Brent U12 Girls 4-1 Dragons
Saturday 12th January 2019
In a superb advert for girls’ football, Brent’s Under-12 squad kicked off 2019 with an emphatic win, coming back from behind to win 4-1 against Dragons at Regents Park.
Brent started brightly and good passing play by Sophie Kew and Keely Dibley-Dias released Scout Waddington, who shot inches wide. This was a warning to Dragons and they responded well, counter-attacking to break against the run of play and take the lead.
Brent’s response showed why they are unbeaten in the league; the team pressing high up the pitch and Apolonia Margetson driving them forward from midfield. Chloe O’Donoghue skilfully dribbled past two defenders and passed to Waddington but the Dragons ‘keeper pulled off an excellent point-blank save. The play was all Brent as they pinned Dragons back and peppered the home side’s goal with shots only to see the Dragons ‘keeper make save after save.
Brent were rewarded for their patience after 10 minutes when Brent’s keeper Milly-May Blue released Kew on the left. Kew passed to Carnavale who cut in from the left wing, slipping the ball to Waddington to drive home. 1-1. Waddington then gave her team the lead, collecting a pass from Laiba Mir and holding off her marker before smashing the ball into the top corner and make the score 2-1. Dragons fought bravely and the game became end-to-end stuff as both teams jostled for the vital next goal. Brent continued to put pressure on their hosts and Maya Rosenberg jinked past her marker to release O’Donoghue, but her thunderbolt was tipped over the bar. Brent skipper Carnavale stepped up to take the resultant corner kick and curled it in with such pace that the defender on the line was unable to stop it giving Brent some breathing space at 3-1.
Brent rang the changes introducing Elizabeth Ulusele and Raya McIntosh in defense. Brent continued to have the upper hand and it took a very special team goal to finally clinch the game. Goalkeeper Blue passed to McIntosh on the right. Her pass found Waddington wide on the right. Waddington sprinted past her marker down the right wing and drove the ball into the box where Carnavale hit a sweet volley. It looked like a certain goal but not for the first time the Dragons ‘keeper made a superb save somehow pushing the ball out, although Carnavale made no mistake with the rebound placing it coolly into the net to seal the victory and keep Brent at the top of the league.
Brent coach Chris Ampofo commented: “I thought both teams were excellent today. Brent showed great spirit to remain calm and come back from one nil down. They passed the well and were rewarded for their hard work not just today but for the work that they do in training.”
Squad: Scout Waddington, Chloe O’Donoghue, Elizabeth Ulusele, Keely Dibley-Dias, Maya Rosenberg, Apolonia Margetson, Sophie Kew, Milly-May Blue, Raya McIntosh, Laiba Mir, Giussepina Carnavale (capt)
Brent next face LSS on 26 Jan at Regents Park.
Elsewhere Brent Under-12 Boys played well but went down 2-0 at home to Barnet at Capital City Academy.