Wickersley  0  v  6  Dukeries        12 March 2008

This fixture was a difficult one for the Wickersley girls as the previous day they had lost a fellow student in an accident outside the school. Despite this they agreed to play and approached the game professionally. The Dukeries girls presented the captain with a condolences’ card and the match began with a good following from Dukeries staff and parents. The first five minutes saw the home side keeping possession well and putting pressure on the Dukeries defence – forcing two corners but Dukeries defended admirably. Not to be outdone Dukeries began to exert their own pressure and were unlucky with a Toni Charlton header just over the bar.

This gave the Dukeries the impetus they needed and continued pressure resulted in a well deserved goal. Megan Howard finished well from an excellent move again from Toni Charlton involving Hannah Moore on the right wing. Another free kick followed immediately afterwards with another chance from Howard. Before half time Dukeries had established themselves in the game and they were dominating possession but needed another breakthough to give them a two goal cushion – this came from a well worked move down the left again from Charlton who set up Natalie Gibson for her to drill the ball past the Wickersley keeper. Half time and 2 -0 up!

The squad was rallied at half time and they resumed, determined to go out and build on the positive start from the opening 35 mins. Shortly after the re-start, Becky Foster went on an overlap run down the left wing allowing Howard to slide a pass into her path for her to finish to the keepers right in a very Michael Owenesque fashion - opening her body and producing a calm finish. From then on Wickersley were beaten - the Dukeries side continued to have shots on goal and much of the possession and following a throw in from the right and an opportune move round the back of the keeper Foster capitalised on an uncharacteristic mistake and tapped the ball in for number four.

Goals five and six came in quick succession near the end of the game from Howard and a second from Gibson. The squad are now playing solidly as a unit and all the players are supporting each other – both the Year 9’s and Year 10’s have gelled well and everyone has been given encouragement to play at their best. Despite a few of the squad getting the accolades everyone has played their part – the defence has played a vital role to allow the attacking players to be able to play their game that has resulted in the goals and in games such as Tupton Hall has kept the team in the competition. Continued congratulations to the girls and good luck in the semi final against Thomas Telford (unfortunately away again!)

Under 15 Girls Individual Schools Cup - 6th Round

Thorpe St Andrew 2 v 5 Dukeries 27 February

An almost complete squad of 14 girls set off for Norwich with parents on hand to support them. They arrived in good spirit and were well prepared when KO came at 2.00pm . The Dukeries team started the strongest with two early corners forcing the Norwich side to put all their efforts into winning back possession. Further attacks on both flanks eventually led to a Toni Charlton strike from the right catching the Thorpe GK off guard - first blood to the Dukeries after 10 minutes.

Thorpe responded well after the restart and launched an attack which was well blocked by Toni Charlton. Shortly afterwards the dangerous number seven from Thorpe hit a shot that Jodie Peacock couldn’t do anything about. Despite the equaliser the Dukeries side weren’t to be outdone – after another Thorpe attack they gained possession and supported each other moving the ball into dangerous positions. Several players shot towards goal and time after time Thorpe defenders blocked shots and pressured the ball. Eventually another break on the right fell to Megan Howard and she directed her shot wide of the Thorpe goalkeeper to retake the lead.

A couple of changes for the Dukeries due to injury didn’t upset the pattern of play and Dukeries continued to search for openings in the Thorpe defence. After 25 minutes the chance again came for Megan Howard to get past the back four and hit the net from the right. A score of 3-1 gave the Dukeries breathing space although it didn’t stop further attacks from the dangerous midfield duo for the Norwich side - Jodie Peacock did well to stop these attacks. Just before half time two final attacks came from the Dukeries with the best falling to Natalie Gibson who was unable to hit the ball wide enough past the home goalkeeper.

The second half began in similar vein to the first with Dukeries attacking this time down the left - Toni Charlton was brought down giving a chance for Natalie Gibson to go for goal. A great free kick was unfortunately hit just over the bar. Thorpe responding to encouragement to get back into the game put several passes together and frustrated the Dukeries defence. One shot from their Number 16 went wide with another blocked by the on form Jodie Peacock. Back at the other end Hannah Moore had a good chance blocked followed by another by Megan Howard again. At last another opening which gave Howard her hat trick came about from a good pass from midfield which she took round the last defender and put it easily around the Thorpe goalkeeper. As challenges reined in from the Thorpe girls the Dukeries side didn’t stop playing, didn’t stop challenging for the ball. Against the run of play a one on one with Jodie Peacock brought the Norwich side their 2^nd goal. Again the Dukeries side, who were mentally the stronger and physically better across the park, started to put passes together fluently and a final goal came for the lethal Howard to make the score 5 – 2. The final five minutes passed quietly on the pitch although not on the sideline but as the final whistle went all the travelling players and supporters were prepared to travel the three hours home in a happy and jubilant mood.

Well done to all concerned including our travelling assistant referee James Robinson and Mrs Ridley.

English Schools' FA Minute Maid Under 13 Cups

Midlands section

The draw for the national rounds of the E.S.F.A. Minute Maid Cup was made at the Department for Children, Schools and Families in Central London on 29 January. It was undertaken by the Secretary of State for the Department, Ed Balls MP, who drew the home teams for both the boys’ and the girls’ competitions. Sir Trevor Brooking, Director of Football Development at the Football Association, drew the away teams in the boys’ section while Norwich City Football Club’s Community Ambassador and former player, Jeremy Goss, drew the away teams in the girls’ draw. The full draw can be viewed on www.esfa.co.uk.

Despite the short notice for Round 1 of the Midlands section, all three of Nottinghamshire representatives managed to play their 1^st Round matches before half-term and all succeeded in going through to the 2^nd Round.

Trinity School from Aspley, Nottingham who qualified as County champions continued their high scoring form in the competition with an 8-1 thrashing of Bolsover School (Derbyshire). Joseph Dodoo opened the scoring after only 21 seconds and the game was all over by half-time when Trinity led 6-0. They added another two efforts after half-time with the scorers being Dodoo with two, Jamahl Salmon, the man of the match also with two, Michael Thomas, Jovan Mullings, Louis Greenway-Tambini and Luke Williams.

Ashfield School from Kirkby, the runners-up in the Nottinghamshire Minute Maid Cup, were the only team to be drawn away and they had a relatively short journey to Tibshelf to take on the local school. They returned with a 3-1 win thanks to goals from Callum Purseglove, Danny Wilson and Kieran Coupe.

Unfortunately, the completely open draw for the Midlands section has drawn the two Nottinghamshire schools against each other in Round 2 with Trinity the home team.

In the girls’ section, Rushcliffe School , the Nottinghamshire winners, met South Holderness School from Humberside in their Round 1 game. Like Trinity, they also had an easy victory, winning 8-2 with goals from Blayze Teal, Hannah McLennaghan with Grace Abbott and Fiona Worts both netting hat-tricks. After going 8-0 ahead, Rushcliffe relaxed and were caught by two late goals from the visitors. They will have an away tie in the next round against the winners of St. George’s College of Technology and William Farr School , both from Lincolnshire .