Supra League Plate: U16 Girls Cobras v Stourport

A super performance from the Cobras against Stourport in the Supra League Plate. The teams were well matched but, sadly, Stourport's greater experience won out in the end.

Cheltenham made a strong start to the game applying considerable pressure to Stourport, who weathered a number of attacks. Our press was well executed. Sadly, a long pass from a Stourport CB eliminated 4 lines of our defence and reached a Stourport forward in spite of a brave effort at counter cover, we were overloaded 3 v 2 and a pass to the far post evaded Hannah leading to their first goal. All credit to the girls who went straight back at Stourport; Ellie carried the ball from a long corner eliminated 3 players and the GK but sadly just lost control 3m from the goal. Stourport countered again and narrowly missed, then Eva stole the ball in midfield eliminated the CB and took on the GK but was sadly unable to get enough power on her back flick. The subsequent PC led to a goal mouth scramble resulted in a Freya's push shot being saved on the line. A further PC led to an Eva deflection shot going over the bar. After defending a PC, another excellent press on the right led to two shots on goal with the latter being a Freya tomahawk over the bar. Stourport piled on the pressure again before quarter time.

Shortly after the restart Eva intercepted a pass between their back 4 and carrying the ball 40m eliminated 2 defenders and the GK to score with a back flick. Ellie also managed to hit the inside of the far post but it was sadly cleared off the line by a defender. Having gone to M2M marking the 2 high forwards, this gave the opposition space to drive down the centre. This led to a PC, which although mis-trapped, led to a second Stourport goal. We made a series of counter attacks following some strong tackles by Tilly before the game became a series of turnovers, however, just before half time Ellie threaded a brilliant weighted pass through to Hermione on the p spot; she eliminated the GK on her open side and back flicked it into the goal.

At the start of the 2nd half, Alice used her aerial capability to overcome an improved Stourport press. Following a series of turnovers, Stourport almost copied our previous goal but a combination of Hannah and Alice saved 2 shots. We were lucky to evade 2 further attempts on goal. Following another intercept, Eva carried into the D and just hit the outside of the post. Ellie then drove to the baseline and crossed to the p spot where push shots from Bea and then Eva were saved by defenders on the goal line, and a third shot from Emily just slipped passed the post. Ellie, Eva and Bella connected well to win a PC but we squandered the opportunity. With Tilly sent off, we weathered the next 2 minutes well. An excellent drive along the left baseline led to a unpunished foul by the GK on Eva, the ball eventually came out to Freya whose shot was saved.

We had an unfortunate start to the final quarter when a hit out went wrong, Ellie tripped on the ball and the Stourport CF managed to eliminate the CB and use a tomahawk to roof it into the goal. Stourport continued to apply significant pressure and a drive into the circle down the right led to a pass to a player that we were not front marking in front of goal for a tap in.

We fought back hard with Ellie again driving right into the circle, then a linked move between Ellie and Eva led to a PC. Eva chased down a ball that all thought was dead; the resulting shot was an excellent tomahawk, which sadly the GK saved. Stourport continued to press and we defended valiantly. Eva was sent off for a bad tackle. Ellie created a well worked goal driving left to right along the baseline to pass through Hermione's legs to Emily to slot the ball in on the far post but the umpire had other ideas and disallowed it.

Overall this was a very creditable performance and we should be proud of our performance. Positives: we outlet very well in the first half; our press was excellent for most of the time; we used 'flair' to generate circle entries and scoring opportunities; we scored 2 goals from difficult angles; we had c6 other shots on goal - some saved on the goal line; and we battled throughout. Areas for Improvement: marking generally and specifically front marking in the D; PCD - we did not fol the plan; PCA - we need to score more often; we need to be more clinical in front of goal; and we need to attack more down the outside rather than through the middle. As a coach, I need to better recognise changes that opponents make to their press and adjust the formation to cater with developing threats.