Maidenhead U14 Girls beat Laurel Park 10-0 in the Berkshire County League Cup on Saturday 9th November
It’s difficult to know what is more pleasing for the girls:
They shot, they scored! Again, again and again…!!!
It was another impressive win for the U14 Girls as they sailed through the first round of the Berks & Bucks county cup tournament with a 9-0 win over Laurel Park.
With Maidenhead maintaining possession for the majority of the match Laurel park struggled to get a foothold against a team who played with great discipline and clinical control throughout.
Relentless in attack and solid in defence they slotted in 6 goals in the first half and 3 in the second.
Goals scored by Becky Tinnelly 4 Charlie Potter 3, Sofia Lacey 1 & Emily McMaster 1
A special mention also needs to go to goal keeper Lilly May Shepherd for a seasons best performance and an impressive assist to one of Charlie potters goal with a huge kick right to the feet of Potter who ran in the goal with premier league quality. Bring it on girls!!!!
Maidenhead U14 Girls top Division 1, undefeated still, with a record 10-1 win at Ascot United on Saturday 12 October.
In very, very, wet conditions Maidenhead U14 girls focussed on maintaining possession and frequent back passing to reset play. They then demonstrated outstanding passing and control to score a number of goals as a result of 7/8/9 consecutive passes. Coach Andy wanted to try out a different formation with 3 up front and 3 at the back (Violet Kinston-Wheeler (captain for the day), Laila Knowles and Emily McCartney) with Dani Yakubovich in a sweeper role. It worked against this opposition but won’t necessarily work against every team in the league. Goals were scored by 5 different girls, really showing the attacking talent across the team. Becky Tinnelly (3), Emily McMaster (3), Charlie Potter (2), Hattie Parkinson (1), Georgina Evans (1).
The U14 girls are now 3 points clear in Division 1 of the Berkshire County Girls Football League – as the League now takes a short break with Cup matches.
Maidenhead U14 Girls continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-0 demolition of last years Berkshire Division 1 league winners Thatcham Town. This puts the U14 Maidenhead girls at the top of the table after playing arguably the hardest 2 teams in the league in the first 2 games.
The girls were proud of their performance in warm conditions and the coaches were especially proud of the clean sheet! Lily May Shepard had an outstanding game with great decision making and all of the girls stepped up their performance and possession focus.
Becky Tinnelly scored the first goal which was soon followed by an outrageous goal from a huge distance from Dani Yakubovich. Emily McMaster finished the contest with the final goal.
Great support was given on the day by parents and many thanks to linesman volunteer Toby Potter.
The girls have all now chosen a personal goal for the season ahead and by the looks of things they’re already on track….
Maidenhead U14 Girls started the season with a superb 4-2 win over traditionally strong local rivals Wargrave. The game saw 3 girls make strong club debuts – Hattie Parkinson, Becky Tinnelly and Violet Kinston-Wheeler made a big difference to the teams performance and are very welcome in the team. Becky Tinnelly and Emily McMaster each scored 2 goals and the 26 degree temperature meant that with no subs the team got a great fitness workout! Coach Andy wants the girls to focus on maintaining possession and communication this season….
Last season Maidenhead lost to Wargrave 2-1 and 6-1 so the girls can rightly be proud of a great first result. Next up Thatcham Town – who won the league last season…..
23 teams from across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and Hertforshire entered the Maidenhead U13 and U12 Girls home tournaments on Sat 6th July and Sunday 7th July 2019. For the first time ever both the U13 and U12 were tournament winners – Double Champions.
The U13/U12 full squad of c14 players were magnificent in their commitment, hard work and skillful play. Their control, physicality when needed, accuracy and power was what made the difference in a number of tight matches and also won them 2 penalty shootouts in knock-out phases.
Maidenhead U13 Girls (Blue) were undefeated, not conceding any goals in normal time, beating 2 strong Denham teams in the Semi Final and Final (1-0) to be crowned champions for the first time at this age group. (Last year the girls lost in the final on pens to a very strong Ascot team.) What was even more impressive is that both U13 teams had no substitutes available and one player coming back from a 3 day illness. Coach Andy had these words at the end “I am now retired – cannot take the pressure anymore” (he’s kidding, and of course the girls won’t let him retire)
Maidenhead U12 Girls (White) were also undefeated, didn’t concede a goal in normal time and won the final in style with a stylish and comfortable 2-0 victory following an easy 3-0 Semi Final win. Teams conquered included Marlow, Epsom and Ewell, Berkhampstead, Ruislip and Wargrave. It’s worth noting that this age group have now won their age group 3 years in a row Can they both do it again next year?!
It’s simply impossible to call out individuals as it was a massive effort from the U13/12 whites and the blues to support each other, with help from a number of Under 11s playing up in the U12s too. To have clean sheets across the board was super impressive for all the GKs too. To put out 2 teams at each age group and be competitive in both teams was great to see and meant all the girls who were available got lots of match/play time. A number of coaches from other teams were also very complimentary about the girls play and attitude.
The tournament generally was a huge success with c 250 teams overall visiting, with U13/12 parents Jennie and Steve running the results and website and volunteer management respectively. Many other U13/12 parents and spouses did big volunteering shifts too mowing, running the car park and refreshments and putting up goals. Thanks to everyone involved. A real team effort. The girls also enjoyed the sunshine, playground, BBQ, sweets and ice creams….and the football of course
Last training this Friday 12th July before a 4/5 week summer training break.
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….