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West Bridgford School won the Nottinghamshire Schools’ West Bridgford Colts Shield for Under 12 Girls 4-0 after a stunning performance against Orchard Grange Portland School (Worksop) in the final at The Poplars Ground, Burton Joyce. After a fairly even first half, notable for some fine saves from Portland’s keeper Nina Maric and some good midfield play from captain Maddie Cooper, West Bridgford’s better team play brought them an opening goal from the outstanding Ashleigh Edwards.

Portland started the second half well and Daisy Marlow had to make a diving save from Georgina Hunt and recovered quickly to stop an early equaliser but after that scare, West Bridgford produced some superb moves. The first came with a burst down the right by Edwards who passed to Bella Reed and she hit a firm shot past keeper Maric. Edwards’ pace always troubled the Portland defence but when she raced clear her fierce shot was well saved by the keeper.

Bridgford were not be denied and the best goal of the game came from a four player move started at the back by Reed, continued by the skilful Tanisha Basra and Edwards giving Ellie Rowson the chance to hit the ball into the corner past the keeper. Portland were now being overrun and substitute Lulu Belli scored their fourth with her first touch when she slotted home a cross from the right.

Their win finished a great season for the Bridgford girls who were Midlands Champions of the E.S.F.A. Indoor 5-a-side competition and then finished third in the National Finals.

The previous night at the same venue, Orchard Grove Portland suffered at the hands of the very good Becket School (Wilford) side which reached the national semi-final of the E.S.F.A Under 16 National Cup for Girls. The game, for the Nottinghamshire Schools Hilary Swinn Cup was effectively over by half-time when Becket led 5-1. To their credit, Portland kept going until the end of the game but could not do anything to stop the Becket trio of England player Ashleigh Plumptre, Sophie Newlove who has played two seasons for the Nottinghamshire County representative side and Alina Tebbutt.

Plumptre and Newlove both netted four goals with Alina Tebbutt adding three more as Becket romped home by the biggest ever score in a Nottinghamshire final. An own goal from an Orchard Grove player brought Becket’s tally to 12 with the Worksop side replying three times through Bethan Lee, Jasmine Sexton and Mollie Cartwright.

The third girls’ match of the week took place on the same night and was by far the most competitive of the three. Arnold Hill Under 13s reached the last eight in the English Schools’ F.A. Under 13 National Cup but in the Nottinghamshire final for the Fred Riddell Shield, they were given a big fright by Kimberley.

Arnold Hill took an early lead when Ella Smallwood smashed a shot through Sian Langham’s hands in the Kimberley goal but once Kimberley got used to the pace of the game, they fought back well, first hitting the post and then after a fine run down the left, Saskia Lewis deservedly equalised. This encouraged them to such an extent that they went ahead when a long shot from the left by Serena Clarke found the net with Robyn Galloway well beaten.

By the interval, Kimberley led 3-1 as, after another near miss, a 25 yard looping shot from Olivia Foster left Galloway stranded and a big surprise seemed on the way. This was especially so when, although Arnold Hill mounted more second half pressure, Kimberley were still dangerous on the break and if one of their near misses had gone in, Arnold Hill would have been out of the game.

The weakened Arnold Hill side, missing two of their best players, gained encouragement when a run down the left by Smallwood produced a pinpoint centre which Jess Flint swept past the keeper. This inspired Arnold to raise their game and their fight back brought further reward when the dangerous Smallwood struck to make the score 3-3. Arnold were now completely in the control although their last minute winner was tinged with good fortune. A Kimberley defender tried to clear a well struck corner from the left but as she tried to clear, the ball rocketed past her keeper to bring Arnold the Fred Riddell Shield against an unfortunate Kimberley side who could easily have won.