Andover U14 Girls put on a gutsy perfomance

First match of the season and the cobwebs were evident, and that was most evident in the coach! The two year cycle has kicked in with the bulk of the team being in the younger age we faced a team where the bulk were the year above and their size and strength was always going to be an issue and confidence levels were not high.

That said the Andover Girls are tough and determined and they took the game to Aldershot right from the start drawing first blood from a short corner being slotted between the posts by Martha after 7 minutes. Believe was suddenly high and the play was open with the ball being passed wide and Andover carving up the Aldershot defence.

Initially shocked by the determination of the Andover girls Aldershot rallied and put some serious pressure on the Andover defence which despite the best efforts of the defence Aldershot managed to draw even after 15 minutes.

Aldershot started the second quarter with an early goal from a short corner, which changed the whole dynamics of the game. What had been open free flowing play changed to close quarter melee and the strength of the older Aldershot girls showed. Andover started to panic on the ball and made life hard for themselves as they time after time gave the ball to Aldershot from free hits and easy passes. The defence were put under immense pressure and rebuffed it with a defiance that was reminiscence of 1940. “We shall fight them on the astro, we shall fight them in the d……..”

Play was fairly bloody for the next 30 minutes with some seriously gutsy performances against girls much bigger and stronger, as Aldershot upped their game and tried to dominate using their age and strength advantage. Andover got the crowd excited two minutes in to the final quarter with another well worked goal from Martha from a wonderful break from the Andover team, clearly refreshed from her forced coach’s rest – one that caused a mini rebellion attempt from the girls who disagreed with decision to pull her off.

Unfortunately Aldershot did not like Andover pulling even and drove back hard putting themselves back in the lead within a minute and sealing the game 5 minutes later with another cracking shot at goal.

All in all a really encouraging demonstration by Andover who two years ago against this team would have been crushed 15-0 put on a really mature and determined performance. Really well done everyone. Every single player produced a moment or ten of absolute brilliance and despite being beaten can hold their head up high and be very proud of how they played.

Player’s player this week was Tianna (attack) and Josie (defence).