Hertfordshire Girls Football Partnership League – U10 Division 1 - 26th November 2011

St Albans Rangers Girls v Bury Rangers Girls (1-5)

Squad: Grace Davis, Abby Tallentire, Darcy Culverhouse (GK 2^nd Half), Piper Wright, Libby Norman, Madeline Vincent, Grace Garrad (GK 1^st Half), Lois Ruane, Izzy Alder.

Bury Rangers Girls recent good form saw them travel to St. Albans Rangers in highly confident mood. Confident enough to let the gaffer have a day off!! The reins were passed onto Ollie Wright who lead the team with great aplomb. With Abby Tallentire and Darcy Culverhouse re-united at the heart of Bury’s defence and Grace Garrad in goal for the first half, it was going to be a difficult task for St. Albans Rangers to breach the Bury goal.  The home side began the match well and Bury’s ‘back three’ were busy with Darcy and Abby combining well to deny them space and time and Grace making a couple of decent saves.  One such intervention by Abby landed at the feet of Grace G who quickly punted the ball up to Libby Norman.  Libby wasted no time in charging forward, past two or three stranded defenders, then unleashed a fizzing right foot shot into the top right hand corner of the goal to make it 1-0 to Bury.  This seemed to galvanise the team and the Bury midfield was buzzing, Madeline Vincent, Izzy Alder and Grace Davis were all involved in some nice passing moves eventually leading to attempts on goal which were well dealt with by the St. Albans keeper.  As with last week’s game, the midfield was also attacking as one and defending as one, typified by player of the match Izzy Alder who contributed hugely throughout the whole match in all areas of the pitch, it was probably her best game for the club.  Izzy and Piper Wright set up Madeline and Lois Ruane who both went close.  As half time was approaching Libby went close after a fantastic defence splitting pass from Madeline, the St. Albans keeper excelling once again.  Seconds before the whistle was due to blow for half time Piper had a shot blocked.  The ball fell invitingly for Lois to shift the ball onto her trusty right peg and literally blast it in to the top of the St. Albans net to make it 2-0 to Bury at half time.

The second half began with Izzy Alder using her quick thinking to launch Bury forward on two occasions, firstly with a quick throw in to Lois who played a nice one-two with Piper crossed in for Grace Garrad to shoot. Secondly using her battling qualities to stop a St. Albans counter-attack. She won a throw which was taken quickly (there’s a theme unfolding) by Abby Tallentire to Grace G who had the simple formality of beating four defenders and smashing home after a neat Piper Wright lay off to make it 3-0 to Bury.  Soon it was 4-0 after a run down the left wing by Grace G who crossed (or was it a shot?) the ball and Lois put it in from the acutest of angles.  Bury were now in control and chances were aplenty, eventually the fifth went in when Grace G intercepted a goal kick and slotted home from just inside the area.  After one or two goal mouth scrambles St. Albans cleared the ball up field and their striker managed to beat Bury’s 2^nd half keeper Darcy Culverhouse with a powerful shot to grab a consolation.  A few more close efforts from Izzy, Piper, Libby and Lois in another almighty goal mouth scramble heralded the end of the match and a satisfying 5-1 victory for the Bury Rangers Girls.