Nottinghamshire Girls U16 6 v 3 Worcestershire Girls U16
After two trials involving over 50 players, Nottinghamshire Under 16 Girls’ Squad, organised jointly by the Schools’ F.A. and the Nottinghamshire F.A. began their season with a 6-3 victory over Worcestershire at Rainworth Miners Welfare on Wednesday, Notts started the game brightly and were rewarded with a 6th minute goal when a shot was fumbled by the visiting keeper and Ashleigh Edwards pounced on the loose ball to put the home side ahead.
Worcestershire drew level when the home defence failed to deal with a loose ball giving Jude Grove the chance to lob Serena Clarke in Nottinghamshire goal but another rebound, this time from an Edwards shot, gave Anita Gaspar the opportunity for a debut goal to regain the lead.
After an even period, Olivia Atkinson became the second player to score a goal in her first appearance for Nottinghamshire with a fine run past two defenders and a good shot from the edge of the penalty box to put Nottinghamshire 3-1 in the lead. They went further ahead when Viki Adam netted a fourth goal with a cross-cum-shot putting them into a comfortable lead at the break.
Both sides made numerous changes in the second half and it was the visitors who benefited most, pulling a goal back through Lily Eustace within three minutes. Worcestershire than made the score 4-3 with another lob from Grove, this time over Nottinghamshire’s second half keeper, Erica Dubra-Rey.
Towards the end, further changes saw Notts gain control again with Bella Reed finishing confidently when put through on goal and another surging run near the end ended with her being brought down just outside the box and Emma Goddard hit the free-kick into the top corner to make the final score 6-3.
