GU14 Eagles 1 - 0 Cambridge City Girls U14 (A)
By Mark Rogers
“It must have been the five oranges I ate at half time”, protested Maeve. Such were Maeve’s goal-assisting exploits immediately into the second half that the UK Doping Authority had concluded that an investigation was warranted into her super performance. Fortunately for the Eagles, neither Vitamin C nor unrefined sugar are prohibited substances, even in industrial quantities, and Nancy’s 40th minute goal was allowed to stand.
It was Nancy’s expertly taken lift over the desperate Cambridge keeper which had proved the difference between two well-matched sides, fighting it out as the Supra League resumed after a mid-season break.
Operating at a solid 80% as the Eagles got into the game, the ever dependable Emily and Bella stroked the ball across the back, linking up with hockey mastermind Freya in midfield, and working in tight triangles with Tileena and Ellie, until the forward trio of Izzy, Natalia and Leyli were unleashed to wreak havoc in the Cambridge ’22. However, the East Anglians - pristine in pillar box red - had done their homework, defending deep in numbers and giving the visitors few options as each attack was repelled.
The Eagles, ravaged this season by injury and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, fielded a full-strength side for the first time since October, making all the difference in a hard-fought and athletic fixture. As the pace upped, Jack rotated the dugout and eagle after eagle flew off the bench and into battle like fighter jets off an aircraft carrier as the away team sought the second goal which would have settled the travelling fans’ nerves.
All season long, favourable comparisons had been drawn with the Liverpool FC youngsters’ speed and skill, and (in respect of penalty flicks only) a teenage darts sensation. Yet Sunday’s fixture also saw a different side to the Eagles game, putting life and limb on the line and evoking images of bloodied prize fighters: blood, sweat and tears. Lexi, Northern Surrey’s own Iron Man, was as commanding as ever between the posts and not even a series of Cambridge penalty corners could breach her defences.
The home side had a strong game, well-drilled with skilful players seeking audacious long passes to fast runners as they sought an equaliser. However, robust goalkeeping had spread to robust defending, with Romaine, Saskia and Erin proving that they are second to no one, and Elsa taking one for the team with a controversial card on the final whistle as the team in white kept out a last-minute equaliser. A blockbuster ending to pulsating contest.
After the heartbreak of a shock cup exit on penalties a few weeks earlier, the Eagles were for once on the right side of a close bout as they rebooted their Supra League campaign in dramatic fashion.