UNDER-15 GIRLS ESFA QUARTER FINAL- 23rd January

Only One Step Away!

Since becoming Premier League champions at Anfield last May the under 15 girls have been thriving. They have appeared on MOTD kickabout, watched England at Wembley, paraded their trophy at the Britannia Stadium and now are just one step away from reaching another national final.

CHS started the game against St. John’s High School, from Bishops Auckland, slowly but looked the more likely to score with CHS’ defence not having much to do throughout the first half. The first real chance fell to Lucy Wright inside 10 minutes when a long ball from CHS goalkeeper, Lydia Bennet found Hollie Massey who played it into the feet of Amy Rodgers before she played through Lucy Wright. Wright pulled her shot two feet wide of the St John goal.

CHS broke the deadlock after 20 minutes when St John’s goal kick fell to captain Hollie Massey on the halfway line and after looking up to see the goalkeeper off her line, her stunning 50-yard strike looped over the goalkeeper, whose hands could not prevent CHS from taking the lead. 1-0 CHS. A magnificent goal from a magnificent player gave CHS a one goal led at half-time.

The second half was hampered by bad weather which saw the girls battle every type of element from hail to wind to sun to rain and the final half didn’t really start to the final few minutes of the match other than Lucy Wright going one-on-one with the goalkeeper but the keeper stayed strong and palmed the ball away.

CHS pressed in the final few minutes to try and seal their victory and a place in the semi-finals when Lucy Wright had a chance from close range but the ball bounced off her knee just wide. Amy Rodger’s shot from outside the box needed the St John’s goalkeepers fully stretched hands to push it around the post.

However, CHS survived a few nerve racking moments in the final minutes with them struggling to clear the ball from a very crowded penalty-area and with that many people in the box there is a risk that a deflection could have put the game into extra time. CHS managed to hold onto their one goal lead and progress through to the semi-finals.

Every player gave their all and you cannot deny their effort and although it wasn’t the most convincing performance from CHS they did the job that had to be done. Well done girls.

CHS now have to wait to see who they will face in the semi-finals.

Written by Adam Bailey. Photo’s Courtesy of Nathan Stirk Photography