The England U15 Schoolgirls remain undeafeated, after a 6 – 0 win against the Wales U16 Schoolgirls on Sunday 10 March
The England U15 Schoolgirls travelled to The New Saints FC in Oswestry on Sunday 10th March for a friendly fixture against Wales U16 Schoolgirls. An impressive performance from England saw six different players get on the scoresheet, in what was a dominant performance against their Welsh counterparts. This result will give the England Schoolgirls plenty of confidence heading into their competitive fixtures against the other home nations in a few weeks’ time.
England started strong, asserting their dominance in the midfield, with Maise Brickell running down the right. The pressure down the right flank paid dividends in the 4th minute when Emily Giddings was set free, her cross was deep and looped over the Welsh keeper, Grace Olsen who got a hand to it but could not keep it out.
England were once again on top after the goal, Millie Burdon spraying the passes and Emily Giddings causing the Welsh defence problems. Then came England’s second, Emily Giddings was once again set free down the right before finding Dolly Reynolds on the edge of the box, who beat her marker and fired low into the corner.
On 20 minutes, England found their third goal. A deep corner from Tilly Abrahams was put back into the box by Sophia Burton, Emily Giddings swung a leg at it before Lottie Thorpe rifled it into the roof of the net on the volley, a brilliant finish. Wales started to gain a bit more control towards the end of the first half, causing Freya Weeks to collect a few balls over the top, which she dealt with well. The final action of the first half saw Wales win a free kick on the edge of the box, which sailed just over the bar before Sophia Burton picked it up and fired a shot just wide of the post.
England made a whole host of changes at the break but still came out all guns firing, with Isla Law threading a ball through to Macie Halsall, who slid her shot just wide via a deflection. England made it 4 – 0 in the 51st minute, a brilliant move from the back which saw Lily Jaynes carry the ball out from defence, before finding Annabelle Tang on the half turn. Annabelle slid the pass through to Sophia Burton, who finished nicely to get herself on the scoresheet.
After a few stoppages in play and some strong battles in midfield, England found a fifth goal through Tilly Abrahams. Her cross taking a wicked deflection off Megan Rutter, wrong footing the Welsh keeper and sneaking in the front post. England remained dominant throughout the second half, testing the Wales goalkeeper on multiple occasions, most notably, a superb effort from Emily Giddings was tipped just over the bar. In the 75th minute, Macie Halsall once again linked up well with Annabelle Tang and saw her thunderous strike crash off the left-hand post. Halsall finally got her goal after Lily Jaynes played her through, she danced around her marker and fired a fierce shot into the top of the net.
A brilliant performance from England will give the girls plenty of confidence ahead of their trip to Ireland, where they will play the other home nations in the Bob Docherty Tournament.
The full fixture is available to view on the ESFA’s YouTube Channel and below:
Photo credit: 353 Photography
The National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England.