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!