Last Sunday saw the Crostyx U14 Girls take on local rivals Old Loughtonians ahead of a repeat clash and a Crostyx Ladies two fixture between the clubs this coming weekend. A definite flavour of spring was threatening in the air as both squads assembled at Lee Valley along with strong support for both teams as would be expected at a local derby.

Squad: Courtney Ferns, Anika Mayor(GK), Helene Standring, Siena Crossley, Lara Chick, Jessie Brown, Demi Evarschi, Ruby James (VC), Clemmy Day-Fawcett, Phoebe Petyt, Emily Manning, Jasmine Wadsworth, Clara Johnson and Lucy Leel(C).

With Old Loughts playing away in Orange bibs, pushback saw both sides settle slowly into a pattern, as half term holiday memories were pushed to one side. With positive coaching from both dugouts throughout, it was Crostyx who were the first to take the initiative through a Lucy Leel adventure on the edge of the D creating space for herself to finish a reverse strike through a crowded D to the backboard.

From the restart Loughts pressed hard but were thwarted by the defensive wall constructed by Ruby James with Siena Crossley, Courtney Ferns and Clara Johnson. Old Loughts however were not without sparkle and demonstrated some strong midfield interception play and possession, but their forward ball often ran out of play begging. A second goal fell to Leel after a string of short corners were well defended by OL but with tackling errors resetting the opportunity for the Purple girls. However Loughts proved to be tenacious and strong interlocking play before half time got them back into the game : 2-1 at half time.

As half-time team talks go this one was an Alex Ferguson style haircurler from Coach Neil Colton designed to wake the girls up from their slumbers (even the goalpost blushed).

A different Crostyx took to the pitch on the restart. Passes started flowing and the midfield started to exploit the blistering pace of Demi Evarschi on the wing. Evarschi got on the end of impossible passes again and again, fighting everytime when a Loughts player took a shine to the ball. Determination won through with her tenacity leading to a solo effort into the D with a clinical finish to put the girls 3 up. But Loughts heads were not going down, and a fightback saw the away team pull back another goal on Styx to keep in contention at 3-2.

Then from nothing , Evarschi hooked a ball out of OL possession and passed two defenders, slipping a cheeky pass off to Helene Standring, as always composed on goal, to shoot home for the purples. Further intense pressure from Styx led to more unconverted short corners, until defence captain Ruby James was called up to upset the balance, and duly smashed a Leel drag flick rebound home in her first goal since her star debut as an under 12 signing. 5-2

Old Loughts kept their heads up and at the restart pushed higher and through impressive pinpoint passing clawed back another (5 - 3). Neither side was admitting defeat and a phase of midfield battle saw neither side move territory until another Evarschi run saw a short corner corner won. Leel converted to close the game at 6-3.

The girls take on Old Loughts again at Loughborough Lane (Sunday 11.30) next weekend.

Thank you to umpires Paul Bewers and Alfie Tedder.