Kiddy Lions Girls 2 - Newtown 1
The girls were ready for the mercian final, which took place on sunday 3rd may, 2009, at langlands stadium, malvern.
I booked a coach to take us all up there. this was soon filled and a bigger coach was asked for due to demand.
After spending all week long biting nails, feeling sick and very disorganised through lack of sleep, the big day had finally arrived. 8am sunday morning, coach arrived not knowing where to go, which was a big help, but apart from that, we got their nice an early.
After our final chat in the changing room and waiting for the officials to complete their krypton factor challenge with the goals, the knock came on our door and we lined up in the tunnel. a final wish of luck to the girls and the rocky anthem started and we walked out onto the pitch to a tremendous welcome.
We all lined up, had our names called out, we waved when our name was mentioned and then wished the other team luck as they passed by, shaking our hands.
First half was a dream start, we went 2 - 0 up by half time, grace perry scored both goals as she picked up the loose ball from newtowns keeper. Abbie walters and shannon davies kept newtowns keeper very busy with some very good shots that fell for grace to pop them into the back of the net. Jaz plummer set up abbie and shannon with quality crosses from the right wing. jaz plummer was defencive and very attacking, she also made a great clearance in the first half too.
Our defence was also helped by kathleen sandford who was asked to help out and done her job in midfield whilst slightly injured, she asked to come off at half time, but agreed to stop on for 10 minutes. she was just too good to take off, probably playing her best game of all season.
Our defence done an amazing job, they worked so hard from start to finish. jas bishop, leah cullen and bethany billingham made loads of great clearances. laura barnett was mopping up all the left overs and was having a quality game, until the second half, when a long goalie kick, bounced inside the box and bounced high, which made laura step back to catch it on the goal line, but the linesman deemed it over the line. goal given.
Then both sides woke up and attacked with more passion which made a very tense last 15 minutes. 10 minutes to go, sophie breakwell was asked to warm up, then leahs boot broke, she was taken off and replaced by sophie. Sophie was very soon into action and wasnt daunted by the big occasion, she fitted right in and made some good clearences. Then jaz plummer was asked to come off. She was replaced y billie salacinski and she too got stuck right in. This all helped to eventually getting the final whistle.
This is our first season together, weve had some great days and some not so good. Half my players have changed positions from the start of the season, which has shown great developement with the girls excelling in their performance and confidence. This has shown, because they havnt lost a match since christmas.
I want to thank all the girls for winning a very awkward game on what seemed to be a very short and narrow pitch. the girls do play a very good passing game and we have a great formation when we attack. but cup matches never seem to go as planned. we were better on the day, we did attack and defend superbly. but most of all. we fought like true lions.
The girs looked smart in the pink polo shirts, tracksuits and kit bags. Many thanks go to everyone that came on the coach or their car. Thanks to our SECERTARY, jim. I didnt expect to see him, to lisa hollis and for her little chat, i hope she realizes shell have to do that at every cup match from now on. To mark hodges, mainly because he used to help train the soccer school girls, before they became a team, alec king for doing the camcorder...it looks great. to andy bishop, richard barnett and sean millett for all their help and assistnce over the past year when the girls started at soccer school after leaving their clubs.
but the biggest thanks goes to all the parents, thanks for your support. especially cindy, cindy thanks for collecting the money
and being there for all of us, weve all had a tough year, with losing people close to us.
thankyou everyone...............yours sincerely........... richard billingham
