GIRLS’ FOOTBALL – HALF TERM ROUND-UP
The next report in our mini-series of posts, rounding up the achievements of the students who have played girls’ football this term. If you’ve missed previous reports, just look back in the timeline.
REPORT 8: U16 GIRLS – 7-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT – SECOND PLACE OVERALL.
The Hambleton and Richmondshire Area 7-a-side tournament took place at the end of January. The U16 girls started their afternoon against Thirsk, who played a brilliant game. Richmond created lots of chances through our two Lilys, one on the right and one on the left, however some great goalkeeping from Thirsk kept the game at 0-0. Thirsk then managed to get a quick goal – a brilliant strike from 20 yards out flying into the top corner – nothing Faith could have done in goal to save it. This meant the girls lost their first game 1-0 to a resolute Thirsk team.
They quickly bounced back with a winning performance vs Stokesley: 4-0 to the girls who put on a rampant display, Faith in goal, Isla J and Isla B keeping it solid at the back. Emmy held the midfield with Lily-Mae and Lily-Ann on either wing and Freya up front. All four goals were scored by the Lilys.
Following the win over Stokesley, Richmond faced neighbouring school SFX, where the girls proved formidable once again, winning 3-0. Afterwards, a tight affair with Cundall Manor ended in a Richmond win, 2-1. The girls fought hard for this win and had luck on their side when a wayward shot fell to Lily-Mae on the left-hand side, who was left to tap the ball home for the first goal. The second goal came after more pressure down the right-hand side, with Freya making a good run past the defenders and squaring the ball for Lily to score again. Cundall Manor got back into the game by scoring after applying pressure from a long ball falling kindly to their forward to slot the ball home. Cundall had a few more chances, hitting the post on several occasions, however Richmond was able to hold out for the victory.
Next up was Easingwold, with Richmond coming out resounding winners, putting 5 past the opposition. Lily-Mae and Lily-Ann featured on the scoresheet again, along with Jorge and Emmy. Emmy scored a fantastic 25-yard effort from outside the box, arrowing past the keeper into the top corner. Jorge meandered forward from her defensive role, getting the ball inside the 18-yard box and curling the ball into the top right corner.
The next two games proved tough for Richmond: the first against Bedale saw an even game with both sides having plenty of chances. However, it was Richmond who made the most of them, scoring three goals and winning the game 3-0.
The final game of the tournament for Richmond was against Northallerton who proved challenging. Richmond got off to the better start, scoring from a through ball to Lily who calmly slotted the ball past the Northallerton keeper. Northallerton got back into the game with a quick break and scored passed Faith, who hadn’t done a lot wrong all day! Richmond then reclaimed the lead with some brilliant play in the midfield – a through ball fell to Lily, who scored once again. However, in the dying stages of the game, Emmy went down in the midfield through injury. The ref. allowed play to carry on and Northallerton took the opportunity with the player advantage to score, levelling the game to 2-2, a fair reflection of a hotly contested game between the two schools.
The tournament was finished and the scores were in: Richmond achieved a formidable 19 points but it was the team that beat the Richmond side, Thirsk, that won overall with 20.
Second place is a fantastic result for the girls who have come a long way in a short space of time. They should take pride in the results they achieved against some very strong teams.