Headlines
HSFC Girls Football Team
College Girls Go for Goal
14th April 2008
The College women’s football team bowed out of the English Schools U-18 semi final Cup match with a battling performance that gained rapturous support from a record crowd.
The keenly-anticipated game was played in front of a record crowd with hopes of a famous victory that would see them progress to Norwich City’s Carrow Road for the Final.
Despite a maximum effort the team was unable to overcome the stiff opposition posed by Therfield School, Leatherhead who, as defending champions, boasted no more than 13 Chelsea Academy players (their starting line-up were all members of Chelsea FC’s Academy), 2 England and 1 German international players. A final score-line of 5-0 against the College XI might, on paper, look an overwhelming result, but the College players battled throughout and right up to the end of injury time were striving resolutely to get on the score-sheet.
Strong performances came from the College’s goal-keeper Emma Roche, right-back Amy Wilkins, defender Deb Jenkins and Simone Quinn, the team captain.
Looking back at the game, and the season in general, much pride can be taken from all performances that have seen the girls unbeaten in all competitions until the semi-final. The Cup run brought victories over Filton (Bristol Rovers), Watford (associated with Arsenal) and Exeter to name a few. Boasting a potent strike force and a solid defence, the team scored 48 goals in 10 games and conceded only 10.
This success has not been down to luck. Training twice a week and also during holidays, the team deserved the praise and respect the crowd gave them at the final whistle – a testament to what they had achieved throughout the year.
Click this link to see some of the action from the match http://www.review.hereford.ac.uk/albums/2008/04/14/college_girls_go_for_goal