Match Report - 2016/17 Week 1 v Whitkirk & Battyeford

Brighouse Juniors 3-0 Whitkirk Wanderers

An enticing opening fixture saw Brighouse Juniors U14 Girls host last years Division 2 runners up Whitkirk in their first competitive 11v11 game of the 2016/17 season. Despite being the home side’s nearest challengers last year, the Yellows managed to take 6 points from their opponents last season. The away fixture early in the season saw a gritty 1-0 win with an Own Goal being the only separator on a tricky pitch. The home game in January felt as through whoever won would go on to the take the title and it proved so. 2 goals from Katja May and a brace from Ellie Corbett in a 4-1 sunk the visitors that day and ended their hunt for the trophy in the process. 

It took both sides a while to get going in a scrappy and combative first half. The home side narrowly survived a goalmouth scramble from a corner and the Whitkirk captain on the right wing made a lot of the running. However, all the quality football came from the hosts and the first chance fell to skipper Grace Warren, who was played through only for the keeper to make a smart save with her feet. The wide players Fryer and Barker were well managed by the full-backs, prompting the introduction of Becky Aykroyd and new signing Holly Senior. The Brighouse defence, marshalled by Honey Newburn and Eleanore Pell, nipped a lot of potential attacks with clever and calculated sweeping of long balls. 

The second half started in a similar vein as the first, but Brighouse started to create more chances as their patient possession-based football tired the visiting team. With key strikers missing, Ellie Corbett and Poppy Eccles worked hard in the final third. After good play down the right, Corbett miscued a volley that would have earned her a deserved goal. A tactical re-shuffle unlocked the defence. Corbett was replaced by Fryer, moving Becky Aykroyd into a centre forward role. Moments after, a clever flick on released the pace of Aykroyd, who raced clear of the defence and finished calmly to score the 1st goal of the season for the Division 2 champions. 

At 1-0, the game was far from over. Olivia Shackleton was called into action as the visitors counter attacked at pace. Bravely diving at the feet of the attacker, ‘Shacks’ showed why her teammates have such confidence in her in goal. Lucie Coley was having an excellent game at left back, as were the midfield. The centre midfield pairing of Warren and debutant Lois Mattock had worked hard and were both rewarded as the game moved into the final stages. Warren’s free kick was too hot for the keeper to handle to make it 2-0, before Mattock finished smartly from close range to put the icing on a fine second half performance. 

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


Goalscorers: Aykroyd, Warren, Mattock
Assists: Eccles, Fryer
Player Of The Match: Honey Newburn 

Battyeford Belles 1-1 Brighouse Juniors

In what was a tough opening fixture for the U13's, a brilliant goal from Mia Harris earned the team a much deserved point against a physical, tough Battyeford side. The opening half was a cagey affair as both teams grew into the game, with Shoanna Clark bossing the midfield and spreading the play well. Battyeford came forward with purpose; however a back line of Amy Herman, Poppy Reid and Abi Robinson worked well as a unit to limit their chances. Battyeford got the opener with a well struck goal from outside the box, leaving 'keeper Rhianna Joseph little chance, although she made a couple of cracking saves to keep Brighouse in the match. 

Brighouse never gave up however, and were on top for much of the game. Player of the match Amy was the one who set the goal scoring move in motion with a sublime through ball, with Mia latching on to the pass to finish coolly around the keeper. Brighouse kept the pressure up but couldn't quite find the finish that would give the second goal. The visitors also withstood pressure towards the end to earn a well-deserved draw and first point of the season. 

Matchday Squad
Joseph (GK)
Reid
Herman
Robinson
Kirton
Clark (C)
Conroy
Harris
Fletcher
Surley


Goalscorers: Harris
Assists: Herman
Player Of The Match: Amy Herman