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