By Craig Taylor

The U13's girls came up against Guildford Saints who had won their previous 2 games and were sitting top of the league.

Our team were fired up after a rousing team talk from Mia Laing (our usual goalkeeper) who was sitting out today as part of our weekly rotation and was acting as assistant coach. Mia showed the great team spirit we have by deciding to come along and support the girls (and warm them up whilst Andy and I put up the goals), she also did a much better job than Andy and I usually do!!!

Anyway the game started very evenly and you could see Guildford were a decent team, however, we started to gain control of the game a create a few chances. Mabel Cooper, striker for the 1st half and goalie for the 2nd half, had already gone close with a couple of efforts when Rose Taylor won the ball well in midfield and released Mabel who lobbed the keeper from the edge of the area to make it 1 nil.

The second goal was scored by Nancy Gibbs scoring her first goal for the club. Nancy has slotted into the team very well, not only is she well liked by the other girls, but she has great awareness and positional sense so we are happy/lucky to have her in the team.

Mabel then scored again to make it 3 nil before half time and we really had control of the game and were starting to grow in confidence. Unfortunately, as we had already decided for Mabel to go in goal the 2nd half, she did not have chance to get her hat trick but this did not disrupt our momentum or stop the goals flowing.

With Mabel in goal the 2nd half the other new signing Bo Taylor, who played the 1st half in goal, was now our striker for the 2nd half. Bo is equally well liked and also has a real presence on the pitch. Taking over from Mabel,she soon scored her first goal for the club when she spun on the end of the area and rifled the ball into the top corner with her weaker (if you can call it that) left foot, it really was a nice strike!

Bo then got her 2nd of the game when through on goal she beat the keeper with another good strike. Unfortunately Bo couldn't get her hat trick either, she did come close but was unlucky as she struck the post with another good shot.

So this was a bit of a story about our keepers/strikers, who both got 2 goals a piece in a half but also played a half in goal.... Saying it was purely down to them, however, would be doing the other girls a disservice as today all the girls were great! They gave Bo and Mabel the platform to go forward and get their goals and even when they switched in goal we continued to dominate the game. They kept their shape well, battled hard and more important than anything played with smiles on their faces.

After the match, following another rousing speech from Mia Laing, they all sang a very loud happy birthday to captain for the day (and now teenager ) Lulu Costa.

All in all a very pleasing start to the season.

Craig and Andy