On Tuesday our Year 5/6 Girls’ ‘A’ and ‘B’ football teams competed in the South Oxfordshire Final at Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge. With both teams having done very well to reach this stage, we were hoping that we could bring back the trophy for the first time.

The five-team tournament began with a round robin league format. Upon the conclusion of this, the top four teams would play out the semi-finals and then the final to determine the overall winner.

It was our ‘B’ team who played first, working hard in the heat to battle out a 0-0 draw with Garsington. This was not a bad start, especially defensively, as Scarletts A-C, H and W remained solid throughout and both Freya and Serenna went close with powerful efforts in each half. Although the next game would be a defeat – losing 1-0 to our ‘A’ team- the girls knew that they were still very much in the competition.

Our first goal would arrive in the next match, with Freya firing home a low shot against Brightwell. However, although Eliza would make some great saves to keep us in the match, we succumbed to a 2-1 defeat. This would mean that our final game against Whitchurch was a must-win. Anything less, and we would not make the semi-finals.

We began the game well, taking the game to the opposition in what was an end-to-end encounter. Georgie G and Phoebe were taking up some good positions and driving forward well, but try as we might we just couldn’t find the breakthrough goal and had to settle for our second 0-0 draw of the day. Although defensively sound, the winning goal eluded us and our ‘B’ team knew they would not make the semi-finals.

Our ‘A’ team enjoyed an excellent league stage, starting with a 1-0 win over their friends in the ‘B’ team courtesy of a low strike from Georgie Q after Issy had seen two of her efforts saved. From here, they took on Whitchurch, using the platform of a solid defensive performance from Hazel, Sylvie, Ella and Lili as the springboard to record a 2-1 victory, both goals again coming from Georgie Q.

Despite the heat, two wins from two had put a real spring in the girls’ step, and we approached our third fixture with Brightwell knowing that a win would all but secure our place in the semi-finals.

And win we did. Two more goals from Georgie gave us a solid lead at half time, and some relentless pressing in the second half saw Bethany and Hazel – with a shot from the halfway line – add to our tally to seal a 4-0 win and ensure that our presence in the competition would continue. A 1-0 win over Garsington, earned through a rebound that was tucked away by Bethany after Olivia’s shot was parried, meant that our ‘A’ team would enter the semi-finals as league phase winners.

In the semi-final, we would face Brightwell, whom we had beaten 4-0 earlier in the afternoon. A much tighter game would ensue this time, and it was decided by just the one goal, scored by Georgie Q. This effort, alongside a good late save from Alejandra, sealed a 1-0 win that meant whatever happened in the final match, the girls had equalled last year’s best ever finish in the competition of 2nd place.

But we didn’t settle for that.

Renewing acquaintances with Whitchurch in the final, we knew we were one game away from making history.

Just before half time, the opener came.

Georgie fired in a corner from the left and Lili beat the goalkeeper to the ball, kneeing it into the corner of the net to give us the lead at the break.

Nearly there.

Whitchurch attacked well at the start of the second half, but we remained resolute.

We then launched a counter attack that sent Georgie Q through on goal. She scored, and the game finished 2-0.

We can now say that our ‘A’ team are champions of South Oxfordshire for the very first time!

Over the year, the girls have continued to amaze us with their dedication, efforts and improvements. It was such a privilege to take two good teams to this tournament, something which is a testament to the girls who have played football here over previous years as well as those who competed in this event. To have two teams in the top five schools of the final round of a South Oxfordshire competition is a great achievement, and all of the girls are rightly proud of themselves.

As usual, a massive thanks to those who walked with the girls and helped out with both teams.

The teams were:

‘A’ Team: Alejandra M-P, Hazel B-M, Ella W, Sylvie F, Bethany B, Georgie Q, Olivia Z, Lili F and Issy C.

‘B’ Team: Eliza G, Scarlett A-C, Scarlett H, Scarlett W, Serenna B, Phoebe E, Georgie G and Freya H.