Once again Leafield were unable to field 11 players so had to contend not only playing with 9 players but also the wind and rain. The first half was a great team performance with every Leafield player working for one another and frustrating Coventry who could not get a hold of the ball. Some chances came midway through the first half that Leafield should of converted to take the lead but this was not to be and at the break it was 0-0.

 

Coventry came out in the second half and showed that they were the team with more players, as the first half they did not make this count. A free kick was awarded to Coventry just outside the box, and a strike that went through the defence and into the net gave Coventry a 1-0 lead. Leafield were showing signs of tiredness towards the late stages of the game, which playing with 8/9/10 players for the last few weeks is understandable. Coventry managed to grab a second goal when Leafield failed to shut down the ball and gave the Coventry player time and space to have a shot. 

 

A great battling performance once again by those players who have shown commitment and passion every week. Well done girls.  

 

 

Leafield have 1 game remaining next week away to Warwick.          

On a warm morning Leafield had the benefit of having a full squad after not being able to field 11 for some weeks. The girls understood that 3 points were vital to maintain their league position. Knowle produced some early pressure and attacked the Leafield goal with the defence and goalkeeper having to dome some work they really should not of had to so early on into the game. It took Leafield 25 minutes to break the dead lock, which was done by Lois Jefferies with good build up play from the midfield. This gave Leafield a much needed boost and two further goals were to follow, a great run from midfield and a calm finish from Charlotte Hickin and a second goal from Lois, 3-0 to Leafield at the break. The girls knew they needed to start the second half exactly how they ended the first half. Which they did and produced some great flowing football and kept Knowle's chances limited. After some great work in the first half to get the ball into the box but nobody converting the crosses the girls reacted to this and managed to convert these crosses into chances in the second half. Eve Carpenter scored two goals in quick succession followed by a second goal for Charlotte and her first goal for the club Amy O Donnell.

 

It was a fine team performance with some great individual performances also today. Well done girls you deserved it.

 

              

For the second week running Leafield were unable to field 11, so had 10 avaliable for the trip to Knowle. On what was a warm day the girls coped well and from the start knew that 3 points were needed in order to maintain their league position. The game started off slowly with neither team passing the ball well on what was a lovely pitch. Knowle took their opportunity when it came and took the lead with Leafield failing to pick up players in the box. Both teams had opportunities to score more goals but could not convert their chances into goals. Knowle continued to press forward but the leafield defence coped well and dealt with the Knowle strike force. Leafield equalised against the run of play when the ball fell lose in the box and Charlotte Hickin was on hand to smash the ball into the net, 1-1 at the break.

Leafield knew they needed to pass the ball around a lot better than the first half and if chances came they needed to be converted into goals. The space was being created well out wide from Megan Smirles who was causing the Knowle defence a lot of problems with her pace and this was soon to pay off. Some good work from Megan and the leafield defence created a chance for Lois Jefferies who put Leafield into the lead. This only spurred up Knowle who found an equaliser to bring the game back to 2-2 with a good finsh from the knowle striker. Leafield were looking tired and it seemed like we were going away with a point, until Lois received the ball just inside the Knowle half, down the left she ran past 4 knowle players and then calmly slotted the ball past the Knowle keeper to give leafield all 3 points. 

 

A good game of football played in the right spirit from both teams. A lucky 3 points for Leafield who now look forward to playing Knowle next week at home. Well done girls.        

 

       

After the disappointment of not making the cup final the previous week it was important for Leafield to gain some much needed confidence and to focus on the league and picking up some valuable points, Leafield had the bare 11, with Georgie making her debut. The early exchanges of play were scrappy with Leafield struggling to adapt to the small Leamington pitch with passes being over hit and space not being created by the midfield. The ball was fizzing off the surface of the pitch which was frustrating for the Leafield strike force as they could not get hold of the ball to create any clear chances. Leamington were catching Leafield on the break and created some early opportunities which Leah and the defence dealt with well. A chance finally came from some good work by Esther and Eve down the left, who got the ball into the box for Lois to strike the ball towards goal and in thanks to a deflection, 1-0 at the break. 

 

Second half started off well both teams looking like they may score early on but it remained 1-0. Leafield started to take control of the game and had large amounts of possession and chances to add to their lead but could just not convert these. Whilst Leafield only had a one goal advantage the game was still tight and was frustrating as Leafield knew they needed to take one of the chances they were creating. Which they finally did with a second goal from Lois which she deserved after a great clearance from Mia in defence, a great half volley strike into the corner of the Leamington goal. 

 

Well done both teams.

 

Leafield picked up 3 valuable points and now must continue to work hard for the remainder of the season.  

 

     

Leafield knew this would be a tough encounter playing the team who sit top of the league and both teams playing for a cup final place. Leafield had only 10 players avaliable for the game so knew from the start a tough game was in store. Warwick started the game brightly with large amounts of possession which therefore left Leafield finding it hard to get into the game. Warwick created chances early on but Leah was producing some fine saves and the defence were showing it would take some good play to get past them, which was soon to come from Warwick who were passing the ball well and this was soon to pay off as they went into the break 2 - 0 up. 

 

Second half and Leafield knew they needed to start brightly and try and find some form and take a grip of the game if that cup final place was going to be theirs. Chances for Leafield were being created but unfortunately were not able to be turned into goals as the extra player for Warwick was showing through, Warwick grabbed a third goal which they created well.

 

A good battle from both teams played in good spirit, good luck to Warwick in the final.              

Due to a frozen pitch the previous week this was only the second game of the new year. Going into the game we had expected to have 10 players, however due to injury & illness we started the game with 9 and finished it with 8. The girls adapted brilliantly to playing in different positions throughout the game and from the off had understood that it was going to be difficult playing with 9 as well as playing the team who sit top of the league. 

The first 15 mins were dominated by Warwick who kept the ball well and created a number of chances and converted 3 of these chances into goals. Leafield reacted well to going behind and started to put passes together and spread the ball well on what was a great pitch. Towards the end of the first half Leafield showed great resilience to stop Warwick from scoring any more goals. At the break Warwick were 3-0 up, however it could have easily been more if it was not for the determination of every single Leafield player defending and Leah (goalkeeper) with some superb decision making in coming to claim the ball. The break could not come soon enough for the girls who had a much deserved half time drink and a chance for them to catch their breath and reflect on how every one of them played their part in the first half and confidence was flowing. A special mention for Lois who had turned up ill, and tried her hardest to play a part for the sake of her team mates as she did not want to let them down, during the first half she was on and off the field, however started the second half only to go off around 5 mins into it as she was not able to continue, this meant Leafield had to play the remainder of the game with 8 players. Allthough 3 players short, during periods of the second half this was not clear to see as Leafield created chances and had a number of corners during the second half period. A goal came Leafields way midway through the second half after a good run from Eve from midfield whos miss hit shot found Esther unmarked at the back post for a tap in. 3 -1 and this gave Leafield a boost that maybe more goals could come. It was not to be and in the final minute Warwick scored a fourth, to make the final score 4 - 1.

 

A day when due to various circumstances Leafield played with players short, players playing out of positions and playing the team top of their league....a superb team effort and every single player showed commitment and character in what was a tough game. We will see Warwick in the semis whom we have drawn at home in the cup. 

 

Great job girls you should all be very proud of yourselves as both their manager, parents and referee commented to the girls on what a great job they had done and parents thank you as ever.                       

After a lengthy break due to postponements & weather it was great for the u12s to be playing some football. A terrific performance by every member of the squad, who only had 11 players for the game. A goal scored within 31 seconds of the kick off by Lois Jefferies started leafield off brightly, which was the first of here soon to be 6 goals. Boldmere showed they were not going to let the early goal defeat them and continued to press for the equaliser. More goals were to follow in the first half Boldmere managed to grab a goal, only for Lois to score another 3 in quick succession all of which were great team goals and an outstanding individual goal by Lois. Charlotte Hickin scored with a superb shot around 20 yards from goal, a birthday present to herself as it was her and goalkeeper Leah Walsh birthdays. 

 

At the break it was 5-1, second half should have brought more goals than it did but Leafield created chances but could not convert them. An all around great team performance through to the semis of the cup well done girls!!  

 

              

After weeks without a game Leafield finally returned to cup action against Rubery Juniors.  With the absence of manager Chantel Hunter due to work commitments Michelle McCormack and Charlotte Hughes stepped up from the Under 10s to manage the team for the day.

After the kit clash was sorted Leafield started brightly, all be it with only 10 players.  Leafield were soon ahead and although the game ended 9-1 it could have been a lot more, Lois Jefferies and Charlotte Hickin scored 4 each with an own goal making it up to the 9.  A decent performance after such a long lay off and an excellent result, especially with just 10 players against 11.  Well done girls.