This was the third successive season that Leafield had faced Derby in the final of this competition.  Having had three close contests with them in the league already this season it was hoped that the heavy final defeats of the past two seasons would be eradicated.

After a grand entrance in the giant hummer and watching the under 15s celebrate their cup final victory the team were ready to take on Derby.  Dan and Bill were clear with their instructions and expectations and shared their belief in each and every player.  It was communicated that chances would come against a Derby team that have struggled to cope with Leafield's attacking force, but following the previous two poor performances the pressure was on to finish them.

The heat was difficult to contend with as well as the inevitable hard pitch, but it was the same for both.  Leafield got off to the brightest of starts with the Derby management and coaches clueless as to how to defend the pace of Rachel and power of Faye up front.  Leafield took the lead as Rachel finished from close range and then doubled the advantage as the keeper's clearance deflected off her own defender and fell to Rachel once again to tap into an open net.

It appeared that Rachel's frustration at missing a number of chances in the previous two games had provided her with the hunger and desire to put things right on the big stage.  This was certainly not the Rachel show though, as the whole team played exactly as was asked from the outset.  Derby were dangerous on the attack but the back four of Leafield- Lexley, Jade, Zoe and Alice were superb in thwarting any potential danger.  Gabby and Hannah were dominating the centre of the park and Lucy and Emma were working tirelessly on both flanks to both defend and create chances.

With another two superb finishes from Rachel before half time Leafield went in to the break with a comfortable, but deserved 4-0 lead.

Despite Derby trying to now man mark Rachel, it was never going to work as this was a player with a point to prove.  Derby's disregard and persistent complaining of Leafield's style of play on the sideline, as they had in the previous league game was to no avail, as the team simply played the way they needed to to get victory in a cup final. 

This appeared to be Leafield's year, with Rachel finishing twice more to record a superb double hat trick in a cup final.

Derby pulled a goal back with an excellent free kick that gave stand in goal keeper Annalise no chance and then quite fittingly, Leafield's longest serving U16s player Faye finished the rout with a superb strike to make it 7-1.

Having been proverbly 'battered' by Derby in two previous finals, this was no more than Leafield deserved.  The girls put everything together for this game and produced exactly what both Dan and Bill knew they could.  It can not be forgotten that Derby beat Sporting Club Albion in the semi final of this competition and that the previous score lines between both teams would never have suggested such a convincing victory for Leafield.  Derby were simply beaten by a much better and hungry Leafield team.

As another under 16 season comes to a close this was a fitting way to end many of the players several years with the club.  Special mention must go to Annalise who when asked to deputise for the injured Alysha who had in fact broken her hand in a great save made at Sutton, gave the reply any manager would wish his player to give 'I'll do what I have to do to make sure we win this cup.'  This comment epitomises what Annalise has always been about, as she has decided to accept an opportunity of employment and concentrate on that rather than move to the senior setup I along with the rest of the girls and everybody at Leafield wish her the best of luck.  She like many of the others have remained loyal and have served the club superbly over many years, many from under 10s upwards.  Thanks also to Bill and every parent for their continued support this season and previously.  Well done girls- what a way to end the season!

In this re-arranged switched fixture Leafield travelled to Sutton for third time this season.  Having beaten Sutton twice before, once with nine Leafield players against eleven Sutton players the girls were warned by both Dan and Bill not to take anything for granted.  As in previous match reports Sutton have been impressive in certain areas of their games and certainly have the ability if not the final product to cause problems.

With a number of players unavailable Leafield re-shuffled the pack and the bare eleven were given clear instructions of how to play- to feet and quickly, moving the ball around the opposition and finishing chances when created.

Although the passing was good and Jade and Annalise looked comfortable at the back, chance after chance went begging with Rachel being the guiltiest, shooting high, wide and straight at the keeper.

The game progressed into the second half with neither team making the breakthrough until Gabby scored a superb goal from long range, finally beating the resilient Sutton keeper.  From this point on Leafield looked to extend their lead but it simply was not going to be Rachel's day, despite making great runs and getting herself into superb positions, her finishing was poor.

Sutton threatened on the break and Alysha had to come off her line quickly to make a great save and in the process injuring her hand.  She managed to carry on but could do very little about Sutton's equaliser as the ever dangerous right sided player skipped past two Leafield players and poked the ball past the oncoming Alysha into the back of the net from a tight angle.

Both teams had chances from this point on, although once again like the previous game against Leamington, Leafield were certianly not at the races- slow to the ball and then conceeding possession far too easily when in control.  Sutton on the other hand where as hardworking as ever and got the winning goal in the last minute as a corner was poorly defended and it fell for the Sutton player to finish easily from close range.

With the final against Derby on Saturday, this was far from good preparation, although if Rachel and others can finish even half of the chances created and missed in the last two games then Derby will be well beaten.  Congratulations to Sutton on their win.

Following Leafield's best league performance of the season against Albion, this was probably their poorest display to date.  A lack lustre first half with stray passes and a poor work ethic from some players on the dry and bobbly pitch enabled Leamington to be in the game a lot more than they should have been.  Rachel had a couple of chances that should have been taken as did Gabby and Faye but it was not until the last few minutes of the half that Lauren, on as sub, poked the ball past the keeper from close range to put Leafield 1-0 up.

The second half showed slight improvements but the game still had an end of season tired feel to it with Leafield simply not making the most of their dominant possession.  Rachel managed to finish two of her several chances on the day to make it a comfortable 3-0 scoreline, but with a final beckoning the performance level will need to improve considerably.

Having been disappointingly beaten by Albion last week in a result that ended any real hopes of the league title Leafield set out to put a performance in that would do exactly the same for Albion.  With Albion needing to win to keep their slim, but possible title hopes alive it was always going to be another entertaining encounter between these two teams.

Like the previous two meetings the game started at pace, Albion settled well on the big but slightly dry and bobbly pitch and kept the ball better than Leafield.  The battle was being had in the centre of the park where Gabby and Zoe were seeing a lot of the ball but were unable to get hold of it and make anything of any possession that Leafield got.

The first real chance of the game came from a free kick from Gabby that was struck sweetly but just too high, the dangerous Albion forward then managed to get a great turn in on the edge of the box but shot high and wide of Alysha, who was rarely troubled.  Annalise marshalled the Leafield defence superbly, with Jade looking more than accomplished again the pacey Albion forward who didn't manage to win a single ball because of the persistence and strength of Jade.

The opening goal came midway through the half as a good move down the right involving Alice, Hannah and Rachel resulted in in Rachel squaring the ball to Faye who made no mistake by slotting past the keeper in the corner of the net with a great finish. 1-0.

Leafield were now managing to get the ball down and play and Albion were on the backfoot as the pace of Rachel tested their back four time and time again.  With a shortage of forward players in the squad Faye has had to switch from her normal centre half/sweeper position to centre forward on more than one occasion this season and it was she who doubled Leafield's lead beating the offside trap and calmly finishing in exactly the same way as her first goal.  The home team weathered the final ten minutes of the half with Albion trying hard to get something before the break but failing to get through a resiliant Leafield team.  2-0, half time.

Dan and Bill warned the girls that Albion would come out of the traps quickly and this is exactly what they did.  Unlike last week though, Leafield were calm and composed in their defending and set themselves out not to be dominated by an ever competitive Albion team.  Hannah and Lucy worked tirelessly on both flanks with Lexley and Alice thawrting any danger in the full back positions.  Albion's easiest opportunity was superbly blocked in front of goal by the head of Jade, who in typical 'Jade style' threw her body in front of the ball in a brace attempt to keep the ball out of the net.  Leafield defending a number of Albion corners well and in time got themselves back in to the game.

The next goal was always going to be crucial and luckily for Leafield it went to them.  Some good interchange down the right handside resulted in a superb ball being delivered to Lucy in the box who had her first save blocked, but with her back to goal turn and spun striking the ball from 8 yards into the net giving the Albion keeper no chance.  3-0.

Leafield now looked the stronger of the two teams, with every ball being competed for and often won by the home team.  Albion made tactical changes to try and get themselves back in to the game but rarely threatened the Leafield goal.  Rachel, who had worked hard all game and was ever dangerous on the attack finally got the goal that she deserved on the night and what a finish it was.  Having collected the ball on the right handside of the pitch took the ball past two Leafield players and then from a tight angle struck the ball sweetly in to the far left hand corner of the net, giving the Albion keeper no chance.  4-0.

The home team saw out the rest of the game with Emma replacing Hannah and Amy replacing Rachel, both subs worked hard and did as they were asked in the closing stages of the game.

This was possibly Leafield's most complete performance of the season and credit must go to each and every player for their effort and application against an Albion team who before the game had only lost one league game all season.  Leafield now complete their season with two games against Leamington and Sutton and then look forward to their final against Derby.  The target for the remaining games was made clear by Dan and Bill after the game and with the belief and commitment that the girls have shown in the last two games they are more than capable of achieving it.  Well done girls. 

Following Wednesday's disappointing loss to Albion it was important that Leafield bounced back and did everything possible to gain something from today's game.  In what felt like an end of season game from the outset the play was scrappy from both teams with the wind and rain also playing its part.  Leafield were competing well but Coventry looked more composed on the ball and kept the ball better when in possession, the home team were always too eager to get rid of the ball rather than pick a pass and create a passage of play.

Rachel had a chance early on but shot over the bar with a half volley following a good ball from Faye and the back four of Jade, Annalise, Alice and Lexley were rarely troubled with Alysha not having to make a save in the first twenty minutes or so of the game.

Coventry took the lead with an excellent breakaway in which the ever dangerous left sided player manage to lose man marker Zoe and feed the ball through to the Coventry forward who advanced to slot the ball past Alysha with an excellent finish. 

Luckily this seemed to wake Leafield up a little and the play improved slightly with some better one touch passing and movement.  Emma filled in on the left very well and rarely gave the ball aay with some intelligent touches inside to Gabby or Lucy.  Gabby was driving the Leafield midfield forward in attempt to get the equaliser and came close with a superb volley that just skimmed the top of the crossbar. 

The sky blues midfield pair were doing all they could to breakthrough the Leafield defence and Gabby and Lucy were working hard to track back and stop the danger.  Once again Jade was having a superb game at the heart of the Leafield defence giving the Coventry forward nothing for most of the game.

With five minutes of the half remaining Leafield got a deserved equaliser as once again Gabby picked up the ball on the edge of the box and struck an excellent shot that the Coventry keeper couldn't keep hold of, bouncing right in front of her and through her hands.  1-1 at half time.

After a positive and encouraging talk from Dan and Bill, Leafield started the second half much the better team forcing the Coventry defence to defend deeper and deeper in their own half.  Hannah came on to replace Lucy in the centre of midfield with Lucy reverting to her normal left sided position and Emma back on the right.  These changes gave Leafield a better balance and Lucy managed to force errors out of the Coventry right back and create some good play on that side of the pitch.

Rachel's pace and determination won Leafield a corner from which Lucy delivered a superb ball, confusion between the away team keeper and defence was punished as Rachel once again headed home for the second successive game from close range. 2-1.

There were very few chances from either side with Leafield playing the better of the football, Hannah provided the home team with a bit of calmness in the centre and kept the ball well with simple passing and moving allowing Leafield to create space and time on the ball.  Rachel and Faye pursued every ball and kept the Coventry back four on their toes and Alysha had a couple of half chances to save in the Leafield goal.

With about ten minutes remaining Coventry put together a good passage of play starting on the right, with the ball then being fed in to the talented Coventry left winger who with her first touch struck a superb shot that hit the top left hand corner of Alysha's goal giving her no chance. 2-2.

Both teams now pushed for a winner in what was an open final ten minutes, but neither side coupld find that final telling pass or finish when it mattered.  Probably a fair result overall, had the equalising goal not have been of the quality it was then the home team could have felt hard done by but goals like that are unstoppable.

A good performance from Leafield who are still unbeaten at home since September and are only the second team to take any points from Coventry in the league.  The girls should now be preparing themselves for another close battle with Albion at home on Tuesday night.

Leafield travelled to Albion knowing that only a win would keep their hopes of the league title alive.  It was always going to be a close encounter following the sides 1-1 draw only a couple of weeks ago.

The first half was a well contested affair with both sides having an equal amount of possession.  Leafield started the brighter but Albion came back in to the game midway through the half and always looked dangerous on the counter attack.  Jade and Zoe looked solid in the centre though and Alysha's handling was superb in the Leafield goal. 

With half time approaching Rachel's typical mazy runs resulted in a corner, from which Lucy delivered and Rachel headed home from close range at the far post.  Half time arrived with Leafield in the driving seat going in 1-0 up.

With Albion likely to come out and attack, especially in the first five minutes of the half Dan and Bill made a decision to try and stifle the midfield with an extra body leaving Rachel up front on her own until the game had settled down.  For whatever reason this seemed to unsettle Leafield and some poor defending and shutting down resulted in Albion equalising within the first five minutes of the half.  A ball was put into the box, two Leafield players had the opportunity to clear the ball but missed and this left the Albion forward with the easiest of tap ins from eight yards.

Despite instructions from the sideline to try and settle the players down Leafield could not get hold of the ball and Albion were by far the stronger team for the first 15 minutes of the second half.  It was within this period that once again hesitant decision making resulted in the ball being kept in play only for the Albion left winger to put in a cross that looped over Alysha but instead of sailing out of play clipped the inside of the back post and in to the net. 2-1.

Leafield chased the game from this point on and had several chances to equalise with Rachel scraping the post and Lauren causing some resiliant defending from Albion who held on for a vital three points in their chase for the title.

The performance from Leafield in the second half simply was not good enough.  In games of this importance against an Albion team that compete for every ball we need every player to be on their game and have the hunger and desire to want to win, this was lacking from too many Leafield players and although the teams are evenly matched in many ways, Albion simply wanted to win more than we did in teh second half.

With runners up spot still a possibility and a cup final to prepare for Leafield need to pick themselves up for Saturday when they face Coventry, the team currently favourites for the title. 

With the race for the title still on for three teams, Leafield needed to ensure they stayed as one of them.  Any result other than a win against a Derby team they had already drawn and beaten earlier in the season could have easily dented their hopes.

On a hard and bobbly Rumbush Lane pitch Leafield kicked off and started much the brighter with Derby unable to settle on the ball and play their normal passing football.  Leafield had been prepared to play the conditions and the pitch and took advantage of a static Derby defence with Rachel and Faye testing them and the goalkeeper early on.

Lucy and Lexley operated on the left with Alice and Emma working tirelessly on the right where any danger that Derby had came from in the form of their tenacious captian.

Leafield deservedly took the lead through Rachel as she was put through and slotted home in style.  Leafield doubled their lead only minutes later when Faye and Rachel linked up for Faye to finish and make it a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break.

Derby's back four were kept busy and with them making several changes to combat the pace and power of Rachel and Faye, Gabby and Annalise tightened up the centre of midlfield and Zoe and Jade were comfortable at the back dealing with things calmly.  Derby played a high line in the second half and defended relatively well but rarely troubled Alysha in the Leafield goal.  The home team should have stretched their advantage on numerous occasions but couldn't find the net to extend their lead and goal difference.  The game ended 2-0 and a pleasing result for Leafield against a Derby team that they will now face again in the League final on 22nd May 2010.

Leafield welcomed Albion for the first time this season.  With both teams still in contention for the league title it was more important for Leafield to get a win than Albion, with Albion already starting the game slightly ahead of Leafield in the table.

Following last weeks disappointing County Cup loss Leafield started brightly and immediately put Albion on the back foot with the pace and skill of Rachel causing problems and Annalise and Gabby taking early control of the centre of the park.  Albion struggled to get into the game and to say that Leafield should have been at least 5-0 up at half time is no exaggeration, Rachel missed three guilt edge chances as she went through unchallenged with only the keeper to beat, Gabby struck the post with a great half volley that should have broken the net and Faye tried to chip the keeper from close range when a header would have beaten her.  Nevertheless, Leafield persisted and were creating chances which was pleasing.  Zoe kept the pacey Albion forward quiet and Leafield looked pretty solid all around the pitch.

Typically, five minutes before the break Albion won a corner following a good passage of play and a free header was allowed for the Albion to take the lead totally against the run of play.  Dan and Bill shared their frustrations in the half time team talk, but also shared their belief in the team and individuals and knew that they could achieve something from the game.  The tempo that Leafield played at in the first half needed to be matched for the second, although this was going to be difficult with the hard pitch and the heat.

Albion looked more comfortable as the second half began, forcing a couple of corners with Leafield players starting to look tired.  Hannah came on for Faye with Zoe being pushed forward and Annalise pushing on up front in an attempt to get an equaliser.  Rachel had a couple of half chances and Jade, Lexley and Alice were rarely troubled with any clear cut opportunities for Alysha to have to save in the Leafield goal.

With Faye returning for Annalise some good interchange down the left handside resulted in a free kick right on the edge of the box, Faye stepped up, picked her spot and scored with an excellent strike.  Although Albion had had the better of the second half exchanges this was nothing less than Leafield deserved given their first half dominance.

With only eight minutes plus injury to play Leafield created a couple of half chances but couldn't find that final pass or chance to win the game.

With so many significant games to be played in the race for the title, in the end this was a pleasing result.  Leafield showed the character to come back against a good Albion team following last weeks defeat and having been a goal down at half time to gain a much needed point.  Well done girls.

Leafield's hopes of lifting the County Cup for a third time were shattered at the hands of league rivals Coventry City.

Leafield started the game brightly and dominated the first exchanges winnning a corner in the second minute from which Lucy delivered superbly for Ellis to head Leafield in to an early lead.

Having done their homework Sade and Sam were doing a great job keeping the dangerous Coventry left winger under control and Annalise and Ellis had a firm hold of the centre of the park winning the first ball and feeding Rachel and Georgie up front who were relentless in their shutting down and running throughout the game.

Both Rachel and Georgie forced half saves from the Coventry keeper with the sky blues making changes early on to even the balance in the centre of the park they got more in to the game as the half went on with two dangerous set pieces being defended well by Zoe, Faye, Lucy and Sam in the back four, Natasha put in a comfortable first half performance in goal with no real threats for her to deal with.

In the blazing sunshine half time was welcomed, Dan, Bill, John and Robbo expressed their thoughts to the girls and the possible changes that the opposition would make were predicted and were in fact correct as Leafield set themselves out to defend their lead and hopefully extend it.  Alysha replaced Natasha in goal as has happened in every round of the competition and Coventry put some pressure on early forcing Leafield on the back foot to defend well.

With two minutes of the half gone the equaliser came as the Coventry player cut inside from the right and struck what appeared to be a routine save for Alysha, unfortunately it was parried only for the Coventry striker to tap home from 5 yards out.  Leafield needed to respond well and looked to cause problems with Rachel and Georgie chasing down and hassling the Coventry defenders relentlessly but with no real breakthrough for either of them.

After a fantastic performance in the centre of the park Ellis was repalced by Jade H becuae of an injury and Lexley replaced Gabby, who had caused the Coventry right back problems all game, to freshen up the left handside and combat the pace and power of the Coventry right winger.

Ten minutes into the half Coventry got what turned out to be the winner when a freekick from the right handside was swung in by the excellent Coventry left sided player and slipped through Alysha's clutches into the net.

Leafield went in search of an equaliser, that on the balance of the play and their first half performance they rightly deserved.  With no clear cut chances being created Leafield relied on set pieces but could make nothing of these. 

Zoe took over Sade's defensive responsibility with Jade N replacing Annalise in the centre of the park and Sade pushing on up front.  The pressure of this change seemed to cause Coventry problems as a move inside the the penalty area resulted in the sky blues defender handling the ball and Leafield were handed a life line as a penalty was awarded.

With what appeared to be indecisiveness about the taker going on Sam was instructed to take it, having never missed a penalty before she calmly approached the ball but blazed it over the bar rather than her normal side foot placement.  This lifted Coventry and from here on in they took a foothold of the game with Leafield struggling to keep possession of the ball and make it count.  Alice replaced Georgie for the final eight minutes with Faye moving forward to try and get something but the ball just would not drop.

Football can not allow for individual errors, but they happen and have to be accepted as part of the game.  Three errors cost Leafield today, on another day they could easily have won this game 2-0 but it was not meant to be.  The effort and commitment that was asked of the squad cannot be questioned as they worked tirelessly in hot conditions but Coventry took advantage of the errors and came out on top.

With both the under 15s and 16s still in the race for their respective league titles and both with cup finals on 22nd May wiining these now have to become their focus.

 

Leafield recorded a much needed victory in their chase for the league title with a convincing win over Wednesfield who could only field a team of nine players.

The game saw the return of captain Faye who started up front with Rachel and the pair quickly linked up to create a couple of early chances that went begging for the home team.  Rachel did eventually break the deadlock though as she went through and took the ball around the keeper to finish well, she added a second before half time and although Leafield's passing game was not good enough Wednesfield rarely troubled the reverted back three of Jade, Lexley and Emma.

The second half was a better performance from Leafield in which they added six goals including a last minute penalty after Faye was taken down as she went through one on one with the keeper, Jade duly stepped up to convert and top off a commanding performance once again.

Although not a vintage performance this was good preparation for the County Cup final v Coventry on Saturday.