Our Y5/6 girls’ football team continued their league season by welcoming All Saints Primary, of Didcot, on Tuesday. After drawing our previous match and gaining a bonus point through winning on penalties, we came into this match looking to secure a win during normal time and avoid any penalty-related drama.

We started with huge enthusiasm and great energy, and quickly grabbed our first goal of the game. Freya drove down the right wing and rolled a low cross into the path of Isabella who calmly swept the ball in from close range.

Our second goal was soon to follow. Freya sent a corner in from the left and, after a brief game of pinball in the penalty box, the ball fell to Issy who poked the ball into the far corner to double our advantage.

Shortly after, it was 3-0. A good save from the All Saints goalkeeper struck one of their defenders on the hand, and Freya added her name to the scoresheet by tucking away the resulting penalty.

And then Eliza came on.

What followed was one of the quickest hat tricks ever seen on our school field.

The sequence of goals began with Georgie winning the ball in the middle of the pitch before passing it out to Eliza on the left, who then cut inside and drilled a low shot inside the near post. Her second came from another corner, coolly side-footing the ball into the net from close range after an initial shot was blocked.

Her third goal was the best of the lot. Bella worked hard to keep the ball on the right before threading a lovely pass through to Eliza who took a step and swept a low, first time shot into the far corner to send us in to the half-time break with a six-goal advantage.

All Saints came out for the second half determined to get themselves on the scoresheet, but the communication from Claudia in goal combined with the defensive efforts of Lili, Nia and Saule – each of whom have been outstanding all season – kept the opposition at bay and provided a strong springboard from which we could launch more attacks.

Such a firm platform would provide Eliza with the chance to grab her fourth goal of the game. She pressed high, won the ball from an All Saints defender and sent a low shot into the bottom corner to make the score 7-0.

Lili was the next player to get herself a goal. Having initially gone forward for a corner, she remained in the All Saints penalty area after the ball had been cleared. The ball came back into the box and Lili was perfectly placed to roll in our eighth goal of the game.

Minutes before the end, Freya would round off the scoring with her second and our ninth goal. Similar to Eliza before, Freya executed a high press to perfection, winning the ball from the opposing defenders, driving into the penalty area and slotting the ball in.

Another superb performance from a group of girls who are getting stronger and better all the time. With another league match and a couple of tournaments coming up, it will be fascinating to see just what the girls can achieve between now and the end of the school year.

A massive thank you to Dr Loader for refereeing the game, and a huge thanks to those who came to support the girls.

The team was: Claudia V, Lili F, Nia B, Saule B, Isabella DS, Issy C, Freya H, Bella B-L, Eliza G and Georgie E.