South Reading Vixens Match Report

	South Reading Vixens Girls Football in South Reading
	Vixens Keep Hunger Pangs at Bay (Vixens Win the Cup and Complete the SCML Double) Hungerford Town Juniors 2 - 4 South Reading Vixens 17th April 2005 The Vixens were in seventh heaven at Aldermaston today as they completed the illustrious SCML double. It had promised to be a true clash of the titans as two of the leagues top teams prepared to fight it out toe-to-toe. Having beaten the accomplished Woodley side in the semi-final with an impressive 4-2 win, Hungerford were never going to make life easy for the League Champions and Cup favourites today. Still on a high from their NEHYL Cup Final win earlier this morning, the main task for the Vixen coaches was to get the girls focused for the next battle. Almost victims of their own success, the amazing Vixen entourage were afforded little time to celebrate as they prepared themselves for a shot at the unprecedented 'quad'. Having already secured the treble for the second season in a row, expectations were high to go one better this time around. These sides had already met three times in the league this season and despite securing maximum points on each occasion, the Vixens had failed to really play to their true potential. Determined to put the record straight when it mattered most, the yellow and green warriors raised their game and proceeded to dominate from the first whistle. Sophie Greenough, playing in goal for her first ever Cup Final was protected well by her more experienced team-mates, having little to do during the opening exchange. Deanna Peters and Laura Grigg proved their mettle once again as they let nothing through at the back whilst supporting Sarah Davern, Jade Beaumont and Amber Wilson across the middle. With Serena Cox at the head of the Vixen pack, it was a good mix of old and new players that took the first shift. Hungerford battled hard but found themselves second to the ball on almost every occasion whilst the hungrier Vixens went in search of the opening goal. The expectant crowd had to wait until the 18th minute though when Jade finally found the Juniors net from close range following Amber's well struck corner kick. The underdogs found themselves reduced to just a handful of long-range pangs at goal as they desperately sought a way back into the match. But there was just no answer to the Vixen might as the back-line brushed aside the rare forays into their territory. But the League Champions failed to capitalise on their lions share of possession as they went into the break with a slender one goal advantage. Perhaps the Vixens biggest challenge today was how to rotate their large squad sufficiently to ensure all players enjoyed equal pitch time and were afforded adequate rest. To this end, they were able to ring the changes at the interval with the emergence of an equally impressive cast for the second shift. Charlotte Bowcock, Siobhan Hayes, Alana McGill and Alice Martineau all took up their positions eager to carry on the good work of their colleagues. The reshuffle paid instant dividends as Sarah was released down the right wing before beating her marker and rifling the ball into the far corner of the net to double the Vixens advantage. But as Hungerford have proved all season, they certainly do not lack courage or 'roll over' easily as they struck back straight away with a strong shot past the unsighted keeper Sophie. This seemed to lift both the players and the crowd as the match was placed back on a knife-edge once again. Hungerford enjoyed their best spell of the match as the Vixens began to tire and were rewarded for their sustained pressure with an equaliser just ten minutes later. The crowd went mad as both teams went in search of a winner but the deadlock just couldn't be broken in a contest of nerve and endurance. Full time score a very commendable 2-2.......extra time. The Vixens coaches put out the call for heroes to start the first period of extra time and all eleven players stepped forward - each would get their chance. They seemed to shrug off their weariness and focus on the task in hand - securing the Quad and creating history. Looking around at the faces of the yellow and green elite, there was only ever going to be one outcome to this match as they returned to the field of dreams. Just ninety seconds into the restart Alice flighted a beautiful cross to the feet of the onrushing Amber who coolly slotted home her most important goal of the season. There was never going to be any way back for the plucky Juniors as they struggled to get a touch on the ball - the Vixens had finally remembered their passing game! Alana added a fourth goal with a minute left on the clock after another cross from the right wing, this time from Siobhan, which left the simplest of tap-ins. Game over - job done. Vixen-of-the-match went to Jade who led much of the forward momentum in a tireless display. But all the Vixens deserve maximum respect for their skill and dedication and most importantly, teamwork. We have a bond within this team rarely seen in a top-flight outfit, there are no individual stars but a team full of superstars. Well done girls - you are simply awesome! Vixens 2004/5 'Quad' Season Statistics Having completed the treble last season, the mighty Vixens went one better this time! NEHYL League Champions - Undefeated, won all 17 matches (1 left to play) NEHYL League Cup Winners NEHYL Scored 141 Goals League & Cup SCML League Champions - Undefeated, won all 24 matches (pending forfeited awards) SCML League Cup Winners SCML Scored 176 Goals League & Cup Now unbeaten in 67 consecutive league matches since turning to all-girl football Vixens Quad Queen Manager Tina Nurse formed the first ever Vixens team back in June/July 2001 after proposed new F.A. rules meant that the two girls currently playing for her son's team would shortly no longer be permitted to continue in a mixed-sex league. After much recruiting and with the backing of South Reading F.C., the Vixens were born. The girls played two seasons in the East Berks League competing against boys, and managed to reach second place in their division before they finally had to go into all-girl football last season. The girls then competed in the Peter Houseman Youth League (PHYL) on Saturdays and the North East Hants Youth League(NEHYL) on Sundays, winning them both as well as the PHYL Cup. Treble winners in their first all-girl season, unbeaten in both leagues! But this was just the start of even better things to come as this season they have gone one better. Move over Mr Mourinho, the Vixens have just won the QUAD! The remarkable success of the U13 Vixens has led to the development of

Vixens Keep Hunger Pangs at Bay

(Vixens Win the Cup and Complete the SCML Double)

Hungerford Town Juniors 2 - 4 South Reading Vixens
17th April 2005

Jade - tireless The Vixens were in seventh heaven at Aldermaston today as they completed the illustrious SCML double. It had promised to be a true clash of the titans as two of the leagues top teams prepared to fight it out toe-to-toe. Having beaten the accomplished Woodley side in the semi-final with an impressive 4-2 win, Hungerford were never going to make life easy for the League Champions and Cup favourites today.

Still on a high from their NEHYL Cup Final win earlier this morning, the main task for the Vixen coaches was to get the girls focused for the next battle. Almost victims of their own success, the amazing Vixen entourage were afforded little time to celebrate as they prepared themselves for a shot at the unprecedented 'quad'. Having already secured the treble for the second season in a row, expectations were high to go one better this time around.

These sides had already met three times in the league this season and despite securing maximum points on each occasion, the Vixens had failed to really play to their true potential. Determined to put the record straight when it mattered most, the yellow and green warriors raised their game and proceeded to dominate from the first whistle.

Sophie Greenough, playing in goal for her first ever Cup Final was protected well by her more experienced team-mates, having little to do during the opening exchange. Deanna Peters and Laura Grigg proved their mettle once again as they let nothing through at the back whilst supporting Sarah Davern, Jade Beaumont and Amber Wilson across the middle. With Serena Cox at the head of the Vixen pack, it was a good mix of old and new players that took the first shift.

Hungerford battled hard but found themselves second to the ball on almost every occasion whilst the hungrier Vixens went in search of the opening goal. The expectant crowd had to wait until the 18th minute though when Jade finally found the Juniors net from close range following Amber's well struck corner kick. The underdogs found themselves reduced to just a handful of long-range pangs at goal as they desperately sought a way back into the match. But there was just no answer to the Vixen might as the back-line brushed aside the rare forays into their territory. But the League Champions failed to capitalise on their lions share of possession as they went into the break with a slender one goal advantage.

Perhaps the Vixens biggest challenge today was how to rotate their large squad sufficiently to ensure all players enjoyed equal pitch time and were afforded adequate rest. To this end, they were able to ring the changes at the interval with the emergence of an equally impressive cast for the second shift. Charlotte Bowcock, Siobhan Hayes, Alana McGill and Alice Martineau all took up their positions eager to carry on the good work of their colleagues.

The reshuffle paid instant dividends as Sarah was released down the right wing before beating her marker and rifling the ball into the far corner of the net to double the Vixens advantage. But as Hungerford have proved all season, they certainly do not lack courage or 'roll over' easily as they struck back straight away with a strong shot past the unsighted keeper Sophie.

This seemed to lift both the players and the crowd as the match was placed back on a knife-edge once again. Hungerford enjoyed their best spell of the match as the Vixens began to tire and were rewarded for their sustained pressure with an equaliser just ten minutes later. The crowd went mad as both teams went in search of a winner but the deadlock just couldn't be broken in a contest of nerve and endurance.

Full time score a very commendable 2-2.......extra time.

The Vixens coaches put out the call for heroes to start the first period of extra time and all eleven players stepped forward - each would get their chance. They seemed to shrug off their weariness and focus on the task in hand - securing the Quad and creating history. Looking around at the faces of the yellow and green elite, there was only ever going to be one outcome to this match as they returned to the field of dreams.

Just ninety seconds into the restart Alice flighted a beautiful cross to the feet of the onrushing Amber who coolly slotted home her most important goal of the season. There was never going to be any way back for the plucky Juniors as they struggled to get a touch on the ball - the Vixens had finally remembered their passing game!

Alana added a fourth goal with a minute left on the clock after another cross from the right wing, this time from Siobhan, which left the simplest of tap-ins.

Game over - job done.

Vixen-of-the-match went to Jade who led much of the forward momentum in a tireless display. But all the Vixens deserve maximum respect for their skill and dedication and most importantly, teamwork. We have a bond within this team rarely seen in a top-flight outfit, there are no individual stars but a team full of superstars.

Well done girls - you are simply awesome!

Vixens 2004/5 'Quad' Season Statistics

Having completed the treble last season, the mighty Vixens went one better this time!
NEHYL League Champions - Undefeated, won all 17 matches (1 left to play)
NEHYL League Cup Winners
NEHYL Scored 141 Goals League & Cup
SCML League Champions - Undefeated, won all 24 matches (pending forfeited awards)
SCML League Cup Winners
SCML Scored 176 Goals League & Cup
Now unbeaten in 67 consecutive league matches since turning to all-girl football

Vixens Quad Queen

Manager Tina Nurse formed the first ever Vixens team back in June/July 2001 after proposed new F.A. rules meant that the two girls currently playing for her son's team would shortly no longer be permitted to continue in a mixed-sex league. After much recruiting and with the backing of South Reading F.C., the Vixens were born. The girls played two seasons in the East Berks League competing against boys, and managed to reach second place in their division before they finally had to go into all-girl football last season. The girls then competed in the Peter Houseman Youth League (PHYL) on Saturdays and the North East Hants Youth League(NEHYL) on Sundays, winning them both as well as the PHYL Cup. Treble winners in their first all-girl season, unbeaten in both leagues!

But this was just the start of even better things to come as this season they have gone one better. Move over Mr Mourinho, the Vixens have just won the QUAD!

The remarkable success of the U13 Vixens has led to the development of