The U14 Girls were playing at home for the first time since early November against table topping Garston Wildcats.

A starting line up of Alana in goal with a back four of Bella, Diya, Poppy and Zara behind Alice, Lexi and Phoebe in midfield with a front three of Alexia, Isabelle and Scarlett. Elina, on debut, and Lucy were subs.

The early exchanges were mainly in midfield with clear cut shot few and far between for either side. Alice and Phoebe settled in well getting the better of the central midfield battles.

Poppy and Zara had the freedom from fullback to progress up the pitch to join in attacks linking up well with Alexia and Isabelle on the wings.

A clearance by Bella from a Garston free kick in the twelfth minute was won by Scarlett just in her own half. She turned her defender before finding Lexi who spun and played the ball out wide to Isabelle who then broke forward and her cross found Scarlett who had sprinted into the penalty area but unfortunately her shot just went over the bar.

Garston forced a corner on 16 minutes which was headed in to put the visitors 1-0 up. The girls stayed focused and kept playing their football and within a few minutes Lexi and Isabelle had linked up well again only for the shot to go wide.

Another cross in by Isabelle was put behind for a corner. Lexi swung it in with her usual pin point accuracy and it was met by Diya with a late run to volley it in to make it 1-1 on 21 minutes.

On came Elina and Lucy to join the frontline for Lexi and Scarlett.

No further goals in the first half but Garston had more shots but a combination of Alana, resolute defending and the crossbar kept them out. Phoebe forced a save from the Garston keeper at the other end.

A bright start to the second half with a positive run up the left wing by Isabelle who cut the ball back for Alexia to put the ball in the net but unfortunately the ball was adjudged to have gone out of play before the cross came in.

Action then moved to the other end where a diving save from Alana was followed by a cool clearance from Bella near the goal line. It was end to end with Elina in the action looking for crosses into the penalty area.

Another reflex save from Alana followed before on 61 minutes the girls went 2-1 up when Lexi won the ball on the left wing and passed infield to Scarlett who lobbed the last centre back to enable Lucy to get to the ball first and smash it beyond the keeper.

A minute later it could have been three when Lexi played the ball forward for Scarlett to hit a bouncing ball goal bound which the Garston keeper tipped the ball wide.

Another great corner from Lexi which Isabelle connected with but the shot just went wide. Alice and Phoebe worded tirelessly and continued to win the midfield.

Another minute later it was 2-2 when Garston were given too long on the ball and the shot as well placed in the corner of the goal.

With time running out Garston launched another attack which wasn’t cleared and a clinical chip from the edge of the area was too high for Alana and Garston were 3-2 up.

With just two minutes to play the girls pressed forward looking for the equaliser but unfortunately it didn’t come. Immense disappointment throughout the squad but the girls should be proud of a solid performance against a good team. The Garston keeper played well to keep us out for the draw.