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Wantage Girls in the headlines again
Not ideal weather conditions on Sunday 6th. July at the Highworth Juniors Tournament, but that did not dampen the spirit of our Wantage Girls U13s football team, down to six girls against all the other eight-girl squads in a competition sporting some of the best teams from the Gloucester Girls Football League. As previously reported our U13s have reached the finals in two tournaments this season, but not ‘the big win’. Read on…
The Highworth tournament was the last competition of the season. These girls have already given their parents and Wantage so much to be proud of… but for Marta, Pia, Becci, Katy, Ellie and Ciara, even up against such odds, from the very first whistle, there was not the slightest doubt that this just had to be ‘the big day’.
All the way through the first round, each game ten minutes long, no time to waste, there was our Ellie and Ciara at the sharp end in full attack, destroying the oppositions’ defences, taunting their goal-keepers with successive goals. And then there was Pia and Katy, strong and steady in mid field with a constant delivery of scoring opportunities to the front line. Our Katy, she sure is a cool dude. And then there was our Becci in defence, faster than the speed of sight, wearing diamonds on the soles of her boots, and finally our fearless goalkeeper Marta from Mars, bruised and battered but not once beaten. Bravo, our girls in red!
Having beaten every team in the first round, meaning that Wantage could leapfrog the quarter-finals and go straight into the semis… there now follows a well deserved shelter from showers in Jane the manager’s tent and an action replay of Ellie’s headed goal, for which she was royally treated to a huge ice-cream with two chocolate flakes in it. In it? There were dads a-plenty dispensing bandage and spray and magic lotion from the first aid box, while Marta from Mars did a demo of one of her finer diving saves, but the tent pegs held firm. There was more than a mum or two performing laundry miracles, and Ciara showing off her keepie-uppies, and Becci shining the diamonds on the soles of her boots, and Pia peering from the parapet at the battles raging on pitches eight and nine with running commentary, and Katy, well, even off the pitch she sure is a cool dude holding hands with her two adoring little sisters looking up at her with such pride. It was a big tent.
Suddenly… no, the tent did not fall down. Suddenly there was a loud announcement on the tannoy system, with a slight hint of irony, because this was the Highworth Juniors tournament and have a guess what team Wantage would be now be playing in the semi final. Oh no! Not Highworth Juniors. Did it have to be them?
The Highworth team had chosen for this special occasion a really lovely green and black kit, perfectly patterned in large patchwork squares, ready and waiting on pitch number eight. As the Wantage girls in red and black took their positions on the field of battle it really was a great match. Everyone’s money was on Highworth, the firm favourites, but it was soon obvious that the six Wantage players had a prayer or two up their sleeves. Where would we be without Becci and what would we do without Marta, who together held back every green and black relentless attack with Katy and Pia dropping back to plug the gaps. It was poetry in motion with Ciara and Ellie drawing the game just as frequently up into the Highworth half, creating as many daring opportunities against their equally impenetrable defences but, alas, after ten of the fastest and most exciting minutes that sport can offer, and then three more nail-biting minutes of extra time… still no score. ‘Sudden death’ penalty shootouts. You either hate ‘em or you love ‘em. Wantage 3, Highworth 2.
Three cheers for Highworth. Three cheers for Wantage. Well done the girls in red!
No time for celebration. The Chippenham Royals, a team of giants all in blue, was already waiting on pitch number nine. Oh no, just look at the size of ‘em. Don’t worry girls if you lose this game. You’ll still go home with the runners-up trophy. Again? Or will it be third time lucky. In the opening minutes it was soon obvious that our Wantage warriors were leaving nothing to chance. Attack! With Pia pivotal on the centre spot, feeding the ball forward, Wantage was a team possessed. Shoot Ciara shoot! Katy was the life and soul of the party. Go Ellie go! Time and time again Becci was called on to perform her magic. Great save Marta! But no! The ball dropped. Dive Marta dive! Too late. A Chippenham foot got to it first and chipped it in the net. On the sidelines everyone’s heart dropped, but, never say die, the girls in red went turbo. Thirty seconds later the Wantage reply was breathtaking, thanks to a glancing long-shot header from Ciara, levelling the score to one goal each, where it stayed until the end of extra time. Take a deep breath. Penalty shootouts. Sudden death.
It was all over in only two whistles. It was Marta from Mars to take the first penalty shot, which she fired into the net before the Chippenham goalkeeper had a chance to even blink. Quickly back in goal Marta stood her ground as the Chippenham captain took her best shot. Saved! That was it! Wantage 2, Chippenham Royals 1. Hip hip hooray! What a day, and what a great way to end a very successful tournament season for Wantage Girls Football Club. See you next season.
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