Camden Girls 0-2 Brent U15 Girls
Brilliant Brent put on a magnificent team performance to overpower high flying Camden in their latest Capital Girls’ League division 1 fixture. On recent form, Camden went into the game as hot favourites but this didn’t deter Brent and they went on the attack straight from the kick off.
The pace of Scout Waddington upfront for Brent was causing Camden all sorts of problems. Brent were edging the contest as Apollonia Margetson and Gracious Olamona started to win the duel in midfield. All that was missing was a goal and the deadlock was broken from a Chloe O’Donoghue corner which found Waddington in the box. Waddington turned and slid the ball to Brooke Dyke who skilfully turned and curled the ball into the net.
Camden responded well and pressed for an equaliser. Makeshift Goalkeeper Laiba Mir saved an excellent shot before Liv Macarthur made a strong tackle to prevent a certain goal. Just before half-time, Brent counter-attacked with Captain Maddie Muir passing to Maya Rosenberg who found O’Donoghue on the left wing. O’ ‘Donoghue cut in and unleashed an unstoppable 25 yard thunderbolt into the top corner. It was a wonder strike that even the home fans applauded.
Camden came out fighting at the start of the second half. Brent were without a recognised goalkeeper so Sophie Kew went in goal and made an instant impact making two courageous saves. Camden then had their best spell of the game and Brent had to switch from attacking to a spell of intense defending during which Keely Dibley-Dias made a superb goal line clearance.
Brent faced an attacking onslaught for most of the second half but Kew made save after save supported by the defence of skipper Muir, MacArthur, Mir and Dibley-Dias. The formidable midfield pairing of Margetson and Olamona sitting deep in midfield helped Brent withstand the onslaught as the whole team played their hearts out putting everything on the line defending.
Brent captain Maddie Muir was outstanding, organising her team to maximise their defensive capabilities but it was a collective effort that won the day keeping the clean sheet and giving Brent a thoroughly deserved win.
Brent Coach Kirsten Dibley-Dias said after the match: “The Brent team should be super proud of the way they fought it out right to the end – battling against the wind, they put up a spirited and valiant effort to deny Camden a goal. It was an heroic effort.”
Squad: Apollonia Margetson, Keely Dibley-Dias, Brooke Dyke, Chloe O’Donoghue, Sophie Kew, Gracious Olamona, Laiba Mir, Maddie Muir (capt), Maya Rosenberg, Scout Waddington, Olivia Macarthur