Burley Trojans U-14 Girls 1 Norristhorpe 4

After a late pitch inspection this game went ahead despite Burley only having eight players.

They lost Vicky Scott overnight to a stomach bug. This meant a re-jig of positions and her sister Katie having the central midfield slot.

Despite the heavy underfoot conditions Burley produced some of their best football of the season. Katie Scott was superb in the centre of the park, winning the ball, running past players and setting Becky Gill away up front on a number of occasions.

Out wide Amy Creedon linked well with Gill, and Rachel Burns slotted well into the left of midfield and had a very solid game.

Vicky Stewart combined well with Gill up front and it was no surprise when the Burley girls took the lead, with a goal of real quality. Good inter-play between Gill and Creedon saw the ball cleared to Scott, who after beating her opponent, played a delightful ball through to Gill, who ran on to slot the ball under the ’keeper.

At the back Tash Moorey and Abi Grey were outstanding. With Chloe Dinsdale in good form things seemed to be going well. Scott set up Gill time after time with some very intelligent play and had her best game of the season, whilst Creedon caused all kinds of problems down the wing.

A short corner played from Creedon to Gill saw the latter’s shot just clip the top of the upright. The game itself was a classic and played in the true spirit that it should be. Norristhorpe pulled a goal back when they managed to get a shot on the Burley goal after some poor tackling by the defence. This made it 1-1 and set up a frantic few minutes before half-time.

Then disaster struck as Burley conceded a soft goal just before the break, which was very cruel on the girls.

The second-half was end-to-end stuff, with all the girls covering themselves in glory, Moorey made some telling challenges and Grey grew in stature as the half progressed. It seemed Burley could keep them out, especially as Dinsdale made save after save. Liza Nelson arrived to play the second half and had a good match, winning tackles and setting Gill and Scott away on a number of occasions.

Kate worked her socks off in the middle of the park and Gill had a couple of chances to level but was unable to get her final shot in. Burley poured forward looking for an equaliser, and as often happens, were caught on the break and went 3-1 down.

They never gave up and tried to get one back, with Stewart, Scott and Gill all going close.

The last goal went to Norristhorpe as Burley tried in vain to get a goal back. A scoreline that flattered the opposition, especially as Burley played so well.