Sunday 4th September
Sponsored by Big Wave Campers
Team Imogen – GK, Esme – D, Olivia H – D, Ruby – CM, Erin T – CM, Sophia – RW, Annabelle – LW, Ava – CAM, Chloe – ST, Subs – Elsie, Liv, Leila
A new season. A new formation. Some new faces in the team. Thankfully some things never change and it’s always windy in Coalville as Rugby Town played their first competitive match as the U12’s playing 9-a-side.
The match had a lively start, with some excellent wing play that meant Rugby went straight on the attack with good, neat passing between Ava and Annabelle on the left and Sophia and Erin on the right. Ruby was working hard in controlling the midfield and the defensive partnership of Esme and Olivia was excellent from the outset in dealing with the counterattacking style of Coalville.
Clear-cut chances were hard to create, with Chloe and Erin having a couple of opportunities and a great move on the right gave Annabelle a chance to shoot, but it went over the bar.
The first substitutions brought Leila and Liv on to change the front line, and one of many great kicks from Imogen created an opportunity for Leila to show her pace but the keeper was out quickly and the chance was gone. This led to a fast break and Imogen saved well, low down to her left. The confidence in defence was shown by how well Esme and Olivia kept their line, supported by some excellent work by the linesman as the offside rule was now in force.
With the score at halftime being 0:0, the 2nd half started with Coalville having their first period of concerted pressure and Elsie came on bringing her energy into harrying and chasing the attackers. With continued hard work from Ruby and Erin in the midfield, and Liv proving to be a challenge to the Coalville defence, the pressure continued to grow.
On November 13, 1965, Leicester City was awarded 34 corners in a home match against Manchester United, a Football League record that still stands, and Rugby Town U12s were almost very close to matching this. The girls continued to press with the attacking talents of Ava, Ruby, and Sophia being matched by some resolute defending in simply clearing the ball out and the match ended 0:0.
The last time these two sides met in a friendly, Coalville scored into double figures and the progress made was clear for everyone to see and the hard work that has been put in at training.
Coaches Player of the Match – Erin
Parents Player of the Match – Ruby