Year 4 Football Team

On Wednesday, the Chester City Year 4 Girls Football Tournament was rearranged. I think it is fair to say the girls were very excited. 

First up, it was St Werburghs. It was a dominant display and all the play was in the opponents half. Jessica had a couple of good chances, but didn't take them. It was only a matter of time before we scored. Eva his a sweet left foot shot and then Jessica found her shooting boots and scored. Eva added a third for a 3 - 0 win. Our second opponents were Upton and they were a strong team. We changed our shape with two at the back and Heidi and Eva made sure our defense was never breached! Freya was only called into action once when she cleared a corner. Jessica got the ball in the middle of the pitch and raced past two players and smashed a low shot into the bottom corner. Eva then hit another fine shot with her weaker left foot and it ended with another victory: a 2 - 0 win. 

Our final group opponents were Mill View. They were well organised, but they came up against Jessica who was now firing on all cycliders. Ruby and Scarlett were playing in lovely passes to her and she applied the finish to score a quick hat-trick. Thea kept things tight at the back with Heidi and Emilia came on for Jessica and the pressure didn't stop. When Heidi came off, she was at the side of the pitch, calling to her team mates, encouraging them and advising them what to do and where to pass - she was an absolute general! In the final minutes, Eva battled through the defence to add another goal in a 4 - 0 win. We topped the group and went to the semi-final. 

We were up against Hoole in the semi-final. They had a few really strong players but they could not break through our defence of Heidi and Eva. Balls were being played through to Jessica, who hit the post twice! We had most of the possession and several shots on goal, but their keeper saved well. 0 - 0 and it went to the dreaded penalties! 

Eva went in goal and saved the first one. Heidi stepped up confidently and smashed her penalty into the top left corner. Things were looking good until the contreversial moment. Eva saved their second penalty, but the referee in extricably asked for it to be retaken as Eva had made a noise. It was a bitter pill to swallow and they scored the re-take. Eva scored our second penalty. Hoole scored their third and so up stepped Jessica and if she scored we were through to the final. However, the keeper saved it. On and on the shoot out went until eventually we missed again, sending Hoole through to the final .

It was a real shame it had to end that way - Eva was in no way making a noise to put her opponent off; it was merely her stretching in effort. I think it is fair to say the team didn't deserve to be on the end of that decision and they certainly deserved to be in that final, against a team they had already beaten. 

Player of the tournament had to be Eva Marshall. Outstanding all round play in defense and the driving up into midfield. Scored goals and made goals - a fine performance.