Maidenhead Girls U13/12 have been busy at a number of summer tournaments. Some of the highlights:

U12 Girls team won Tilehurst again this year. Conceding just 2 goals in 10 matches the girls were unstoppable. A highlight was winning the Semi-Final 4-0 against a strong Tilehurst U12 team who had won their league and cup double this season, unbeaten themselves…Overall 18 teams entered from Berks/Middlesex/Wiltshire and Hampshire – to win so convincingly was v impressive!

U12 Girls won Marlow FC tournament too (Having also won it last year) – Coach Tim doesn’t remember any teams scoring against the girls at all…

U12 and U13 Girls teams both reached the Semi-Finals at Denham this year. Playing against teams such as QPR academy, Haringey Borough Academy and very strong Denham teams was a real step up for our girls. Maidenhead girls played with passion and great control/passing to beat many teams en route to the Semis!

At Sandhurst and Wargrave Tournaments U13 Girls did well to reach the Semi Finals stage and had great support from guest parents coaching and managing the girls as Tim, Paddy and Andy were unavailable

Season in numbers – Maidenhead U13 Girls 2018/19 regular season + cup matches

50 – number of goals scored. 8 players (more than half the squad) have scored goals this season

17 – number of matches

11 – number of U12 Girls in the squad (+ 4 U13 Girls) (11 is also the number of girls on the pitch each match next season….)

6 – number of clean sheets this season 🙂 

4 – number of girls in the squad selected for U13 Berks County League representative side

3 – 3rd place finish in Division 1 (Last season the girls finished 6th) (3 also equals the number of coaches and the total number of divisions at this age group)

Coaches player of the season: Emily McCartney. Players also voted her as Players player this season! Well done Emily McCartney

Maidenhead U13s girls put in a sparkling, dominant performance in their penultimate match of the season winning 9-0 away at Sandhurst. The girls were 5-0 up at half time and brought on substitutions in the second half, adding 4 more goals.

All of the girls in the squad of 12 on the day played one of their best matches of the season. Sofia Lacey and Lily Gibson both scored one goal and Captain Charlie Potter scored her first hat trick for the team. Girl of the game Emily McMaster netted four goals.

Coach Andy McCartney was impressed with the quality of play, noting the calm control, great passing and accuracy in finishing. He said: “It’s just “clicked” for the girls”.

Maidenhead U13 Girls beat Tilehurst Panthers 3-2 at home on Saturday 9th March in a tense and windy match. Captained by Dani Yakubovich, Maidenhead leapt to an early 2-0 lead with beautifully taken, skillful goals from Sasha Herridge and Lily Gibson. In gale force wind conditions Tilehurst fought back to 2-2 and then Sofia Lacey finished the game with a spectacular volley from 20 meters.

The victory was hard fought, and was especially pleasing as the girls were without both their official goalkeepers. Plus, two other players were also missing through flu/illness. Emily McCartney was girl of the game.

In other news: The annual Girls U13 Bake off competition, organised kindly by parent Jennie Knowles was a huge success! Winners were:

Amelie Checkley (Star Baker and Best Decorated Cake)

Laila Knowles (Best Cupcake)

Jess Buckley (Best Teatime Favourite)

Many families are reportedly still eating cake a week later….

Maidenhead U13 girls come from behind to beat Caversham 3-1

Maidenhead U13 Girls bounced back from a disappointing and bruising 0-0 draw against AFC Reading the week before and also conceding the first goal against Caversham on Saturday 9 Feb at Altwood School.Lily Gibson scored 2 goals and Charlie Potter scored 1. The Caversham GK was outstanding and saved lots of potential goals…

The last time the girls played Caversham it was 1-1 draw – the girls are improving all the time and are back up to 3rd in Divison 1 in the Berkshire County Girls Football League.

Maidenhead stuck to their game plan and with a match day squad of 14 were able to make substitutions to keep the team fresh and make sure everyone got a game.

It’s the Half Term break now and the girls will take part in a team cake “bake off” on 2 March…..