Development CentreIOMFA Development Centre Girls
Monday, 28 April 2008.
U14's and U16's Development Centre Girls
Last weekend, the Isle of Man Development Centre U16’s and U14’s girls travelled to Manchester to compete in the Tesco Cup North England Regional Finals. Both teams played extremely well and the weekend was a great experience for them.
The Under 16s Girls made an encouraging start drawing 1-1 with York City in their opening match. Karmina Kovanda opened the scoring, with City finally getting their first goal with a swift counter attack.
The teams’ second match was against Derbyshire County’s, Buxton Warriors. Again the Manx side got themselves in front in the first half. The Manx side secured their victory 1 minute from full time after a goal by Sarah Kerford.
The final match was against Cheshire’s Stockport County Ladies. County went a goal up in the first half after a penalty was awarded and dispatched well. With a couple of minutes remaining Stockport went on to score their second.
Unfortunately the Manx side missed out on semi final qualification through goal difference by one goal to eventual winners, Manchester United. However Becky Kirk was awarded “Best Defender – North England Regional Finals” and received her award from England International, Lynsey Johnson.
The U14’s girls began their first match against Staffordshire, they got off to a promising start but went a goal down in the first half. At the start of the second half they defended well, but were plagued by injury to our centre back Melissa Griffiths, who spent the remainder of the day in hospital with a dislocated shoulder, and to Laura Beggs who injured her ankle, both had to miss out on the remainder of the matches. The final score was 2-0.
Their second match was against Derbyshire’s Sharley Park Girls to whom they lost 1-0. Their 3rd and final match was against East Ridings Malet Lambert. The girls played extremely well throughout this match with the score 0-0 with 1 minute to go. The referee then awarded a free kick to the opposition, which was taken before the whistle was blown, with the ball reaching the back of the net and being allowed to stand.
All four coaches, Richard Mould, Kerry Penswick, Donna Shimmin and Jack Walton were extremely proud of all of the girls’ performances and would like to thank them for all their hard work during training and throughout the weekend.