Last week saw the start of football fixtures for the Spring Term. Despite lots of weekend matches being cancelled due to frozen pitches, the U14s played well in their afternoon fixture against Wellington College. The girls' also performed admirably in their inaugural fixture against Leighton Park. In the days before we officially started back at school following the Christmas break, the senior boys' football A and B teams visited home of England training St George's Park.
Football
Football Tour to St George's Park
Two Mondays ago, we started our pre-season football tour, with a two-hour bus trip up to St George's Park, which is the training ground for the England team. We had a tour around all the facilities, including the hydrotherapy pools, the indoor football pitches and the gym.
We started training quickly after that, and trained on what we were told is the best indoor 4G pitch in the world - the same pitch that many premier league players had used weeks before.
On day two, we trained and prepared ourselves for the game later that day, against Loughborough Grammar School. Within our preparations we used the hydrotherapy pools and the underwater treadmill.
The 1st team game didn't start as well as we’d hoped for, conceding two goals in the opening 10 minutes. However, after the first 10 minutes we gained control of the match, and were starting to show we were the better side. In the second half ,we started how we had finished the first, dominant all over the pitch and we scored a goal, through a long range effort by O Stalder. However unfortunately despite our constant pressure we couldn't find another goal and the game finished 2-1.
The 2nd team game started brightly. However, against the run of play Loughborough scored and by half time Shiplake were 3-0 down. Shiplake again controlled the game in the second half and their efforts paid off when Z Wilson scored. However again against the run of play, Loughborough scored another two goals ending the game as a 5-1 loss.
This tour has set us up in the best possible way for the season, and on behalf of the 1st and 2nd squad, I would like to extend my thanks to all the teachers, who came on the trip, and especially Mr Geyton for organising it.
Report by T Carpenter, Captain of Football
Girls v Leighton Park
On Wednesday 12 January, the Shiplake girls had their first ever football fixture against Leighton Park and what a fixture it was! It was a shock when the girls found out that the game (which was originally supposed to be on an astro pitch) had been moved to grass!
Nevertheless, with no football boots and rather slippy trainers, the girls played their best even if they couldn't run without falling over! S Di Cuffa was awarded player of the match as she made some great tackles and even got some headers! The score ended at 4-0 to Leighton Park but our defence from C Garnett, C Bradbury, I Wood, I Hepburn and E O'Shea was outstanding and only letting in four goals was a great result. G McKie-King was a fantastic goalie and was not afraid to make some dives and get covered in mud.
When we did manage to get the ball down the pitch, our midfield which consisted of E Browne, S Di Cuffa, M Adams, M Fisher and M Short were great at kicking with all their power to help get through to the goal. E Lambert and E Young did manage to get a few strikes on target which were saved by the Leighton Park goalkeeper. All the girls came off the pitch with a huge smile on their face and had an amazing time playing. The girls send their thanks to Mr Cooper who has taken on coaching them but also was the referee for their game.
Report by E Lambert
U14As and Bs
All bar two fixtures were cancelled on Saturday but the Year 9s had an A and B match against Wellington College on Saturday afternoon.
On the scoreboard, the Bs had a tricky afternoon but we are so proud of the way that they kept going and stayed positive. The As had a great match, it was 3 all at half time but with Wellington having had more practice and time together as a team they finished the stronger side scoring 3 late goals – but it augurs well for the season.
.JPG/U12FootballSq(1)__500x500.JPG&command_2=resize&height_2=85 "HM's Team of the Term, Spring 2023")
