This weekend saw the beginning of the 20/21 U16 Cumberland FA Girls County League and both the U16s & U15s had challenging opening games against local rivals.
U16 CFA County Girls League
At home was the 18/19 County Cup Champions in the form of the u16 Girls, who played a derby against the powerful outfit of the Workington Diamonds u16 Girls. In a low scoring tight affair, both teams looked to try and wrestle control of the game with neither giving an inch, and both teams enjoyed periods of pressure as the balance of the game swung one way to the other. Scarlett Mae McAvoy was in good form in the middle of the park for the Whitehaven Team, always busy and looking positive going forward and spreading the ball to the wings.
Both Hollys, New & Laing both featured very well with a number of dangerous crosses, whilst at the other end Millie Crellin for Diamonds was a constant threat with some good goalkeeping denying her. The game finished 1-1 which was a fair result.
The Whitehaven AFC U15 Girls played their first ever game in the County Under 16s league against Cockermouth U16s.
Pitted against the 2019/20 County cup finalists Whitehaven couldn’t of asked for a tougher game however they started well playing some attractive football but soon found themselves 2-0 down with Cockermouth scoring two quick goals on the break.
Whitehaven continued to play their football creating a number of chances & were finally rewarded with a well taken goal by Keira Clark who has shown her hard work as a striker is really paying off and after a solid preseason she showed that quality in the league.
Shortly before half time a clever through ball from Tahlia Sim found Keira Clark who once again scored to make it 2 - 2 at half time. The second half followed a similar pattern with Cockermouth once again scoring to go 3 - 2 up. However Whitehaven dug deep and again managed to equalise, through the impressive Keira Clark who completed her hatrick! The remainder of the second half saw end to end football and chance after chance for both teams. Just when it looked like the game was heading for a draw Cockermouth scored to once again take the lead. Despite continous pressure from Whitehaven to once again equalise this proved to be the winning goal in what was a very enjoyable game.
U14 WCYL Girls League
The U13 Girls had their bye week in the league and didn’t play. However the U14 Girls were in action against a young Senhouse Girls Team. Whitehaven looked comfortable throughout creating many chances as well as taking them and took a convincing win 9-0 to continue their good start to the season.
U12 WCYL Girls Red League
The Red league saw the Whitehaven AFC U12 Girls against their younger counterparts parts in the Whitehaven AFC Blues. The younger girls showed great character in what was always going to be a tough game and for a period had sustained pressure on the older girls goals, whilst also creating a number of counter attacks that Libby McKee was unlucky not to score from under lots of pressure from a strong U12s defence.
Sammie Kerrush at the back for the Blues made a number of bone crunching tackles to thwart the U12s as they pushed for goals, many of the tackles being potentially goal saving ones and both Maisie Herbet & Marcie Seath in goal made some heroic saves.
The U12s girls however remain patient with Olivia Beattie in the middle clever all day linking play from defence to attack and being bright as a button.
Defensively the U12s were very strong with Captain Summer Swinton along with Lexie Roberts not only stoping attacks but building play from the back & when that partnership was swapped for more wing back type defenders in Angel Dockerty & Brooke Butler the team looked even more dangerous going forward as well as remaining strong at the back.
It was the prolific Hannah Nicholson who once again provided the spark and the star quality to see the U12s pick up the win. Hannah’s energy throughout the game was immense and her 5 goals topped off an impressive Girl of the Game performance.
U12 WCYL Girls Blue League
The Whitehaven AFC aka The Entertainers put on another great effort and amazing game for spectators. The young Lionesses are getting a name for themselves after being involved in 3 widely entertaining games, full of good football, good goals and great attacking intent, the girls unfortunately lost out 4-3 but once again the signs are promising from this side who seem to be building confidence each and every week.
Weekend Results
CFA U16 Girls League
Whitehaven AFC U16s 1-1 Workington Diamonds
Cockermouth 4-3 Whitehaven AFC U15s
WCYL U14 League
Whitehaven AFC U14 9-0 Senhouse Girls
WCYL U12 Girls Red League
Whitehaven AFC U12s 7-1 Whitehaven AFC Blues
WCYL U12 Girls Blue League
Moor Row Girls 4-3 Whitehaven AFC Yellows