Oxfordshire Girls 2 v 3 Nottinghamshire U16 Girls
The Nottinghamshire Under 16 Girls travelled to face Oxfordshire in the ESFA Inter County knock-out competition. Oxfordshire Under 16 Girls gave the Notts side a run for their money and for the majority of the match made it very difficult for them to settle, at times looking the more organised team and could have scored at various points in the first ten minutes as they managed to create a series of opportunities.
With probably too many touches in midfield, a lack of quick through balls and not using the vast space afforded them on the left hand side, Notts found themselves too often racing back to defend and really only had a couple of decent shots throughout the first half. After twenty minutes a through ball from the Oxfordshire backline bypassed the Notts midfield and mis-communication between the centre back and goalkeeper led to Oxfordshire capitalising, stealing the ball and going one up.
Eventually, Annalise Daniel was presented with an opportunity, to challenge the onrushing goalkeeper. Her persistence in doing so was rewarded, the ball ricocheting between her and keeper, resulting in the ball rolling slowly into the net. It gave Notts a much needed boost just before half time.
After half time though, the backline moved further up the pitch instead of lying so far back which was creating problems on such a huge playing surface. The midfield started to release the ball earlier with less touches and strikers playing on the last defender created chances. Consequently when Freya Walton slotted an excellent ball through, splitting the defenders, it gave Freya Anderson, who had not had much service all match, an opportunity which she converted for an excellent goal. It was Anderson who was also involved in the third goal which followed shortly afterwards. Shaquia Beckford on the opposite wing to Jemima Footitt was being just as challenging and with Beckford racing through to steal a loose ball and immediately sending a perfectly weighted ball to Anderson on the left wing who in turn lofted a gift of a ball over to Markham in front of goal, who controlled it and slotted the ball away in the corner for a superb finish.
Notts goalkeeper Sophie Towle played her part in making an amazing save around seventy five minutes. With two minutes to go however Oxfordshire did finally manage to get a second goal, coming in from their right side, the winger completed with a good finish. Notts held on until the final whistle to secure a 3-2 win and now progress to the quarter finals of the National Inter County Cup competition.
