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