lightning squad were back in action for their third game in a week against Southwell City in top of the table clash at Southwell.  

Starting line up: Olivia, Kayleigh, Isla, Sienna, Edie, Grace, Evie, Autumn, Sharay

Subs – Mia, Molly and Ebony

We were playing on a small pitch so told the players to still play our passing game and take shots at every opportunity. We welcomed back Evie, but were without Chloe who was self-isolating!

The early stages were fairly even and then Lightning began to take control and making chances, Sharay twice going close and Autumn testing the keeper. It was clearly going to be a tight game as Southwell attacked us down the middle, forcing Olivia into a couple of saves. One of her classic kicks downfield cleared the Southwell defence and Sharay raced onto it, slipped it around the keeper and with the net open was tackled, brilliantly, by a Southwell defender. That was followed by Southwell winning a corner and it came in at pace, just grazing the far post – a let off for us!

Sienna, Kayleigh and Isla had to be on their toes when Southwell attacked and were making some great passes out of defence, setting up attacks. Isla also had a long range effort that the keeper collected, with a bit of a fumble.

Time to get the subs on and Southwell also decided to change their personnel. Sharay, Grace and Autumn. The game was now end to end, Mia linking well with Mollywho was using her strength to good effect and Ebony using her pace down the left. The back three were coping well with the Southwell attacks but our midfield was struggling to close their midfield down. 

We broke forward and gained a corner that Molly fizzed across to Evie lurking at the back post. She volleyed it against the post and her follow up was blocked. It looked like it would be goal-less at half-time as Southwell won a corner on the left. It was hit hard and beat everyone, including Olivia, as it rocketed into the top corner. A fabulous piece of skill. Half-time was 1-0 to Southwell.

Sharay was back on for Mia and was straight into the action, putting her shot wide. On 40 minutes she received a superb through ball from Edie, withstood a strong challenge from the centre-back and placed it past the keeper ……GOOOOOOOOOOAL! Back to 1-1. Then within a minute a through ball from Autumn saw Sharay do exactly the same and our second ….GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Score now 1-2.

Southwell Then brought subs back on and changed their shape, putting 4 in midfield. Although vulnerable at the back they had a brilliant defender who read the game very well and began to get the better of Sharay. Our back three, relatively comfortable until then, began to buckle under pressure, forcing us to play long balls too often. Kayleigh came off for a well-earned rest and Edie replaced her in the heart of the defence.

15 minutes to go and Southwell gaining control, but we still had chances, Sharay and Autumn both testing the keeper, with Grace providing some strength and guile in midfield. With 10 minutes to go a long ball from defence was chased by the striker; Olivia just beat her to the ball but her clearance cannoned off her and was heading for goal as Edie raced back and stopped it going in, only for one of their players to follow up and tap it in. 2-2

Southwell on top now and Evie was still looking fresh, but others were tiring, with Ebony back on for Molly. We needed a win to challenge for the championship and we found a bit of zip in the final 5 minutes and took some risks to get the winner. Sharay out-muscled the centre-back and got a great shot away that the keeper pushed out for a corner. Autumn clipped a lovely ball in that hit Sharay and fell to Grace, who shot inches wide. Autumn went close with a shot across goal, but we still couldn’t get that winner. With seconds remaining, another shot saved and released into the Southwell midfield. A smart series of passes saw one their strikers place the ball round into the net for 3-2. We kicked off and the whistle blew for full time.

A fantastic game between the best two teams in the division, with Southwell edging it and winning the Championship. Congratulations to them, well deserved after an unbeaten season. 

For Lightning – disappointment and a few tears… but not for long as Vicki reminded them of all the good times we have had as a squad. We also still had two games to play, to seal runners-up. So heads up, get the smiles out and be ready for that last game!

Player of the Match could have been anyone but the choice was Evie, who was asked to man-mark one of their key players and did it fantastically well. Her natural game is to attack so this was a real change that she handled so effectively