UNDER 16 GIRLS v EATON BANK (CHESHIRE CUP)- 14th November

Under-16 girls triumph again

The under-16 girls football team progressed in another cup competition tonight (Friday 14^th November) as they went through to the next round of the Cheshire School’s Cup after beating arch-rivals, Eaton Bank 7-0.

Eaton Bank won the toss and decided to change sides, with CHS forced to attack a sodden goalmouth in the first half.

Congleton were on top from the opening minute when Hollie Massey picked the ball up just inside the Eaton Bank half. She ran forward towards the Eaton Bank defence and found herself in behind them. The Eaton Bank goalkeeper came out to collect her cross, if the goalkeeper hadn’t then CHS could have found themselves taking an early lead with a CHS player running in just behind the goalkeeper.

CHS had another chance to take the lead in the second minute. Lucy Wright played an excellent ball, from the right, to the left edge of the Eaton Bank area. Beth Jones hit it first time but she could not direct her shot goalwards.

Eaton Bank had to deal with continued Congleton pressure in the opening ten minutes with CHS creating a number of openings inside the Eaton Bank box. However, the conditions made it very difficult for CHS to be clinical in front of goal.

On eleven minutes, Eaton Bank’s goal kick went straight to Emma Nisbet, on the outside left edge of the area. Her cross found Zoe Tweats at the back post but she could not direct her shot goalwards, under pressure from the goalkeeper.

CHS finally broke the deadlock on fourteen minutes and deservedly so. Poppy Jones’ powerful shot from eight yards found the net and left Eaton Bank’s goalkeeper rooted to the spot. 1-0 CHS.

It took Congleton just three minutes to double their lead. Beth Jones picked the ball up on the left flank. She brilliantly went past Eaton Bank’s right-back on the left touchline. She then crossed the ball into the box and the ball fell to Zoe Tweats at the far post, who from an acute angle poked the ball into the net. 2-0 CHS.

CHS extended their lead four minutes after, Zoe Tweats played a ball into the Eaton Bank area from the right. Hollie Massey was waiting in the middle. She took a touch before firing the ball into the goal from ten yards out. 3-0 CHS.

Half-time- Congleton 3-0 Eaton Bank

It was a dominant first half performance from CHS, which saw Eaton Bank not having a single shot and Congleton’s defence spent most of the half on the halfway line.

Chloe Tatton donned the gloves in the second half for CHS, replacing Amy Rodgers in between the posts and Frankie Bibby replaced Hollie Massey also at half-time.

Congleton had their first chance in the second half after two minutes. Emma Nisbet picked the ball up just inside Eaton Bank’s half, she then ran towards the defence before taking on a defender. Her shot from outside the area was off-target.

Four minutes later, Nisbet caused Eaton Bank’s defence further problems. She again ran through the defence, her shot from inside the area was on-target but the goalkeeper blocked it.

Zoe Tweat’s effort from just outside the area went just over the crossbar, two minutes later, after some good play by CHS.

On 41 minutes, a good ball from Lucy Wright, from the right. A CHS player miss kicked the ball before another CHS player’s follow-up went wide.

It took Eaton Bank 45 minutes for them to record their first shot on target. However, Chloe Tatton pulled off a good save from a shot from just outside the area.

Amy Rodgers, who played in goal for Congleton in the first half, made an instant impact when she came onto the field in the 48th minute. A minute after coming on she added CHS’ fourth goal. A poor goal-kick fell to Rodgers in the hole between the midfield and defence, she saw the goalkeeper was off her line and coolly put the ball into the back of the net from 25 yards out.

Two minutes later, Rebecca Barlow extended CHS’ lead. Another poor goal kick from Eaton Bank, was picked up by Barlow. She cut inside on the left before finding the net from an acute angle. 5-0 CHS.

It only took another two minutes for Amy Rodgers to add her second goal of the game and CHS’ sixth. She clinically slotted home after running through on goal.

Rodgers then sealed her hat-trick with three minutes left. It all came about after brilliant work from Hollie Massey. She won the ball following a battle with two Eaton Bank players, fifteen yards inside her own half. She then turned around one of the Eaton Bank player’s before flicking it over the head of the other. She then ran with the ball down the right wing into Eaton Bank’s half before cutting inside. She turned around another player before laying off the ball. Amy Rodgers picked the ball up on the left, drove towards the goal before slotting it home from an acute angle for her hat-trick.

Full-time- Congleton 7-0 Eaton Bank

Despite scoring three goals in the first half, their manager Mr Naylor was not happy with the girls’ first half performance “we were poor in the first half, we did not get going in the first half at all. Against stronger teams we need to get out of the blocks better. But, it was much better in the second half.”

The girls are also through to the last-32 of the Premier League under-16 School’s Cup and face a home tie against Helsby High School in round five.

Written by Adam Bailey