UNDER 14 GIRLS CHESHIRE CUP SEMI-FINAL- 28th March

Playing Two Matches in Two Days Takes its Toll on Under 14 Girls

This afternoon (Friday 28^th March) saw CHS’ under 14 girls play their second semi-final in just 48 hours. After narrowly losing 3-2 to St. Bede’s in the Playstation School’s Cup semi-final on Wednesday night, they were hoping they would bounce back with a win in the Cheshire Cup semi-final against Bridgewater High School.

CHS had it all to do in the second half after going into the break 4-1 down, with their tiredness evident. Emma Nisbit scored CHS’ only goal in the first half.

What CHS needed was a few goals in the early part of the second-half if they had any chance of progressing to the county final. They delivered, with Amy Rodger’s scoring a quick hatrick within the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Although Bridgewater added another, suddenly Congleton were only one goal down and the momentum was with them.

However, that momentum turned once more with Bridgewater making it 6-4 half way through the second half. A few minutes after, CHS’ goalkeeper Verity Ward made a good save at the far post, which without her intervention would have found the net. However, she fumbled her catch and the Bridgewater forward was there to slot the ball home. 7-4 Bridgewater.

Emma Nisbit then went close, soon after for CHS, but her shot from inside the area found the side netting. CHS went close again but Bridgewater’s goalkeeper came off her line to deny CHS having a shot on target.

Bridgewater then scored their eighth when their forward beat the off-side trap and put the ball beyond Ward.

Lydia Bennett, who was playing in goal for CHS on Wednesday, had an opportunity to cut the deficit but her effort from 8 yards out narrowly went wide.

CHS gave it their all despite their exhaustion. To comeback from 1-4 down to make it 5-4 was outstanding as they had played less than 48 hours before in a very intense game on a larger and heavy pitch (even Premier League teams struggle to cope with the demands of playing on a Thursday then on the Sunday). The 8-4 result see’s the under 14 girls bow out of another competition. However, they should be very proud of their achievements this year.

Written by Adam Bailey

PLAYSTATION SCHOOL'S CUP SEMI-FINAL- 26th March

Spirited Performance Ends in Cup Exit

Tonight (Wednesday 26^th March) an incredible 350 people watched Congleton High’s under 15 girls football team go head-to-head with St. Bede’s, from Blackburn, in the ESFA Cup semi-final.

The match was enough to warm you up on a chilly, rainy night with the incentive a place in a national final. Congleton kicked off to rapturous applause from one of the biggest crowds the home of Congleton Town FC has seen for the past few years.

St. Bede’s had the first shot on goal but it was from distance and turned out to be a routine save for the crouching Lydia Bennett, in the CHS goal. It took just 7 minutes for the team from Blackburn to add to their 58 goals in the competition. CHS left cracks in their defence and St. Bede’s forward from 12 yards out drilled it low into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Bennett.

CHS then survived a lucky escape, on 15 minutes, when keeper Bennett fumbled the ball at the feet of one of St. Bede’s striker, who didn’t strike the ball cleanly and her attempt fell 6 feet wide of the target.

Despite the persistent rain CHS’ support on the hill, behind the goal CHS were attacking, spurred the team with their chants. It appeared to work as soon after, great work from Lucy Wright on the right played it into the danger area and St. Bede’s didn’t react initially. Bede’s defender then took two CHS players out on the edge of the box as Massey tried to advance with the ball. Emma Nisbit subsequently latched onto the loose ball and after a slight surge further into the box she slotted it past the St. Bede’s goalkeeper. After CHS’ first real attack on goal they made it 1-1 after 23 minutes.

Minutes later, St. Bede’s number 10 beat CHS’ high line but her strike on goal was nearer to the corner flag than the net. St. Bede’s had chances to retake the lead before half-time with one chance going just wide of the post from close range. Bede’s then went close with a header from a free-kick, just outside the area, following CHS’ goalkeeper handling the ball outside the area.

HT- 1-1.

CHS would have been disappointed that they didn’t trouble St. Bede’s goalkeeper more in the first half, with her looking very nervy and hardly moving off her line. Something I know that CHS’ coaches wanted to be exploited more.

The match restarted just as CHS Principal, Mr Hermitt, returned with his pie and chips. It was mostly St. Bede’s in the opening five minutes of the second half and they got a deserved goal on 49 minutes. An initial Bede’s corner wasn’t cleared by CHS, which resulted in a scramble in the box. The ball came to the edge of the area and a St. Bede’s midfielder bullet strike evaded all the leg’s in the box and went straight into the bottom corner, leaving Bennett just staring. 2-1 St. Bede’s. They nearly extended their lead further after 55 minutes when a cross from the left went close with no CHS’ defender’s near and three Bede’s attackers all arriving.

Just after the hour mark, CHS kicked into action for the first time in the second half after a stunning run from Hollie Massey on the left wing starting from inside her own half. She beat a number of players before cutting into the box and a perfect timed tackle from St. Bede’s centre back, on the edge of the box, denied Massey a shot at goal or a chance to cross it. There were appeals from the CHS supporters for a penalty but the Bede’s defender won the ball cleanly. The ball went out for a corner and from the corner St. Bede’s went straight down the other end, with a counter-attack, and were 2 on 1. Lydia Bennett came off her line but Bede’s number 11 squared it to their player in the middle who had lots of time and slotted it home and surely put the game beyond CHS’ reach. From CHS having their brightest move of the second half, they found their deficit even bigger, although there were strong shouts from the crowd as to why the linesman hadn’t flagged for off-side and from where I was sat it did look as if the Bede’s player was offside.

It took 20 minutes into the second half for CHS to have their first shot on target of the half but it caused no real trouble for the goalkeeper with Hollie Massey’s 25 yard half-volley straight down the keeper’s throat.

Lydia Bennett then kept CHS in the game with a string of great saves to deny St. Bede’s increasing their lead. First a good block from a close range shot on 70 minutes before a double save from a shot from the left with Amy Rodger’s helping out with a goal saving block.

Was there going to be another twist in the tale? Yes there was as after 78 minutes Hollie Massey closed the deficit to just one goal. Massey’s dangerous free-kick wasn’t cleared fully, it then came back out to Massey on the right side of the box who struck it cleanly and her thunderous strike beat the goalkeeper and gave CHS belief that they could at least force extra-time.

CHS tried their hardest to score the equaliser but St. Bede’s held firm and the final result was 3-2 to St. Bede’s, who will be tough to beat in the final of the ESFA Cup.

In the end the best team won with St. Bede’s proving too strong for CHS, who will be a little disappointed that they didn’t trouble the opposing goalkeeper more. Anyhow, the girls can be very proud of their achievement to even reach the semi-final of the national competition and still have a shot at silverware in the Cheshire Cup, which they play on Friday in the semi-final.

Principal Mr Hermitt said he was "very proud" of the team and tonight was a perfect example of 'Achieving Success Together'.

Team manager, Mr Naylor said that the “better team” won in the end, a side which he described as "incredible", but he added that the CHS girls can take “incredible pride in their achievement’s” and he is sure they will bounce back with a win on Friday in the Cheshire Cup as they are "determined not to end the season empty handed."

Written by Adam Bailey. Photography by Nathan Stirk Photography.

UNDER 15 GIRL'S SEMI-FINAL PREVIEW

Preview: Under 15 Girls Playstation School’s Cup Semi-Final

Congleton High School’s under 15 girls football team have become used to playing in big games and tomorrow night is going to be no different as CHS face St. Bede’s from Blackburn with the prize for the winners a place in the ESFA playstation schools final. Both teams are looking to continue their impressive cup runs.

CHS have played extremely well to get to this stage of the competition and are looking forward to playing in the semi-final. CHS started the competition well scoring for fun but recently they have struggled in front of goal, something they have since worked on in training. However, they remain tight at the back and create a number of chances and can exploit teams with their quick counter attacks.

St. Bede’s from Blackburn travel to Congleton with a vast amount of confidence. Since, beating Norden High School 14-0 in Round 2, St. Bede’s have looked unbeatable, scoring 58 goals and conceding just 4.

There is no doubt that Congleton have some outstanding individuals with the likes of Hollie Massey, fresh from International duty, and Everton midfielder Amy Rodger’s. However, if CHS are going to reach the final then it is going to have to be a team performance, just like it was at Anfield last May.

The difference between the two sides tomorrow could be the home advantage, something which CHS will be looking to play to their advantage. Make sure you are at Booth Street, the home of Congleton Town FC, tomorrow (Wednesday 26th March) for the 7pm kick-off to give the girls the support the girl’s deserve.

There will be a small entry fee of £1 on the gate.

Route to Semi-Final

	Congleton	St. Bede’s
Round 2	St Margaret Ward  0-2 Congleton	St. Bede’s 14-0 Norden High School
Round 3	Urmston Grammar 0-10 Congleton	Broughton 1-13 St. Bede’s
Round 4	Wade Deacon 2-4 Congleton	St. Bede’s 10-0 Lymm High School
Round 5	Mirfield Free 2-5 Congleton	Ormskirk 1-4 St. Bede’s
Round 6	South Hunsley 1-3 Congleton	Woodhey 2-8 St. Bede’s
Round 7	Congleton 1-0 St John’s School	St. Bede’s 9-0 Idsall

Written by Adam Bailey

YEAR 7, 8 AND 10 v SHAVINGTON- 12th March

Years 8 and 10 Thrive in the Sun

Tonight year 7, 8 and year 10 football teams battled it out with Shavington.

Photo: Mr Donnelly gives his team his pre-match team talk.
 

The bright and sunny late afternoon weather allowed perfect conditions for the spectators to watch both year 7 and year 10 teams (as year 7 were playing away) but year 10 manager Mr Donnelly said that the pitch being boggy would make it hard for his team to play their attractive passing style. He was also hoping for a better first half than when the two teams met earlier this season which saw CHS 2-1 down at half-time despite winning the match 6-2. However, that was the past. Tonight, it took just 7 minutes for CHS to find the breakthrough when a neat dink from Conor Docherty in midfield, found the running Reece Carbutt, who had escaped the defence. He then coolly put the ball over the Shavington keeper from the left edge of the area. Immediately from the kick-off, CHS broke and Jay McEleer put the ball in the back of the net on his return to the side. He has previously played as a forward and centre-back for the year 10 side but today played right wing and it was a neat finish to slot it home. Two well worked goals caught Shavington out and put them onto the back foot.

Just before half-time, Conor Docherty made it 3-0 with a deserved goal, in a clustered area, having been influential throughout the match creating several chances and assisting a few goals. Mr Donnelly would have been pleased with his side’s performance in the first half with Shavington not troubling Jake Duckworth’s net once although you may count a header from just inside the area but it was a routine save for Duckworth. There was no need for any ‘hair dryer treatment’ today with CHS comfortably leading but Mr Donnelly was looking for even more goals in the second half.

CHS started the second half brightly with Conor Docherty forcing the Shavington goalkeeper into a great save at the near post, to turn the ball around the post. Morgan Bratt made it 4-0 soon after with a shot from close range Unmarked on the six yard box the ball came to him before slotting it home. He then grabbed another goal in quick succession as within a minute of the restart Bratt secured his brace, after a superb through ball from Morgan Buckley in midfield to leave Bratt to power the ball beyond the goalkeeper. CHS could have got another but Conor Docherty’s shot from a tight angle narrowly went wide of the far post, with the goalkeeper scrambling. Reece Carbutt then made sure that he got his second of the game and added CHS’ sixth, the same amount as their last meeting, with a very good goal. A long ball was played up the pitch with Carbutt involved in a race with the goalkeeper and the defenders to get to the ball first, Carbutt’s pace saw him have the advantage but still had to put the ball into the back of the net. Leaping, in a group of defenders, from the edge of the area he headed the ball above and beyond the on-rushing goalkeeper and it rolled into the back of the net which rounded off a comfortable victory for CHS.

It was a well deserved victory considering the tricky pitch conditions, which caused the ball to bobble and on a few occasions caused players to fall over. CHS dominated the possession statistics as well as attempts with Shavington only really having the one half-chance, which didn’t cause any problems. If the pitch had been better than it could have easily been eight or nine goals with CHS going close a few times.

Also playing tonight were year 8 with CHS having fond memories of the last time the two teams met with CHS triumphing 7-0. Although, tonight’s victory was not as emphatic it was still comfortable with CHS winning 5-0 thanks to braces from George Johnson and Finley Jackson and a goal from Elliott Darmon. George Johnson won the Man of the Match award with a great individual performance on a bobbly pitch.

It wasn't a clean sweep of wins as unfortunately the year 7's narrowly lost away 4-2.

Written by Adam Bailey

UNDER 14 GIRL'S CHESHIRE CUP QUARTER FINAL- 7th March

Under 14 Girls Reach Another Semi-Final

It was a near perfect preparation for CHS’ under 14 girls with a 7-0 victory only a few weeks before they team up with the year 10’s in a national semi-final.

The girl’s switched attention from the national cup to the county cup when CHS travelled to Chester High School on Friday in the quarter-final of the Cheshire Cup.

Their road to this stage of the competition has been very good with 8-0 and 11-1 wins over All Hallows and defending champions, Lymm. CHS continued their impressive run with a 7-0 away win against Chester thanks to goals from Hollie Massey, Emma Nisbit, a brace from Amy Rodgers and a hatrick from Becca Barlow, who plays in defence for the under 15’s.

They will now face either Bridgewater, EPCH or Upton in the semi-final.

Re-Scheduled National Semi-Final Tie

The under 15 girl’s national semi-final has been re-scheduled to Wednesday 26^th March, after the original date for the match had to be cancelled. The match between CHS and St. Bede’s from Blackburn, will now take place at 7pm on the 26^th March with a chance to reach another national final.

The match will be played at Booth Street, the home of Congleton Town FC, and there will be a small entry fee of £1 on the gate.

The girls’ have been performing outstandingly in the competition as have their opponents so let’s make the home advantage count and create an incredible atmosphere for the girls and give them the support they deserve.

Written by Adam Bailey

YEAR 8 RUGBY v WELLINGTON- 5th March

Emphatic Win for Year 8 in Rugby

Wednesday 5^th March saw CHS’ year 8 rugby team lock horns with Wellington. The boys came into the game with high spirits after two comfortable wins against Woodhouse School in November and December since then they have been working hard on the training pitch and were raring to get back out there.

CHS took the lead inside 5 minutes with their first real attack. Tomaz McNulty broke away from inside the CHS half and looked unstoppable powering through tackles and past players before touching the ball down inside the try line. In almost an identical move, McNulty did the same again this time breaking away leaving the entire Wellington team in his wake with a very quick attack. He again made it look so easy.

Wellington’s manager was furious that his side had let McNulty bully them again with their manager telling his players to “hit Tomaz hard or is he going to score 20”. CHS may have had a 10 point lead but it was only because of two moments of brilliance from McNulty and CHS looked vulnerable in the rucks and scrums in the opening 20 minutes, with Wellington easily winning/overturning CHS .

Josh Riley increased CHS’ advantage to 15 points, again exploiting the left. Riley started the move powering forward before finishing it with a run from past the half-way line to the try line. Alfie Tarrant then made it 20-0 with a move on the right wing and just had to touch it over the line, with no Wellington players threatening his star moment.

Logan Clowes then made sure the score maintained the same with a try-saving tackle just after the half an hour mark.

The match ended 50-5. Their team ethic, big hits and spectacular tries were all praised by their coach, Mr Cross.

Written by Adam Bailey