Match Report NMJFC U10 Girls vs Macclesfield Town Ladies U10s - 12/04/2025

It was a beautiful sunny day for football, but with the holiday season in full swing, we were down to just seven girls. That meant a tough 7-a-side match with no substitutes - our girls knew they were in for a hard, long, and tricky game, but they rose to the challenge with spirit and determination.

Emily started in goal and had an excellent game, pulling off some fantastic saves. She was calm under pressure, distributing the ball well and working confidently with her defenders, Annabella and Poppy, to keep a clean sheet. The defence was rock solid, with Annabella on the right and Poppy on the left. The two teamed up brilliantly - Poppy pushed forward when needed, while Annabella held back, reading the game intelligently. Annabella was composed and tireless, constantly chasing, hounding the ball, and getting stuck into tackles. Poppy showed great awareness, using drag-backs to create space and playing the ball cleverly down the left. She even got a shot off from a well-taken corner and at one point, intercepted the ball from Millie before threading a beautiful through ball to Paige down the centre.

In midfield, Seren played on the left, Jessica in the middle, and Millie on the right, although Millie often swapped wings to keep the opposition guessing. Millie impressed with her driving runs and aggressive tackling, reaching the byline twice and delivering dangerous balls into the box. Jessica worked tirelessly in the centre of the pitch, getting stuck into tackles, finding passes, and even making a run down the left herself.

Seren was a force on the left, tracking back to support the defence, linking up in the middle, and making several confident runs. Up front, Paige as always, held her position well, creating a few solid chances and putting pressure on the defenders. The only goal of the first half came from a well-worked move, with Poppy collecting the ball and playing a neat pass to Seren, who struck it sweetly into the back of the net - a fantastic finish and a deserved reward for all the team’s hard work in the opening half.

In the second half, Jessica took over in goal and did well despite being blinded by the sun - until being lent a cap! She showed real bravery, staying in position and continuing to play despite taking some powerful shots to the chest and face.

Seren and Millie dropped into defence and quickly got stuck in, making crucial tackles and driving the ball forward. Annabella and Poppy moved into wider positions, continuing their excellent partnership, with Poppy once again making strong attacking runs, and Annabella making strong tackles. Emily slotted into the middle, making several clever runs all the way from the back up to the opposition’s goal, showing great skill and awareness. Paige remained a strong presence up front, putting in heavy tackles and even hitting the post as she tried to extend the lead.

Every single girl gave everything they had today, and the whole team deserves praise for their performance.

Player of the Week went to Seren, who impressed everyone with her skill, energy, and determination - topping it all off with a beautifully taken goal. Well done Seren and well done girls!

⚽️🖤💛⚽️

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