Brent U13 Girls 4-3 Camden Girls
Brent Schools’ FA U13 Girls claimed the Regent’s Park Youth League championship on Saturday, following a thrilling winner-takes-all showdown with Camden Girls. Both sides went into the match unbeaten, but Camden were the favorites to win having bested Brent in previous seasons, coming into this game with successive multiple goal victories and with a far superior goal difference meaning that a draw would give Camden the title.
After an even first few minutes, Brent’s Zoey De Souza Mantas (ZDSM) had the first effort on goal when her positive drive in from the left ended with a strike that flew over the bar from just outside the box.
With both teams tussling for full control of the contest, a spell of pressure from Brent eventually got them the breakthrough with five minutes on the clock.
Finlay Cottle almost put Brent in front with a sharp strike from range but the next attack saw a swirling cross from ZDSM deep on the right fly over the Camden defence and fall sweetly for Eabha Kennedy. Kennedy showed fine composure to pass the ball beyond the reach of the Camden ‘keeper and give her team the lead.
Brent controlled the tempo of the first-half from that point and deservedly doubled their lead four minutes before half-time. The goal came from a nicely worked move too as Tallulah (Bumpty) Swaby, playing in defence, intercepted a Camden through ball and spread play out to ZDSM on the right side of the area and her twisting run created space for a low cross along the edge of the box. Evie Roe was on hand and positioned expertly to provide the finishing touch when it mattered and lashed the ball into the back of the net.
Brent were not troubled at the back but had managed to force two openings at the other end to put themselves fully in command. Brent created two chances to add to their advantage before half time, but the opportunities came and went with both Willow Stone firing in from the right and ZDSM both going close but being denied by the excellent Camden keeper.
Brent began the second half in the same fashion as the first, dominating possession and going close several times.
However, Camden were pulling themselves back into the game and after a desperate goal yard scramble in the Brent box, Camden forced a corner. The ball swung in low from the right and went through a melee of players before taking a fortuitous bounce of the knee of the Brent captain Scarlett Hunn for an own goal.
Brent restored their advantage just three minutes later. Bumpty Swaby unleashed a long cross field ball which found ZDSM, Brent’s top scorer with 16 goals already this season and she added a screamer to her collection with a long range shot leaving the Camden ‘keeper baffled.
With 10 minutes remaining, Brent went 4-1 ahead and seemed to have clinched the championship. Eabha Kennedy won the ball in midfield and using her skill and strength to evade Camden’s tackles, threaded a wonderful ball through to Roe who calmly slotted the ball away for her second of the game.
With the clock ticking down and the game drawing to a conclusion Brent put on defensive midfielder Issy Sirkett to shore up the defence. However, with the honours in sight, Brent suffered a collective lapse of concentration. Camden saw weaknesses and with the aid of a wind assisted shot scored from a tremendous distance leaving the Brent goalkeeper Maria Topping flat-footed.
With 5 minutes remaining and the score at 4-2, Topping was called into action making a marvelous close range save. Soon after Topping had to leave the field feeling unwell and Hannah Derks took her place back in goal.
Camden continued to chase the game and kept Brent under pressure. In a repeat of their previous goal, Camden again scored from long distance.
Brent were now nervous and Camden having scored two goals in three minutes were feeling confident. With the score at 4-3 and three minutes to play, Camden pushed forward and were taking speculative shots, which were all repelled by Derks. Brent, with the indomitable Tashelle Redhead towering over the defensive line, cleared everything thrown at them.
Last minute shots by Camden were kept out by Hunn’s twin Marnie also joining the rearguard action to help Brent see out the match. Their 4-3 victory was greeted by rousing applause and the players again took deserved acclaim when they were presented with the Championship trophy.
Brent coach Steve Swaby commented: “The team have worked hard all season and I am delighted that they have been rewarded. I am very proud of them”
Player of the Match: Evie Roe – Brent
Brent squad: Tallulah Swaby, Scarlett and Marnie Hunn, Willow Corbett, Tashelle Redhead, Evie Roe, Zoey De Souza Mantas, Finlay Cottle, Hannah Derks, Eabha Kennedy, Issy Sirkett, Maria Gooding.