Match Report: IOM U16 Girls v North Staffordshire U16 Girls. 

 End of 70 minutes score 2-2 

Final score: 10-9 (HT 0-1) 

IOM Girls scorers: Sophie Partington (Field Goal); Safina (Saffy) Miah (Field Goal); 

Penalty Flick Scorers: Ella Blakemore (2); Bree Collister (2); Zoe Bridson (2); Summer Craig; Caitlin Williams Coaches 

Coaches POTM: Captain Ela Blakemore (CDM) 

Players POTM: Bree Collister (Defence – Right Back); Zara Benham (GK) 

After catching the evening ferry after their Saturday League matches, all travelling squads had a late night and early start for their Tier 2 KO Cup matches on Sunday 11/11/24.

Despite the limited rest, the U16 Girls squad quickly focused and immediately placed North Staff under pressure winning 2 penalty corners within the 1st two minutes. 

Unfortunately IOM didn’t manage to convert these opportunities and North Staff found their rhythm and began to counter attack. The first goal of the match came at 11 minutes in, when North Staff converted a well taken Penalty Corner despite strong defending from Bree Collister and Caitlin Williams.  

North Staff, determined to maintain their lead, focussed on double teaming in an attempt to disrupt IOM Captain Ela Blakemore’s composed control of the game and the skilful forward play of attacking mid-fielders Summer Craig and Zara Levy. 

Although winning further short corners, the IOM struggled to find the back of the net and the first half ended 0-1 to North Staff. 

The fight to control the game continued into the 2nd half with the break coming at 13 minutes. Alicia Keirnan, Sophie Partington and Saffy Miah fronting the IOM press forced a defensive error with Sophie P taking full advantage to win the ball, beat 2 defenders as well as the GK to score for the IOM. 

With renewed confidence, the IOM pressed for a second goal. Players’ movement on and off the ball enabled Ela B to pass the ball wide to Connie Sellors who worked the ball past North Staff to again find Ela B who drove through the North Staff midfield passing to Zoe Bridson who ran the right wing and base line to find a scoring opportunity. North Staff GK made the save however the cleared ball was picked up at the top of the ‘D’ by Saffy M who slotted the ball home to score IOM’s 2nd goal. 

North Staff came back fighting with some physical play and continued double teaming in an attempt to equalise. 

IOM continued to defend from the front with Isla Caine strongly supporting the press and attacking play from the left wing and Amira Crookall and May-Saa Smith working the right half and wing with speed and tenacity. 

At 63 minutes Bree C received a stick to the knee and whilst IOM readjusted positions, North Staff took advantage. Despite strong goalkeeping from Zara Benham, North Staff scored the equaliser a minute before the final whistle. 

Both teams and umpires agreed on Penalty Flicks to determine the outcome of the match which proved a nail biting finish with all 10 penalty flick takers slotting their shots past the GKs leading to a ‘sudden death’ scenario. 

Bree C and Zoe B’s 2nd penalty flicks were matched by their North Staff counterparts. Then the stalemate was broken when IOM GK saved North Staff’s next attempt followed by IOM’s Ela B calmly slotting home the winning penalty flick for IOM to win 10-9! 

Thank you to North Staff for a well fought match and their wonderful hospitality (post-match breakfast baps and chocolate brownies pitch side will be hard to beat!); thank you also to the umpires, our sponsors OAK, the MHA and all the parents for their ongoing support.