When you go into extra time, we're talking about drama.
But when we reach the penalty shootout, it's a tragedy.
But when we reach the penalty shootout, it's a tragedy.
Joseph S. Blatter
FIFA President
FIFA President
The u16s relationship with the Wallasey League came to an end on Saturday in dramatic fashion. The girls went out in the semi final of the Cup on penalties and even that was drama itself involving all 7 girls. This encounter had everything you might see in a season packed into two tense hours. We had: an issue with a registration card which involved a phone call to the league registration secretary, a disputed goal, a disallowed goal, an ear ring issue, parental touchline banter and a goalkeeper with an injured finger who would not give up.
The morning did not get off to the best start despite the intention to all meet at 9:10 for a good warm up. Poor Lucie was left behind at home due to a mix up and had to be gone back for. We managed a warm up but then it was time for the registration cards to be checked. In five seasons we have only been lined up against the wall once before, and that was at the Delph last season, but this time the girls were asked by the opposing manager to call out their names whilst she checked their cards. We said it last time, but the 'Don't tell him Pike' scene from Dads Army comes to mind. We had cards for all the players and some long departed, but Ellie's was missing. How could that happen? The most likely explanation was it was by Mike's computer left there when filling out last Saturday's scoresheet for the League, but it certainly wasn't in Wallasey. Up steps the League Secretary himself and states that Ellie can't play as he doesn't believe she is registered with the League. Mike made a phone call to the League Registration secretary to obtain Ellie's registration number and after 10 minutes came the details. Just as well as she had been playing 5 minutes at that point.
Waverton lined up in an experimental 2-2-2 formation . The forgotten Lucie was in goal, Meg and departing Emma at the back, Lily and Registered Player E.Riste number 0278 in midfield, and Courteny and Kenzie up front. Annaliese and Rebecca started as subs.
It all went very well really. Birkenhead are a strong team and pile pressure on to the defence and goalkeeper. Their one trick is long throw ins with a player standing on the goalkeeper. Bit like watching Stoke City. During the game they must have had 12 or more such attempts and each time the defence has to protect Lucie, and deal with the threat. And how well they coped with Ellie, Meg, Emma and Lily throwing themselves into headers and clearances and Lucie too did just fine jumping to catch the ball. Rebecca has settled into u16s football so well this season and it was great to see her causing problems for the Birkenhead defence and not put off by strength.
It was a great game to watch. Very strong tacking, end to end and full of commitment. The home side had the ball in the net but it was disallowed as it went straight into the goal from a throw in. Courteny went close on a number of occasions, but it was at the back where Waverton excelled. Emma and Meg, supported by the midfielders of Annaliese, Lily and Ellie were all fantastic and stuck to their shape and tasks superbly.
0-0 at half time and 0-0 at full time. 20 mins extra time to play. It was during the first period that Birkenhead scored. A free kick on their right just outside the box was given for a foul by Ellie. The ball was floated in, over the heads of the wall and the other defenders and into the top corner. One of the home team put Lucie off, but whether or not it was a push was debatable. Unsettling the goalkeeper is a tactic Birkenhead use and as the girls move up the ages it will be more common. It lead to a few arguments on the touchline, which at one point, we started to get a little concerned about.
The girls had been told not to let their heads go down if they conceded and they didn't. Kenzie replaced Rebecca and her speed energised the attack. A great move saw Courteney through on goal and she didn't miss. Absolutely brilliant finish and Waverton were back in it with 6 mins left. Despite a few more set pieces from throw ins, Waverton hung on and then it was penalties. Our first penalty shootout since 2010 when we played in the Vicars Cross tournament.
Lucie was in agony having sustained an injury to a finger on her right hand, but would not duck out of the shoot out. It's unfair to name who scored and who missed as this is a team game but most of our 5 penalties were scored and then we went to sudden death whilst Lucie saved an equal number absolutely brilliantly especially given the pain she was in. Kenzie scored the 6th then Lucie herself scored the 7th. Then we went round again and our first one then was missed and then Birkenhead scored theirs. Well done to them. All over and our girls ran to console the despondent Lucie who was on her knees in the goalmouth. It was like Italia 90. Instead of Gaza being in tears it was Emma. Well actually it was like the ending to most of the tournaments England play in.
The girls showed on Saturday just how much they have improved, how they can cope with pressure and how they have grown to deal with the physical side of the game. When the time came, they didn't let anyone down. Its a well worn cliche but penalties are a lottery and its a cruel way to lose and miss out on a Final place. We were so proud of all 9 girls, you were a credit to Waverton, your families and most importantly to yourselves.
Player of the match for Waverton was registration number 0278 (E.Riste) and for Birkenhead probably the best overall player in the Wallasey League this season, Georgia Fairclough.
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