Ascot United U14 Diamonds v Ascot United U14 Sapphires

Report

v Ascot Sapphires

Today’s local derby against Ascot Sapphires, a team that has not lost all season was always going to be one of the biggest games in the Diamonds season.

As the game kicked off at 9.01 am, Ascot intent on creating some early pressure raced into the Sapphires half in numbers and as Tabitha slid a fine pass through to Gabby who raced down the left of the area before pushing the ball wide of the advancing keeper for Kyla with knife and fork in hand to lash the ball into the back of the waiting Sapphires goal.

Ascot 1 Sapphires NIL in the first 45 seconds of play. It was one of the fastest goals for a long time by the Diamonds to set the tone.  Gabby with the assist her second of the season and Kyla with the goal, her 4^th of the season

In the 12^th minute the game was now being played at a high tempo as Sapphires testing the Ascot back line with every opportunity slipped the now deeper back line and drove towards the Diamonds goal before  letting fly a shot with power the Hanna valiantly blocked but as the ball ricocheted back into the path of another advancing Sapphires player who tucked the ball away into the far post to make it 1-1 and game on.

In the 17^th minute with many key battles being fought in the middle of the pitch Kyla ghosted past a Sapphire challenge before forcing a pass through to Gabby who it must be said was at her electric best challenging for every half chance from the first whistle and create problems for Sapphires before collecting the pass holding off the advancing defender well before getting off her shot which was parried back out by the Sapphires keeper who was having a good game before Gabby alert seized on the rebound to tuck the ball past the wrong footed keeper to make it 2-1

Diamonds back in front thanks to a Kyla assist and a well-deserved goal from Gabby her 3^rd of the season

In the 21^st minute Diamonds full of confidence in the face of a spirited challenge from Sapphires saw Alexa collect a pass on the left wing and with very quick feet, cut inside taking out one defender whilst using lots of strength to barge past the second who was completely bent out of shape going the other way before releasing a low tracer bullet shot into the far corner of the net to make it 3-1 to the Diamonds.

It was a sensational strike from the skipper for the day Alexa to stamp her authority on proceedings, and her 4^th goal of the season

In the 25^th minute Sapphires determined to keep fighting fire with fire again slipped the Ascot midfield before driving forward from the halfway line with electric pace and with Mia closing on side and Towani on the other, the number 9 again released a shot wide of the outstretched Hanna to score a brilliant goal making it 3-2

Half time at 3-2 with the Diamonds just in front and what a half, with the game at fever pitch.

In the 45^th minute of play against the passage of play which was being dominated by Diamonds Sapphires keen to show why they have been unbeaten all season collected a ball inside their half and sent it forward for the electric number 9 to collect the pass, and with pace bolt into the Diamonds box before lashing the ball into the far corner.  Stunned silence as the game was now level again at 3-3, but it was a good goal no dispute there but it came just as Diamonds were in dominance.

In the 49^th minute of play, Diamonds drew a foul just outside the box as Eva went over from a late tackle. With the ball in a dangerous spot just outside the box, a quick conference between the coaches directed Phoebe to take the free kick and the attackers to get ready to flood the box, Phoebe needed no help however as she calmly stepped up lifted ball over the sea of yellow and white shirts towards the far corner where the Sapphires keeper made a valiant attempt but could only just touch the ball with her fingertips as it carried on un-perturbed into the net.

4-3 to Diamonds back in front thanks to a sensational free kick of the same high quality as one delivered by Hollie L last game. It was a timely strike that Sapphires had no answer to. It was Phoebe’s first goal of the season.

What a game, what a battle, what a result

Opposition player of the match was Emma for her battling display right across the middle of the pitch for the entire game and coaches player was Gabby for her fighting display and smartly taken goal

The result moves the Diamonds to 15 points from 7 games and second in the league.  A very timely birthday gift for the gaffer Alix

The team has now scored 30 goals this season and Phoebe’s wonder strike means we have now had 11 different goal scorers this year