Match Report - 2016/17 Week 7 v Horsforth & NEL

 Horsforth St Margarets 0-9 Brighouse Juniors

U14s travelled to Horsforth expecting a tough game against a team they've struggled to perform well against in recent meetings. However, the girls were never troubled throughout with part time keepers Shoanna, Honey, Ellie & Abi not having to make a save between them.

The horsforth goal was under constant threat in the first half but it took 10 mins for the first goal to come from a close range finish by Maddy. Ellie had a second disallowed for offside but Grace played in Poppy Eccles for a  second moments later. The work rate from Grace and Lois didn't allow the home any possession of the ball. Holly and Liv kept the usually dangerous Horsforth attacker India very quiet. Further goals from Maddy and Becky gave Brighouse a deserved 4-0 at half time.

The second half dominance continued from the kick-off with Becky & Zoe raiding down the wings and Grace providing the chances. Becky scored 2 quick fire goals to complete her first hat trick, Maddy volleyed in a Shoanna cross for her third. Shoanna & Lois completed the scoring much to the frustration of Grace who couldn't round off a brilliant performance with a goal despite having numerous shots on goal.

Matchday Squad
ClarkHinchcliffe
Pell
Newburn
Senior
Aykroyd
Mattock 
Warren (C)
Barker
Eccles
Rodd
Corbett
Fryer
Coley

Goalscorers: Rodd x3, Eccles, Aykroyd x3, Clark, Mattock, 
Assists: Warren x5
Player Of The Match: Warren

Brighouse Juniors 4-7 NEL Lionesses (AET)

The U13 girls were knocked out of the cup in a superb game of football against a talented North-East Leeds side who have had their squad improved with Leeds United academy players this summer. An even game throughout saw the game’s momentum move back and forward regularly. After the visitors took the lead, Mia Harris turned the ball home from close range. In a new midfield role for captain Katja May, she was superb, making things happen with the ball and completing a number of high-quality sliding challenges.

May scored the second goal in to level the scoring up at 2-2, before Mia broke free to give the home side the lead. Amy Herman put on another masterclass in defending, and Rhianna Joseph had her best game for the club, keeping the dangerously quick striker quiet in the second half. Despite some heroic goalkeeping by Honey Newburn, NEL equalised to leave the game 3-3 at full time. 10 minutes of madness ended the contest as the visitors scored 4 goals, before Mia completed her hat-trick with the last action of the game.

Matchday Squad
Newburn (GK)Gibson
Herman
Conroy
Curnick
Surley
May (C)
HarrisFletcher
Kirton
Joseph
Reid

Goalscorers: Harris x3, May
Assists: May, Newburn
Player Of The Match: May | Newburn

Match Report - 2016/17 Week 6 v Guiseley & Littletown

 Brighouse Juniors 2-3 Guiseley Girls

The U14 Girls suffered a rare off day as they dropped 3 points at home to Guiseley Girls. The team started strongly, playing the majority of football in the opponents half. However, it was the away side who scored the first goal of the game from a quick counter attack through the centre of the pitch. One goal became two as Brighouse were unable to get their fluent passing game going. Things that usually work for the girls didn’t work in the first half. They also had a clear penalty turned down just before half-time, when Becky Aykroyd was tripped up while clean through. Despite trying to stay on her feet, the referee deemed there was not enough contact.

The second half was much improved as the girls tried to get themselves back into the game. Maddy Rodd scored a powerful effort from long range to make the score 2-1. Almost immediately afterwards, Katja May scored a goal of the season contender, receiving the ball from Eleanore, before turning and shooting from 30 yards, leaving the keeper with no chance. Having worked so hard to get back level, the girls were disappointed to concede a late goal as Guiseley ventured into the Brighouse half for pretty much the only time, with the winger miscuing a cross to loop over Shackleton, who could do nothing about it.

The home side continued to make chances, and on another day would have walked away with 3 points, but a sub-par first half left them unable to complain about the result. Next up, they travel to Horsforth, who always give them a tough game.

Goalscorers: May, Rodd
Assists: Warren, Pell
Player Of The Match: Pell

Brighouse Juniors 14-0 Littletown

 

The U13 girls coasted to a comfortable win at home to newly-formed Littletown. Despite the visitors’ enthusiasm, Brighouse showed their class and were 9-0 up at half-time. Goals were scored from Skye Kirton, Mia Harris, Abi Barker, Poppy Reid and an Amy Herman penalty. Amy powered home the spot kick after her superb header from Harris’ corner had been handballed by a defender on the line. The second half saw an almost entirely new team take the field. 5 more goals were scored; two for Poppy Eccles, 2 for Leah Fletcher and one for Jess Surley.

Due to Littletown’s numbers, the game was 8 a side and out of compassion for the new side, the game was cut short to avoid a bigger scoreline.

Goalscorers: Kirton x2, Harris x4, Barker, Reid, Herman, Eccles x2, Surley, Fletcher x2
Assists: Herman, Harris, Fletcher, Surley, Gibson, Curnick, Robinson
Player Of The Match: Robinson

Match Report - 2016/17 Week 5 v Castleford & Garforth White

Castleford White Rose 0-2 Brighouse Juniors

The U14 Girls battled well and adapted quickly to navigate a tough away fixture on the mammoth Castleford pitch on a cold October morning.

The hosts had the best of the opening exchanges and it took smart saves from Olivia Shackleton to keep the visitors in the game. After 10 minutes, the away side started to assert their dominance. Lois Mattock was batting hard for midfield supremacy, and Becky Aykroyd’s pace was a constant threat to the home sides defensive line. Captain Grace Warren was introduced from the bench and created the first goal, sliding the ball through to Katja May who had beaten the offside trap who finished coolly. As the game evened out, Brighouse still looked the most likely scorers, though clear cut chances were hard to come by on such a wide rugby pitch.

The second half saw a tremendous defensive display from the away side. Castleford pushed forward but a back line of Hinchcliffe, Pell, Newburn and Coley was not to be beaten. On the rare occasion a striker wriggled free, Shackleton was on hand and played superbly well. Brighouse made a host of chances throughout the second half, but a strike force of Ellie Corbett and Leah Fletcher were unable to kill the game off. May was reintroduced and collected a huge kick from Shackleton, before playing a cute through ball to Fletcher who was able to finish tidily, earning herself new boots in the process

Matchday Squad
Shackleton (GK)
Gibson
Hinchcliffe
Pell
Coley 
Aykroyd
Mattock
Newburn
Barker
May
Eccles
Corbett
Fryer
Warren (C)
Fletcher

Goalscorers: May, Fletcher
Assists: Warren, May
Player Of The Match: Hinchcliffe

Garforth White 0-6 Brighouse Juniors

The U13 girls travelled to Garforth having recorded a huge victory against the other Garforth team, and needed to guard against complacency. In the first half, they found this difficult. They were unable to capture their fluent form. Defensively, Skye Kirton and Poppy Reid were superb, and stand-in ‘keeper Honey Newburn mopped up well. Brighouse made a lot of chances but the Garforth ‘keeper stood firm until Mia Harris broke through to score her 5^th goal against Garforth teams in 2 games, having been released by Shoanna Clark. 

In the second half, Brighouse improved. The hosts were unable to gain any control of the game and the visitors ran away with proceedings. Abi Robinson and Maisie Conroy where having their best games in Brighouse shirts, as was Rhianna Joseph. Jess Surley added 4 goals from right wing, by hanging on the shoulder of the left back and bursting onto through balls from Clark, Rodd and Curnick. Rodd completed the scoring 10 minutes from time. Newburn made one superb stretching save late on to earn yet another clean sheet, meaning the U13 team have conceded just 1 goal all season so far.

Matchday Squad
Newburn (GK)
Reid
Kirton
Conroy
Surley
Clark (C)
Curnick
Rodd
Harris
Robinson
Joseph


Goalscorers: Harris, Surley x4, Rodd
Assists: Clark x3, Harris x2, Curnick 
Player Of The Match: Poppy Reid

Match Report - 2016/17 Week 4 v Wortley & Garforth Blue

Wortley 1-2 Brighouse Juniors

Brighouse U14 Girls travelled to Leeds to play a Wortley side that had not won a game this season, but were the only team to hold them to a draw in the league last season. On a poor pitch it was difficult for the girls to get their passing game together. Most of the game was played in the home sides half with Grace Warren & Katja May dominating in midfield but too often moves broke down. When attackers did threaten the dominant Wortley centre-back ensured their goalkeeper had little to do. 

However, constant pressure told when Grace fed Katja in the box and she tucked the chance away. This should have led to a more confident Brighouse but Wortley battled back into the game. Eleanore & Amy intercepted most of their attacks leaving Shoanna Clark untroubled in goal. The second Brighouse goal came late in the first half when Zoe Fryer's cross from the right was not cleared and Leah clinically finished from 6 yards out. The half finished with The visitors well on top. 

The second started in much the same vain with Abi Barker & Becky Aykroyd combining well to break down the left and grace pulling the strings in midfield. Shoanna now in midfield started to make her runs beyond into the box but was caught offside when she looked certain to score. Against the run of play Wortley counter attacked to score past Ellie in goal. Abi almost restored the 2 goal lead when she latched onto a poor clearance but her shot rebounded off the post. Shoanna had the ball in the net from the rebound but was ruled out for offside. 

The game finished with Wortley pressing for an equaliser but the Brighouse defence stood firm. Opposition singled out Katja May as Player of the match, Grace Warren was manager's pick.

Matchday Squad
Clark (GK)
Hinchcliffe
Pell
Herman 
Senior
Fryer
Warren (C)
May
Aykroyd
Fletcher
Surley
Corbett
Coley
Barker 


Goalscorers: May, Fletcher
Assists: Warren, Barker
Player Of The Match: May, Warren

Brighouse Juniors 11-0 Garforth Blue

The U13 girls played at home for the first time as produced a breathtaking display of attacking football to dismantle a previously impressive Garforth Blues side. 

After an even first 5 minutes, Maddy Rodd opened the scoring. The visiting keeper made a superb save but Rodd hammered home the rebound. This signaled the opening of the floodgates for the home side. Mia Harris was rewarded for clever movement in attack with a cheeky finish to make it 2-0 shortly after. Rodd and Harris combined wonderfully well all game and both had 2 goals each in the first half. Lois Mattock almost broke the net to score as Brighouse held a 5-0 lead at half time. Stand-in keeper had almost nothing to do except receive backpasses as a defensive line of Gibson, Joseph, Reid and Robinson gave nothing away, with Newburn her usual stylish self with the ball. Mattock was the midfield general, dictating everything, with Maisie Conroy and Louise Curnick offering danger down the wings.

The home side were determined not to take their foot off the gas in the second half, dominating possession and the scoresheet. Garforth improved in the second half, and made the early running. 2nd half goalkeeper Newburn was never really tested, and the 6th goal scored by Rodd put an end to a spirited fightback by the visitors. The game descended into a procession for the yellows. Mattock grabbed her second of the game minutes after being reintroduced, before Louise scored her first goal for Brighouse with a smart finish from the left side of the box. Harris had been full of flair and creativity all day, finishing with 4 goals, but the highlight was a delightful run, pinpoint cross that found Poppy Reid, who bundled home to score her first ever goal. 

With so many quality performances, it was difficult to single out individual awards, but Mia claimed Player of the match in one of the biggest wins in the teams history.

Matchday Squad
Clark (GK)
Gibson
Newburn (GK) (C)
Robinson
Reid
Mattock
Curnick
Rodd
Harris (C)
Conroy
Joseph  


Goalscorers: Rodd x3, Harris x4, Mattock x2, Curnick, Reid
Assists: Mattock x2, Clark, Curnick, Harris x2, Newburn

Player Of The Match: Mia Harris

Match Report - 2016/17 Week 3 v Tingley & Castleford

Brighouse Juniors 5-3 Tingley Athletic

After a first league defeat in 16 months, it was all about bounce-back-ability for the Brighouse U14 girls. The league schedule handed the girls the 3rd tough game in a row, against Tingley Athletic, a re-branded Carlton who knocked the girls out of the cup last year and a team who they had never beaten before.

The home side started strongly and were ahead in the second minute. A persevering run from Maddy Rodd saw her nick the ball from the defence before crossing to the unmarked Becky Aykroyd, who finished coolly. The lead lasted only 3 minutes before Tingley played a characteristic long ball through to the number 9 who found the bottom corner. A frenetic start calmed down and Brighouse seized the initiative, playing predominantly in the opposition half. Grace Warren was leader of the orchestra in midfield, playing a delightful ball through to Aykroyd who raced away and scored her second of the game. Katja May was starting her first game of the season and added serious cutting edge and trickery in the final third, frustrating the visitors vocal coaching team. Liv Hinchcliffe fitted seamlessly into the defensive line on her debut, and Holly Senior was solid at left back.

5 minutes into the second half saw Ellie Corbett latch onto a through ball from Warren. The Tingley defence were unable to catch her as she calmly made her way into the box and finished to put the home side 3-1. The lead was cut almost immediately back to 3-2 and the game was level after 50 minutes after a smart finish from the visiting attacker.

Having being leading for so long, it would be easy to crumble, but the Brighouse girls rallied again and took the lead again soon after. Lois Mattock continued to impress in a yellow shirt, crossing for Shoanna Clark to bundle in from close range. Corbett scored her second of the game to kill the away side's hopes of another comeback. May had been superb all game, and her cross was steered into the top corner to complete the scoring.

The final whistle came to secure a deserved second win of the season for Brighouse. The coach had the following to say after the game:

"This result represents the unbelievable journey that this team has been on since it's inception. 2 years ago, we lost 5-0 and 4-3, last year we lost 3-1 in the cup. Now we're a stronger, more experienced side who nullify their threats, such as the long throw and play our own game. I'm immensely satisfied"

Matchday Squad
Shackleton (GK)
Pell
Newburn
Hinchcliffe
Senior
Mattock
Warren (C)
Clark
Aykroyd
Rodd
May
Corbett


Goalscorers: Aykroyd x2, Corbett x2, Clark
Assists: Rodd, Warren x2, Mattock, May
Player Of The Match: Becky Aykroyd

Castleford White Rose 0-4 Brighouse Juniors

The Brighouse U13 girls earned their first win of the season with a hard-fought victory at Castleford. The visitors rode their luck in the early stages, the home sided pressing forward and hit the bar and the post, but had nothing to show for their early dominance. The introduction of Poppy Reid in midfield helped Brighouse regain control of the game and push forward. The opening goal came midway through the first half when Jess Surley converted a penalty after a handball from a Castleford defender. The second game soon after as Skye Kirton showed great technique to volley in her first goal in Brighouse colours.

The talented Leah Fletcher continued her good goalscoring record in the second half, scoring a Jamie Vardy-esque breakaway goal from a perfect through ball from Louise Curnick. Abi Barker, fresh from a stint in goal, was unleashed to complete the scoring with a close-range finish after good work from Surley. The Brighouse defence, led by the excellent Amy Herman rode their luck at times, but were determined to protect their volunteer goalkeepers and keep a clean sheet.

Louise Curnick was awarded man of the match by the opposition for her raking runs down the wing which eased the pressure on the defence, while the Brighouse coaching staff singled out Herman for the second U13 game in a row.

Matchday Squad
Barker
Gibson
Herman
Robinson
Surley
Kirton
Conroy
Fletcher
Reid
Curnick
Joseph  

Goalscorers: Kirton, Surley, Fletcher, Barker
Assists: Surley x2, Curnick
Player Of The Match: Amy Herman

Goalscorer Abi Barker enjoying her reward!

Match Report - 2016/17 Week 2 v Ossett

Ossett Albion 2-1 Brighouse Juniors

On paper, this was one of the hardest fixtures in the season’s calendar, as the U14 girls made the trip down the M1 to last year’s Division 1 and Cup winners on a warm Sunday afternoon. Ossett started the better of the two sides, and found themselves 1-0 up after 15 minutes when a cross was inadvertently steered into the Brighouse net off a Brighouse foot. The hosts were confident, and more joy down the right hand side saw a good cross met with a tame strike that squirmed its way underneath the ‘keeper.

At 2-0 down, the visitors rallied and finished the half strongly. The introduction of Amy Herman into the defence added a more balanced look to the side, and Honey Newburn skipped past pressing attackers with ease and flair as normal. The Ossett goal lived a charmed life, with Brighouse being unable to capitalise on a number of goalmouth scrambles from corners from Grace Warren. When they did deservedly put the ball in the net, the referee ruled the goal out for a push, to the bemusement of players and supporters of both sides. Despite this set back, the away side came into half-time in the ascendancy.

The second half saw increasing amount of pressure on the home goal, with the occasion break keeping the Brighouse back line on their toes. Shackleton made one great low save with her legs before being taken ill and replaced by the ever willing Ellie Corbett. The Brighouse goal was sensational. When the referee gave a free kick about 25 yards out, Maddy Rodd struck a set-piece of the highest quality right in the top corner to give the visitors hope. More pressure was applied but the home defence managed to survive. A corner in the last minute had 20 players in the box, but the away side were unable to force it in, meaning a first league defeat in over a year for the team


Matchday Squad
Shackleton
Aykroyd
Clark
Newburn
Coley
Fryer
Warren
Mattock
Barker
Rodd
Eccles
Corbett
Herman
Curnick






Goalscorers: Rodd
Assists:
Player Of The Match: Maddy Rodd