England Girls’ are Champions in the SAFIB U14 Rod Houston Cup

Thursday 27 October 2016By ESFA Office

Last Updated:
10/02/2021 10:49:54

Two ESFA Girls’ Teams represented for England in the recent SAFIB Rod Houston Cup competition, with St Ivo working hard to become British Isles Champions!

The competition, which took place from the 20th – 22nd October at Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Shropshire, provided the opportunity to mirror the SAFIB Boys’ U14 cup, which is already a successful and ongoing competition.

Winners of each country’s U13 National Cup Competitions for 2015/16 were invited to attend this season’s SAFIB Girls’ event, organised by the ESFA. As Scotland were unable to participate in the competition this year, England contacted both the U13 PlayStation Schools’ Cup for Girls’ Champions – St Ivo from Huntington and Thomas Telford from Telford to take part in the competition.

Young Match Officials were appointed to oversee the succession of games and their contribution to the event was appreciated greatly – to be able to aid the development of Match Officials as well as players in these competitions and events is an opportunity not to be missed or overlooked.

The ESFA are thrilled that St Ivo ended the three day event as Champions and lifted the Rod Houston Cup only five months after lifting the Girls’ U13 PlayStation Schools’ Cup at Reading’s Madejski Stadium!

St Ivo School Victorious as they lift the SAFIB Rod Houston Cup!

The full competition report from the event is available to read below – but the ESFA would like to thank all teams and accompanying staff that took part in the event, for their professionalism, excitement and support of the event and further extend their thanks to Lilleshall National Sports Centre for their continued help and hospitality with ESFA events.

Competition Report
Day 1

The first game of the competition was between the two early arrivals, St Ivo School and Ysgol Dyffryn Aman. St Ivo scored their first goal in the second minute and went further ahead after 10. This was proving to be a new and very difficult challenge for the Welsh girls. Further goals in the 15th and 24th minutes completed a strong start from the English champions. The second half went much the same way with four further goals to St Ivo for whom Ellie Jefferson, Lucy O’Brien, Zoe Barratt and Abby Townsend were proving clinical. Brave defending from Elin Hendra and Nell Edwards showed the resilience of the Welsh girls who were inspired by the phenomenal performance of their goalkeeper, Celyn Barnett. At the final whistle both teams came together in a celebration of friendship and respect – great to see!

The second game was a far tighter affair with Usuline College enjoying the best of the early exchanges but Lauren Fishman soon highlighted the danger of the local girls when she powered a 30 yard free kick just wide of the post. Fishman then had another long range effort tipped onto the post by the athletic Megan Byrne in the Irish goal. Half time 0-0 and the second half eagerly awaited. Thomas Telford forwards made the Ursuline defence work hard on the restart with Oda Carty coming to the rescue on a couple of occasions. This was nip and tuck but the deadlock was finally broken midway through the second half when Sophie McGoldrick met a cross from Laura Oates and fired home. Helen Monaghan then came alight seeing a fine effort saved by Anna Welch before hitting the post with a strong effort. A good series of passes in midfield found Aoife McLaughlin unmarked in the box and she obliged by firing home from close range. Ursuline continued to press hard and the Telford defence was putting up a solid resistance but in the last minute Helen Monaghan got her reward finishing off a pinpoint cross from Shona Dalton.

Day 2

The first game on day two featured Ysgol Dyffryn Aman and Thomas Telford both seeking their first goal! Welsh joy erupted in the 6th minute when Jade Leech managed to squeeze the ball home direct from a corner on the left. TT were spurred into life and four minutes later Sophie Bramford found the back of the net with a long angled drive. Emily Price responded with a superb effort which was well saved by Anna Welch in the TT goal. Lauren Fishman was again proving influential in the TT midfield and made the vital breakthrough in the 22 minute when she sent a second long range effort wide of the valiant Celyn Barnett and into the back of the net. The second half saw a TT onslaught on the Welsh goal and Barnett was unfortunate to tip a strong effort from Sophie Bramford onto the post only to see the ball divert into the net. Further efforts from the English girls were fruitless but the Carmarthenshire battlers finished strongly to come off best in a goalmouth scramble where Nell Edwards was able to strike the ball home. Sadly, Celyn Barnett injured her shoulder during one of her heroic saves – who can take her place tomorrow?

The two opening day winners met in the second game on Friday and they produced a stunning spectacle. Both teams began strongly with no quarter given but when the first opportunity fell to St Ivo’s Lucy O’Brien in the 15th minute she made no mistake from in front of the goal. Ursuline battled back and the one chance that fell to Cathy Harrison following a good save by Ivo’s Sophie Marjoram was narrowly missed. Half time gave the crowd time to get their breath and the coaches to impart their wisdom. Ursuline started the second half well and both Harrison and McGoldrick had difficult chances and a cry for a penalty was over ruled by the off side flag - great gnashing of Irish teeth. At the other end Lucy O’Brien was unable to take advantage of a defensive error and Megan Byrne brought off a great save from Elle Jefferson. A great game with the teams separated by just the one goal.

Day 3

The final two games on Saturday morning kicked off at the same time. Thomas Telford and St Ivo were repeating the final of the ESFA U13 final of last May whilst Ysgol Dyffryn Aman and Ursuline College had agreed to play 9v9 on a smaller pitch due to injuries restricting numbers – very commendable.

Thomas Telford started strongly and kept up the pressure on the St Ivo goal without reward. The warning signs emerged in the ninth minute when Lucy O’Brien broke through but shot wide of the advancing Anna Welch. Two minutes later O’Brien dribbled through three close defenders and shot home from the edge of the box. The pressure was on and Lauren Fishman was providing excellent cover in the Telford defence where Mia Cole was also in outstanding form. However, a good throw in from Alice Claridge found Zoe Barratt who was able to find the net from close range. Telford fought back and a well struck effort from Sophie Bramford was only thwarted by the alert St Ivo custodian, Sophie Marjoram. In the final minute of the half Elle Jefferson put a dangerous ball into the Telford penalty area which was directed against the post by the unfortunate Zoe Barratt. The second half was again firmly contested but O’Brien was again able to calm the St Ivo nerves by sprinting clear to add another to her tally in the 35th minute. Indeed, O’Brien proved to be the nemesis of TT surviving some robust challenges to cause chaos amongst the defenders and she completed a captivating performance with her final goal, beating two defenders with some deft footwork and then giving ‘keeper Welch no chance from 15 yards.

Ysgol Dyffryn Aman and Ursuline College completed the tournament activities with a compelling nine a side game. Both sides were experiencing difficulty in getting a foothold in proceedings as dense fog hung over Lilleshall. The Sligo girls went into the half time interval scoreless with Aoife McLaughlin smashing the woodwork and Sophie McGoldrick shooting wide in the first thirty. However the shooting boots were secured in the second period with Helen Monaghan grabbing the opener just after the restart following a brilliant through ball from Cathy Harrison. Sophie McGoldrick netted soon after as McLaughlin turned supplier this time for Sligo’s second of the day. Helen Monaghan then fed McGoldrick in for goal number three. While the magical Monaghan then converted from close range to take the tally to 4-0. Monaghan was on a hat-trick to make it 5-0 with ten minutes remaining. Not to be outdone Sophie McGoldrick scored late on to bring the scoreline to 6-0 for her hat-trick. Double celebrations for the Sligo school as they cruised to victory. The Welsh side went down fighting as they set up a delightful set piece to blast the ball into the top corner, 6-1. A spirited performance from Ysgol Dyffryn Aman to end the series.

 

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