The Under 10s Dons travelled to Bromley (?) for their first ever encounter against Lewisham Tigers. The big pitch suggested it would a game of long balls, lots of goals, and a tiring workout for the sub-less Dons.
Coach Simon rejected the girls’ weekly plea for an attacking 6-1 formation – six strikers, no goalie and a left midfield – in favour of a more conventional approach of rotating defensive pairs. Protests were made, dismissed, and the match commenced – after the girls respectively observed a minute’s silence.
The Dons started strongly and quickly took the lead with an expert finish from their pocket rocket Cleo. The game was pretty even for the rest of the first half, with both teams attacking. But try as they might, the Tigers simply couldn’t get past whatever defensive pairing the Dons played – Cleo and Elizabeth, Isabelle and Nyla, or Luella and Esme.
On the few occasions they did, they couldn’t get past The Dons next wall – stand-in goalkeeper Alice, who made a point blank one-handed save to prevent a dead-cert equaliser. Still, with the score still 1-0 at half-time it was all the play for in the second half. Or so the Tigers thought… Early in the second half, Luella ‘Leo’ Leach chased down a lost cause on the by-line, quickly tied the match ball to her right foot with her shoelaces, and proceeded to dribble round half the Tigers’ team before slotting it home from a yard out.
After yet more dangerous but ultimately fruitless Tiger attacks – as Isabelle made some Van Den Venn-esque runs to chase down the Tigers’ striker – Lewisham began to wilt. A quick double from Isabelle and Elizabeth made it for 4-0
to the Dons. With the Tigers now up to eight players, and Esme down to one ankle, the Dons came under more pressure. But it just gave the girls more opportunities to practice their tackling. A few shots made it though to keeper Alice, only for her to showcase her long- throws to setup devastating counter-attacks. It was one such move that culminated in Isabelle grabbing a brace.
A 5-0 victory, a clean sheet for the Don’s defensive walls, and once again nominations for girls of the match were shared across the team. For all the attacking flair demonstrated by both teams, it was the Dons’ organized defence that ultimately prevailed. A great performance, and a match to savour – with the Dons’ demonstrating their characteristic competitiveness and sportsgirlship.
#COYJ