Tesco Cup Under 16's Welsh National Finals 18/04/10 at Cardiff University
Marford & Gresford Albion do NEWFA proud in Cardiff...................
Match 1 – Marford and Gresford 1 v Garden Village 1
Garden Village were well organised and a great game of football commenced. The first five minutes saw Garden Village make two attacks upon M & G defence, one safely cleared, the other showed off our talented goalkeeper (Alisha Watkins) with a great save. M & G then become composed and increasingly took control of the game. A great ball from Emily Sutcliffe set up Anya Randles, her shot being deflected away by Garden Village goalkeeper, giving M & G a corner. A tactical attack from the corner saw Kerry Maule narrowly put ball over cross bar. A miss kick from Garden Village goalkeeper sent M & G attacking again with another near miss from Jess Bailey. Garden Village brought themselves back into the game at this point and put the M & G defence under pressure playing the ball over them. Alisha cleared their attack and the first half came to an end.
Second half commenced with Garden Village kick off and for a moment it looked like M & G defence were to be tested but a great clearance by Aimee Phillips put paid to that. Kerry picked up on the cleared ball and carried it down the wing and crossed into the 18 yard box. Anya shot, another great save as ball pushed away by goalkeeper and M & G have a corner. Anya crossed the ball in and after a small ‘scramble’, Emily launched the ball into the back of Garden Village net, one nil to M & G. The M & G girls kept the pressure on as Garden Village put everything behind the attack to try and hold M & G at bay. Four minutes into extra time Garden Village broke free and a deflection slipped the ball past Alisha’s fingers. The whistle blew and the final score was 1-1
Match 2 – Marford and Gresford 1 v Llanidloes Ladies 0
Tension was high for this game; a win would send the lucky team into the final, as all previous games in this group had ended in score draws. Everything was to play for and both sides were ready for the challenge.
M & G kicked off and immediately started applying pressure onto Llanidloes Ladies. M & G were on a mission, the final in their sights, the defensive line was letting nothing through, clearing every attack Llanidloes made and placing the ball back into the Llanidloes half for the forwards and midfield to re-apply pressure. M & G had a great first half, playing exciting and skilful football as they commenced what appeared to be an inevitable break down of the Llanidloes defence. A great header by Kerry beat the goalkeeper but was cleared from the line by Llanidloes defender, opening up a corner opportunity. Sadly M & G just could not find the back of the net as Llanidloes repeatedly scrambled the ball from the line. Half time and game remained scoreless.
Llanidloes kicked off the second half but M & G took the game straight to them, opening up an opportunity for Kerry whose shot was just off target. Repeated pressure in the Llanidloes 18 yard box gave M & G a corner. Anya crossed a fantastic ball in, finding the head of Chloe Wood who pounded it into the Llanidloes net with just three minutes to go. Llanidloes Ladies came straight back at M & G but their brilliant defending counteracted each attack and the final score was M & G 1, Llanidloes 0.
M & G had made the final against Cardiff City Ladies.
Match 3 – Tesco Welsh Final - Marford and Gresford v Cardiff City Ladies.
M & G kicked off against a strong, well established Cardiff City side. The M & G girls were a little unsettled by the ‘ferocity’ of Cardiff’s attacks as they bulldozed their way across the pitch. A powerful cross from the right wing and the sun positioning beat the M & G goalkeeper and Cardiff City were one ahead. The game recommenced and Cardiff again pounded the M & G defence, a brave attempt to save a shot took Alisha to the ground and saw the ball slip past her, Cardiff pounced placing the ball in back of net. M & G goalkeeper had taken a bad blow to head, hand and legs and received first aid from St. Johns ambulance, delaying the game some five minutes. True grit and determination saw Alisha get up and request to remain on pitch, St. Johns gave nod and the game recommenced. M & G came back at Cardiff all guns blazing, their initial reservations gone. The match was very fast and physical. Half time saw Cardiff City go in two nil up.
The second half saw a very brave M & G take the game to Cardiff. The action was no longer in the M & G half, Cardiff were under pressure as M & G showed their attacking flair. All corners and attempts on goal were covered by Cardiff defence and keeper, who stood head and shoulders above M & G attackers. The game finished Cardiff City 2, M & G 0. However far from the one-sided game that some people expected after the opening five minutes of the game, M & G went on to hold their own against a very formidable side, applying pressure and were unlucky not to obtain anything from it. Cardiff City goalkeeper went on to receive goalkeeper of tournament and one of their attackers received player of the tournament.
No nice ‘silver’ present to bring home but Anya Randles did receive the best forward in competition award.
May we thank Robin Hudson for all the effort she put in to getting her team to Cardiff and performing so heroically on the day. Losing narrowly to a professional Club's team was a magnificent achievement, and will hopefully inspire other girl's in our Region to continue playing Football.
WELL DONE GIRL'S!!
