Under 12’s Black Socks

Under 12's Black Socks Match Report

Derby County Ladies Under 12 Black Socks 3 - 2  Stenson Rams

Derby Junior League

1^st December 2019

The U12 Black Socks maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a hard fought victory against Stenson Rams. This was the reverse fixture from the opening game of the season, but due to the horrendous fixture disruption it was only the girls’ fourth league game, and their first for six weeks. The Rams are the only team to have taken points off Derby so far after a three-all draw back in September, but the girls edged this encounter with all five goals being scored in the final fifteen minutes.

Derby carved out an early chance when Hollie made a run down the left, but her shot went wide of the post. There was certainly some initial rustiness from the Ewes and it enabled Stenson to create a handful of chances in the opening fifteen minutes which they were unable to convert. The first was a ball over the top for their forward to run on to, but Rhianna, who often plays as a Sweeper Keeper, was quickly out to block the initial chance with the rebound being put wide. The ball over the top or in-behind was a common tactic from Stenson and one which caused problems for the Ewes at times during the game.

Honor had the Black Socks next chance. Belle took a throw down right to Abi, she beat her defender and then crossed in to Hollie who knocked it on to our number fourteen. She connected well with her shot but was unable to keep it on target.

Stenson should have taken the lead shortly after. They had a throw down their right but Derby failed to clear and the ball broke to the Rams striker six yards out, but thankfully he poked it wide of the post. They then played another through ball and Rhianna had to make a good save to keep the scores level.

Hollie continued to probe down the left and passed infield to Honor at the top of the box. She tried to break in to the area but was crowded out by a couple of Stenson defenders, but managed to keep possession and get her shot away, but again it was just wide. Honor then knocked a ball in to Abi’s path down the right. Her pace got her in behind the defence, but a defender got back to challenge and her shot was off target.

Derby thought they had taken the lead after about fifteen minutes. Macie played the ball wide to Abi, she whipped a cross in to the box which found Hollie who forced the ball home, however, the linesman raised his flag for offside.

Skye, Emma and Belle produced a solid, physical defensive performance in the opening fifteen minutes. Although the boys had a couple of successes with playing the ball through the middle, they were mainly stopped by a series of powerful, well-timed challenges from Skye.

Derby kept looking for different openings and they a threat from anywhere on the field - left, right and central. One of the strengths of the team is that any player is capable of scoring and they aren’t reliant on one or two players for their goals. EJ almost opened her Ewes account with a rasping shot from distance which struck the underside of the bar and somehow didn’t bounce over the line. The ball was half-cleared by the Rams but Derby turned it back in, where there was a goalmouth scramble. The goalkeeper tried to dive on the ball but couldn’t get both hands on it and Courtney almost forced it over the line, but Stenson defenders got back in force and they were eventually able to knock it behind for a corner.

The resulting set-piece was cleared on the near post and Stenson immediately raced up field on the break. The ball was played up to their striker, but he pulled his shot wide, which was a let-off for Derby. Stenson were pushing forward in the latter stages of the first half, but EJ did well to win the ball and then played a great pass up to Courtney. Stenson were holding a very high line and Courtney was able to knock the ball ahead of her and then raced from inside her own half up to the Rams box, holding off the challenges from the defenders, but just as she was preparing to shoot, a defender managed to get a toe on the ball and knock it behind for a corner.

Just before half-time Stenson got a freekick for handball, about twenty yards from goal. The set-piece was struck well but it was no trouble for Rhianna, who held on to the ball comfortably. Despite a number of chances for both teams, it was goalless at the break.

The second half started with an excellent piece of defending by Liv. It looked like Stenson were going to break beyond our back-line, but she made a superb block and then dribbled clear of the defender before passing in to the midfield.

Derby continued to try to work an opening and Macie played a great ball in front of Abi to chase in the inside right position. She raced in to the box and shot across the keeper, but it went just wide of the far post. Then Rhianna again performed her sweeper keeper role to race off her line to brilliantly stop a through ball and clear downfield. She was then called in to action to tip wide a shot that was creeping in the near post. The ball had been lifted in to the box and the Stenson forward did well to use his strength to shield the ball before getting his shot away, but Rhianna was equal to it. It was Rhianna’s last main involvement and she was replaced by Macie in goal for the final twenty minutes.

As the game entered the last quarter the goals started to flow. Skye used Stenson’s tactics against them by playing a fantastic ball over the top for Viktoria to run on to. Starting just inside the Ram’s half, Viktoria got to the ball first, bore down on goal and with great composure slotted it past the on-rushing goalkeeper in to the bottom corner. Stenson tried to hit back immediately and played the ball in to the box trying to get their striker on it. Instead Emma took control and used her strength to protect the ball and shield it away from the striker who ultimately fouled her trying to gain possession.

Derby doubled their lead a few minutes later. The ball was played down the left and it looked like it may run out of play, but Hollie didn’t give up, got there first and then whipped the ball in to box, finding EJ a few yards out. She got her toe on it before the keeper, poking it home for two-nil. However, before Derby could start to feel secure, Stenson pulled a goal back from a free-kick. The ref gave a foul a few yards outside the Ewes box and the Rams produced a great set-piece to score just inside the post, giving Macie no-chance.

If Stenson thought they were going to snatch a late equaliser, as they had in the fixture at the start of the season, that notion was dispelled with a brilliant finish from EJ. The keeper cleared the ball to the half-way line where she met it first time and sent it sailing back over his despairing arms, dropping in to the net for three-one.

This was very much a team performance. Faith and Jasmine worked tirelessly throughout. Belle was solid in defence, enjoying the physical elements of the game while always looking to start attacks down the right. Stenson carved out a second goal through a good passing move just before the end, but the Black Socks held on to secure a deserved win.

After the match, their Coach, Dom Anderson said, “It was great to be back in competitive action and although the girls took a little while to get going they delivered for each other. This side continues to go from strength to strength.” Honor’s Dad said, “We have a really great team of girls with a wonderful mentality and spirit,” while Honor’s Mum added, “I got excited on the touchline and it wasn’t just because Dom had his shorts on again. What a weekend! I am so proud of these girls.”

Goals:

• Viktoria
• EJ (x2)