Historic Win for U13s!
Last week our U13 Girls’ Football team set off to Cantley Park in Wokingham to play The Piggott School, with the aim to make St Bart’s history with a win at the Berkshire School Football Association Elite Cup.
The talented team included Freya Barr (Year 8), Lucia Biais Zambelli (Year 7), Tilly Clare (Year 7), Rose Cooper (Year 8), Isla East (Year 8), Freya Ilsley (Year 8), Alice Kirby (Year 8), Olivia Lewis (Year 8), Hattie Mason (Year 8), Jessie McCurtin – Captain (Year 8), Amy Price (Year 7), Izzy Rands (Year 7), Freya Smith (Year 7) and Poppy Smith (Year 8).
In order to make the final, the St Bart’s U13 team had already executed a fantastic run in the Cup, claiming victories over Charters School, Brackenhale School and The Marist School. This was to be a close and exciting final, last time the St Bart’s U13 played The Piggott School they came away with a victory on penalties.
The match kicked off at 1.30pm and St Bart’s faced a well-drilled, organised and fluent Piggott School side, who took the initiative in the first 20 minutes. However, St Bart’s weathered the storm, soaked up the pressure and then started to get a foot-hold in the game. By the end of the first half, the team had created more chances and looked more dangerous.
After half-time St Bart’s made two substitutions, bringing on Olivia and Tilly, and when 10 minutes into the second half Tilly drove the ball into the box the resulting Piggott School handball gave St Bart’s a penalty. Up stepped Alice who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner. 1-0 to St Bart’s!
Piggott School pushed on with some great attacking play that lead to a stunning save from Freya S in goal, and some fantastic defending from Rose, Lucia and Hattie. With a few minutes to go and everybody’s blood pressure rising, St Bart’s delivered a beautiful goal, resulting from Olivia’s great touch and pass to Amy who found herself in acres of space and with all the time in the world to slot in the goal! The final whistle saw a jubilant St Bart’s side celebrate a 2-0 win and claim the honour of becoming County Cup Champions.
The team have been supported and motivated all the way by the dedicated St Bart’s PE department. Miss Bilcliff (PE Teacher) and Miss Ostinelli (Head of PE), who accompanied the team, said: “Football is the fastest growing girls’ sport in the country and at St Bart`s football is now one of our main elite girls’ sports. We have a great number of girls, in all year groups, training and taking part in league and cup fixtures across the school year, with a number also playing club football outside of school. This is a fantastic achievement and it demonstrates the impact of hard work and opportunities. From turning up to all the after school practices, to attending home and away fixtures, and to playing some brilliant football along the way, we couldn’t be prouder of the girls’ efforts.”
