U14 girls football

After being knocked out of the English Cup, the girls were determined to redeem themselves and put in a strong performance against tough opposition. From the opening whistle, it was clear both teams had influential players capable of changing the game in an instant.

The match was end-to-end, with both sides showing real attacking threat and keeping the goalkeepers on their toes. Defensively, both teams stood firm, refusing to be the first to concede, and the score remained 0–0 at half-time.

Park needed a spark — and it came through Maisie, whose football intelligence shone through. Spotting Emily making a dangerous run in behind the defence, Maisie delivered a perfectly weighted ball over the top. Emily controlled it superbly and smashed it past the keeper to make it 1–0.

Balshaws responded quickly with an equaliser, setting up a tense final spell. A couple of changes followed, including the return of Mia, who has been battling a knee issue — and what an impact she made. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, Mia turned efficiently and, with a first-time left-footed finish, slotted the ball into the bottom corner, catching the keeper completely off guard.

With less than ten minutes remaining, Balshaws raised their intensity and managed to score twice, sending them through to the quarter-finals.

A special mention to these girls, who have already played over 13 games this season. They continue to demonstrate high technical quality, tremendous talent, and commitment — qualities that will hopefully be rewarded with trophies in the future with Pendle Tournaments coming up soon.