Woking Cougars FC
Team Pages
U15 Girls Season 2007 / 2008
4/5/08 - Cougars U15G
4 Molesey Magpies 1
After a long,hard season it all came
down to a final day decider with the winner of this match taking the
League title. Cougars came into the game having lost the Cup Final 7
days earlier and up against a team that had comprehensively beaten them
5-1 earlier in the season for their only League defeat of the season so
far.
Despite the difficult task ahead and missing a couple of players the
girls were determined not to let such a fantastic season end on a low
and as it turned out they put in the efforts and performance of a
lifetime to comprehesively beat their nearest rivals.
Making a mockery of their reputation as slow starters Cougars went on
the offensive straight from the start. Every ball was competed for,
every player on the ball supported by their team mates and every passage
of play applauded by the usual high turn out of spectators.
Cougars led 1-0 when Jenny Stuart won the ball in midfield before
playing it up to Gilly near the edge of the area. Despite being closed
down by several defenders she made a great run, found space and scored
with a great shot from 15 yards out.
It was 2-0 not longer after when Jenny Stuart, who worked tirelessly
throughout the match, bravely charged the ball down and as the ball
found its way to Gilly she scored again with a classy finish from the
edge of the box.
Molesey tried to get back into the match but barely created a sniff of a
chance with the Cougars battling for everything and completely
neutralising their opponents main players. As the half drew to a close
Frankie played a long diagonal ball forward to Gilly who completed her
hattrick with a fine lob.
So 3-0 at half time but having come back from the same score themselves
earlier in the season the team knew they had to maintain their workrate.
Molesey came out strongly for the second half and but for a magnificent
fingertip save from Kirsty would have clawed their way back into the
match soon after the restart. Amazingly the girls managed to find even
more energy, continued to press forward and made it 4-0 after excellent
work down the right wing by Sophie who crossed from the corner where
Jenny Owen scored with a left foot shot.
Molesey pressed forward and it was they that scored the final and best
goal of the game, a brilliant long distance effort from out of the left
which even Kirsty couldn't do anything about. Despite Georgia making a
fine headed goal line clearance it was Couagrs who continued to create
most chances as Molesey left themselves exposed at the back in search of
a miracle.
The final whistle was met with great jubilation amongst players and
supporters and it must be acknowledged fantastic sportsmanship from a
very gracious Molesey team.
So the girls win their first ever League title and were ultimately
rewarded for their efforts over the past months and we look forward to
the presentation of the trophy on 6th June.
27/4/08 - Cougars U15
Girls 0 Worthys Girls 1 (League Cup Final)
This game was eventually played at
the 3rd time of asking following postponments due to bad weather. The
knock-on effect of this meant we'd been unable to arrange alternative
games and entered this final having not played a match for 7 weeks.
In a well contested match the game hinged on an incredible 30 second
period midway through the first half. The early minutes of the game were
evenly matched with neither side creating any clear cut chances when out
of nowhere a foul in the box gave Worthys the chance to take the lead
from the penalty spot. The shot was low, hard and in the bottom corner
yet Kirsty managed to get down and make an amazing save to turn the ball
round the post. Yet just when we thought it was to be our day and that
the danger had been averted the resultant corner struck a hand and
another penalty was given. This time however it was dispatched high into
the net to put Worthys 1-0 up.
The girls came in at half time knowing they needed to improve but having
scored in every game they'd played this season were confident of getting
back into the game.
With our magnificent support cheering them on the girls poured forward
at every opportunity and slowly and surely the chances came our way.
Worthys did have chances of their own but with Kirsty and our back four
of Georgia, Kelly, Emily and Frankie on top form there only looked like
one team likely to score the next goal. However a combination of bad
luck and poor finishing meant it wasn't our day after all, despite our
dominance of the half.
At the final whistle the girls were shattered having given everything
they possibly could yet were able to hold their heads high given the
commitment and effort they'd put in. For their first ever appearance in
a Cup Final the team could be very proud of themselves, as the applause
from the Cougars fans showed.
The bottom line though is that no matter how well you play and how much
effort you put in matches are won by scoring goals and today we just
couldn't manage it so as our opponents took what came their way they
deserve our congratulations and dare I say it were "Worthy winners".
24/2/08 �
Ottershaw Girls 1 Cougars U15 Girls 3
Let's be honest Ottershaw are a very good side who play with great
passion and enthusiasm despite only having a squad of 11 players.
They've given us 3 good matches this season and for that their team and
manager deserve the utmost praise and respect. Their downfall however is
their blinkered match reporter who sees fit to rubbish Cougars in any
way he can without realising that all he's done this season is save us
from bothering with a teamtalk each time we've played them. Sadly for
the comical clown, 3 wins out of three shows exactly what the true
results were and in truth who have been the better side.
The match was played in a fantastic spirit between two sides who
attacked each other from start to finish with Cougars inspired by the
fact that we'd left our "unappealing" ground behind to have the honour
of playing in the mecca that is the Ottershaw Memorial Fields. Having
the benefit of the slope and slight wind in the first half Cougars not
surprisingly had the better of the first half although it was Ottershaw
who nearly led but for a fine save from Kirsty. It was however the away
side that took the lead when a great corner from Kelly was helped on to
Sophie who planted a fine header into the net. It was 2-0 just before
the break, somewhat fortunately, when Sam went down the left and fired a
shot in from a tight angle that the keeper was unable to keep out.
The second half was a much closer affair and when Ottershaw scored a
fine long range effort to reduce the arrears the game could have gone
either way. A great defence performance by Joanne, Kelly, Emily, Frankie
and Kirsty kept Ottershaw at bay with a mixture of great defending aided
by some good fortune and ultimately it was Cougars who, in the last few
minutes, scored the decisive fourth goal of the match. When a great
through ball found Sophie (who had in fact been on the pitch for the
whole game,.if you'd been paying attention) and she slipped the ball
into the goal to round off a 3-1 victory.
So well done to the "best girls team at West End Rec" and good luck to
Ottershaw for the rest of the season.
10/2/08 - Croydon
Borough 1 Cougars U15 Girls 4
After what seemed like months
on end watching the girls in either high winds, driving rain or
freezing temperatures, the supporters were able to enjoy warmth and
bright sunshine for this keenly contested match which was played in
a fantastic spirit by the two sides. The game had barely started
when Cougars took the lead after good work down the left by Rebecca
allowed her to cross into the area where Sophie turned and scored
with a fine piece of all round skill. However, as has frequently
been the case in recent weeks, the girls’ first half display failed
to live up to expectations and Croydon were all square at the break
with a hopeful shot that was lofted into the roof of the net from
the edge of the area.
Cougars turned in one of their
best 40 minutes of the season in the second half, creating chance
after chance, and their play was rewarded with three further goals.
The second goal, which proved to be decisive, came after Cougars
defended a corner and played the ball out to Rebecca on the half way
line. She held up the ball long enough to be supported by Kelly and
as the team poured forward she played a fantastic long ball to Gilly
who strode on and finished with a fine shot from a tight angle. From
this point there was only going to be one winner and it was soon 3-1
when a shot from Jenny Owen rebounded off the post to Claire who
calmly controlled the ball before coolly firing home. The scoring
was rounded off when a loose ball was not cleared in the box and Sam
volleyed home with her right foot for her 19th goal of
the season. In an excellent all round team performance, especially
in the second half, Kirsty again performed heroically in goal and
special mention should go to Jenny Stuart for her fine energetic
display and her ability to play to a high standard in a number of
important positions.
3/2/08 - Cougars U15
Girls 3 Crawley Wasps 3
This was quite simply a match
of two halves in which the girls rose from the depths to produce a
heroic performance in order to rescue a valuable point.
The pre-match preparation was
already affected by goalkeeper Kirsty's absence but was confused
further by illness to a number of girls who were either unable to
start the match or unable to complete it. That aside the first half
performance was best forgotten as Crawley eased into a 3-0 half time
lead, so following a half time rallying call the girls took to the
field for the second half with no doubts what the management
expected of them. Suddenly the girls woke up, competed for every
ball and supported each other all over the pitch. It was soon 1-3
when Megan and Gilly combined well down the left and their
persistance paid off with a fine finish by the ever improving
Rebecca. The team sensed they were still in the game and midway
through the half scored again when Gilly shot just inside the right
hand post from the edge of the area. Sensing the match was slipping
away Crawley players seemed to go to ground during almost every move
and it was this was eventually to be their undoing as the referee
stopped the clock for each interuption. Witht the home crowd willing
them on the comeback was completed when a fine cross from the right
saw Captain Claire arrive at the back post to cooly slot the ball
home. In the cold light of day this was a great game with both teams
grateful for a point but probably equally feeling as though they
could have taken all three.
27/1/08 - AFC
Wimbledon 1 Cougars U15 Girls 4
AFC Wimbledon were swept
away by a devastating first 30 minutes in which the girls played
their best football of the season to race in a three goal lead
by the break and despite the best efforts of the referee they
easily held onto their lead to take the points.
The scoring was opened by
Jenny Stuart following a corner from the left by Kelly. After
the ball was crossed to the far post, Ashley and Claire battled
for possession and the ball fell to Jenny who cooly finished
from about 7 yards out. We didn't have long to wait to increase
our lead when Sam put over a left wing cross to find Claire
supporting play from the opposite wing. She controlled the ball
and made it 2-0 with a great finish from the centre of the box.
The girls continued to play with a high tempo, challenging for
everything, passing the ball with purpose and supporting each
other and they were rewarded when Sam again crossed from the
left to Claire who played the ball back into the centre of the
goal for Rebecca to finish from close range.
The girls eased off in the
second half, having worked so hard in the opening 40 minutes,
yet went 4-0 ahead when a cross/shot by Claire was spilled by
the keeper for Sam to follow up and tap in from close range. The
result was never in doubt even though AFC managed a consolation
with a well struck shot from the edge of the area which just
eluded Kirsty as she slipped to dive for the ball. The main
talking point of the match however came midway through the half
when the home referee awarded AFC what can at best be described
as a 'soft penalty'. The kick was struck high and with power
but was excellently saved by Kirsty who then bravely dived at
the feet of the following up attacker to save the rebound.
Amazingly, having given a penalty for such an innocuous tackle
in the first place, the referee failed to give a free kick for
the subsequent foul on the keeper and after embarrassing himself
by his application of the laws of the game he surpassed himself
with the way in which he dealt with the ensuing protests.
Following this however the
girls easily played the rest of the game out to record a more
than deserved 4-1 victory and maintain their 2nd place in the
league. This was a fine victory and every girl who took part in
the game deserves praise for their performance but special
mention must go to Kirsty who up to a hour before the match was
not going to play due to injury but not only turned out but yet
again put in a great performance culminating with her excellent
penalty save.
13/1/08 - Cougars U15
Girls 4 Fleet Town Blues 2 (League Cup Semi Final)
Despite the opposing managers
claim that we met their team on an off day, this win was far more
impressive than the scoreline suggests and the girls cruised into
their first ever 11 aside Cup Final.
Playing into a gale in the
first half most teams would have been more than happy just to reach
the break still in the game however the girls battled for
everything, worked for each other and as a consequence made a
mockery of the conditions. When we did take the lead it was fully
deserved and came after a long through ball from Kelly was contested
well by Rebecca who passed to Gilly who in turn finished well from
just outside of the area. Sam nearly increased the lead but was
unlucky to hit the post yet without too many scares we reached the
break 1 up.
In the second half all the
good play came from the Cougars and we were rewarded when Georgia
scored her first goal since the opening day of the season as she
fired a shot high into the net from the edge of the area following a
corner.
As Fleet tried to get back
into the game we cleared a corner and broke from defence. Ashley
held the ball up extremely well in the centre of the pitch, she
played the ball to Emily who in turn played a long ball up to Gilly
who ran half the length of the field to score and make it 3-0.
Despite Fleet clawing a goal
back the girls went 4-1 up with another goal that demonstrated the
confidence and teamwork the girls were playing with. The ball was
won in midfield by Jenny Stuart who passed to Gilly and after good
interchange play with Rebecca she completed her hat trick with
another long-range effort.
Fleet did score a second with
a vicious, swerving and dipping pile driver that Kirsty did her best
to save but the girls progressed into the final where they will meet
Worthy Girls.
The final whistle was met with
great celebrations by the girls and supporters and we look forward
to our big day out.
6/1/08 - Cougars
U15 Girls 2 Fleet Twon Reds 4 (AET)
The girls exited the Surrey Cup at the first round stage despite having
had the majority of possession and chances in the game.
Cougars took the lead in the first half after a throw down the line from
Frankie was crossed by Sam to Sophie who ran onto the ball and slid it
into the net with great precision, however the teams were level by the
break after a very unfortunate own goal following a shot that rebounded
of the post.
The girls regained the lead midway through the second half when a long
defence splitting pass from Kelly was met by Sam about 25 yards out and
with the keeper out of position she scored with a left foot shot. Sadly
the lead was again short lived and after a corner wasn't cleared
properly Fleet equalised for the second time.
Both sides had chances to win the game in normal time but with Kirsty in
fine form in the home goal and Cougars being unable to take advantage of
their superior possession the game went to extra time.
Unfortunately extra time saw Fleet take the two opportunities they
managed to carve out and when Sophie smashed a shot on to the bar with
the score at 2-3 we realised it wasn't to be our day.
This game was lost because we failed to create and take enough chances
from the majority of possession that we enjoyed where as Fleet took what
chances came their way and had what luck was going in front of goal.
That said Fleet deserved their win for the spirit in which they played
the game and they go into the next round with our best wishes.
A final note goes to our undoubted player of the match, Kirsty, who was
excellent throughout making some excellent and important saves despite
not having the rub of the green of more than one occassion. She
definately didn't deserve to be on the losing side but can take great
pride in her performance.
16/12/07 South Park
Girls 0 Cougars U15 Girls 1
The girls entered this game
aiming to beat a much improved South Park team and therefore end the
year leading the Premier East table. In fairness we had most of the
possession, and certainly created the majority of the chances,
however the lack of a cutting edge in front of goal resulted in the
scoreline ending far closer than it perhaps should have done. Once
again Kelly produced an immense performance, not only in defence,
but also surging forward as we strived to find a winner and her
determination inspired the team to keep going to the very end and
ultimately secure the three points. The match was won after a moment
of class from Jenny Stuart who followed great work in the penalty
area by reaching the goalline and floating a sublime cross over a
stranded goalkeeper and defenders for Sam to power a header into the
net to clinch the game with just a few minutes remaining. This was
a scrappy game that could easily have ended in a draw yet the team's
persistence was eventually rewarded and the way the girls (and their
supporters) celebrated the goal showed just how much the result
meant to them.
9/12/07 -
Cougars Under 15 Girls 3 Whitton Town 4
After a cracking start to the season our season
has been turned upside down with two defeats in the last 3 games. On
paper this was a game that we could and should have won, given the
teams' respective results prior to this match, however Whitton's greater
desire and workrate won the day.
Despite missing a number of key players we fielded a strong team yet
basic errors and a lack of passion and desire for three quarters of the
game cost us dear.
We actually scored first when Rebecca flicked a right foot shot past the
keeper following a corner however a rare goalkeeping error brought the
game level almost immediately. When Sophie floated an fantastic shot
over the keeper and onto the bar we should have know it was not to be
our day, heads dropped, and the game slowly slipped from our grasp.
The second half allowed Whitton's superior commitment to ease them into
a 3-1 lead before the girls finally woke up to the fact the game was
running away from them. A low cross/shot from Sam was spilled by the
keeper and Rebecca was on hand to score her second and show the team
what you can achieve if you listen at training!!
Unfortunately as the girls pressed for an equaliser they left themselves
exposed at the back and after several chances for both sides Whitton
eventually restored their two goal advantage and effectively killed the
game.
Sam scored a late third after great work from Claire resulted in a cross
that was helped on by Rebecca but it was no more than a consolation
effort. Despite this both Sam and Kelly nearly managed to salvage a draw
which would have been very harsh on Whitton and was certainly more than
we deserved.
A very disappointing result, an even more disappointing performance, and
we go into our final game before the Xmas break knowing it's win at all
costs
2/12/07 - Cougars U15
Girls 9 Hamsey Wildcats 0
The girls got back to winning
ways this week with a comprehensive victory over the division's
bottom side. Despite starting slowly (again!) once we took the lead
the girls never looked back and could easily have won by a bigger
margin. The opening goal, which seemed to wake the girls up, came
from Jenny Owen who made a good run down the left wing and despite
seeing her first effort blocked netted the rebound. Sophie then
scored a similar goal, this time chasing a long through ball down
the right hand side before firing a shot high into the roof of the
net. The game was well and truly over by half time after firstly
Kelly scored from close range following a corner, then Sam scored
with a right foot shot (yes RIGHT foot!!) to take us into the break
4-0 up.
The second half contnued in
the same vain, Sophie got her second goal of the game having again
finished well after chasing a long through ball and Jenny Stuart
made it 6 with a shot high into the net after cutting into the box
following good work on the wing by Claire. Kelly made it 7-0 with a
long shot from the edge of the area that was just too strong for the
goalkeeper, before completing her hat-trick with a good finish
following a left wing run and cross from Sam. Sam then completed
the scoring after she was put through one on one with the
goalkeeper.
Special mention this week must
go to Claire who gave a true Captain's performance and contributed
to many of the good moves in the game and also to Sophie who was
substituted after scoring two goals and was about to be brought back
on to try and complete her hat-trick but was found to be tucking
into a cheeseburger!! Obviously a training issue there!!
Finally, full credit to Hamsey
who, despite being on the end of a 9-0 defeat, played with great
sportsmanship and never gave up at any stage.
25/11/07 Molesey Magpies 5
Cougars U15 Girls 1
The less said about this game the
better as the match between the last two teams in the division with 100%
records ended with a crushing defeat for our girls.
Everything that has epitomised the teams' displays this season was
missing and as a consequence our only reply to 5 second half goals was
another effort from Sam that brought us back to 2-1 and gave us brief
hope that we could rescue the game.
Hopefully this game will act as a wake up call to the team and make us
realise that we need to improve in all aspects of our play if we are to
have any hopes of winning competitions this season.
1811/07 Ottershaw Girls 0
Cougars U15 Girls 1 League Cup
The match
reporter missed this weeks game due to work commitments and as a result
spent a very nervous 80 minutes wondering how the girls were getting on.
He needn't have worried as yet again the girls produced the goods, this
time to move into the last four of the League Cup. This game was
apparently, as the scoreline suggests, a very tight affair and was
played in a good spirit with both sides having chances to win. By all
accounts the game hinged on a couple of key moments when firstly Kirsty
made a magnificent save to deny the home side before Jenny Stuart
cleared the follow up off the goal line. Then, with time running out,
Gilly scored the crucial goal to set up with a semi final against either
Fleet Town Blues or South Park Girls in the New Year.
11/11/07 Crawley Wasps 1
Cougars U15 Girls 4
We travelled to Crawley this week for
top of the table clash against a team who dropped just one point in the
whole of last season.
Despite missing a couple of key players, in Gilly and Megan, the girls
were full of confidence but yet again started slowly despite kicking
with the wind and down the slope.
The conditions meant the game was played almost entirely in The Crawley
half and eventually Sam opened the scoring for us only for the home team
to equalise shortly afterwards following a defensive mixup. Just before
the break a long goalkick from Kirsty was helped through to Sam who
struck her 11th goal of the season with a fine left foot shot that gave
the keeper no chance.
Half time came with us 2-1 up and there was certainly a section of the
home fans that believed they'd done the hard work, given the conditions,
and that with the advantage of the slope and wind they'd overpower us in
the 2nd half. How wrong they were!
Yet again this season the girls produced a magnificent battling second
half display and with Emily and Kelly especially in fine form at the
back the Wasps rarely troubled us. Coupled with a magnificent
performance by the rest of the team we carved out even more chances and
deservedly scored twice more with both Ashley and Jenny Stuart scoring
cracking goals to open their accounts for the season.
The final score was a fair reflection of the balance of the game and
having beating last years League and Cup winners the girls should be
very proud of themselves and have the belief to push on and fulfill
their ambitions.
On a day where teamwork was definately the key factor in the win a
special mention must go to Sophie who came into the side and played with
great heart,passion and commitment.....a true Cougars performance
4/11/2007 - Cougars U15 Girls 4
AFC Wimbledon 2
This was a hardfought victory for
the girls in a game in which they started very sluggishly. Having played
so well in our unbeaten start to the season the opening half was very
disappointing especially given the confidence we'd entered the game
with.
Sam scored twice but each time lapses in concentration allowed the
opposition to equalise on both occasions. Fortunately Kirsty made some
timely saves to keep us from going behind and very slowly the confidence
levels rose. Sam scored from close range to complete her hat trick, and
put us 3-2 ahead at half time, a lead that in truth we barely deserved,
but from this moment the pattern of the game changed and we were rarely
troubled from this point.
A number of substitutions seemed to revive the team and the second half
was played with a greater determination and at a higher tempo. The girls
were rewarded with a fourth goal when Frankie hit home a long range
effort and the unbeaten run was stretched to 6 games.
The girls know that they'll need to perform far better in the next 3
games in which we play our two nearest rivals in the league either side
of a cup match away to Ottershaw.
28/10/2007-Cougars U15 Girls 2
Ottershaw Girls 0
After the great result in our last
match in the League Cup a fortnight ago the girls returned to league
action keen to maintain their 100% start to the season.
Standing in their way were our old rivals from Ottershaw who as always
provided strong opposition. Together with the constant rain and poor
playing conditions the girls knew this was going to be a very tough
match, and so it proved.
The first half was played with a strong wind behind us and two
excellently taken goals from Sam and Gilly took us into the break with a
well deserved lead.
We fully expected to have backs to the wall in the second half given the
conditions, but yet again this season the girls raised their game and
took the match to the opposition. Ottershaw were restricted to just one
shot in this half and despite now playing into the wind our girls
continued to play some fantastic football with great determination and
we were unfortunate not to add to our lead on a number of occasions.
This game again showed the Character and team spirit of the girls and
each and every one of them that took the field played their part in yet
another crucial victory.
