Our Diamonds girls won four trophies in an amazing season, and are planning to move up a year early to play 11-aside next term.
Having already done the BBDFL higher league and cup double, they completed the treble with victory in the Wigan Athletic under-12s Stanway tournament.
They managed it without conceding a single goal in regulation play.
Coach Mark said: "The girls kicked off the group games with a convincing 3-0 victory over Bury FC Shakers, just the start you want in tournament football.
"Match two saw the girls up against a small but technically proficient CN Sports. Diamonds running out 1-0 winners in what was to be their only test in the group stages.
"Match three was another comfortable performance where the coaches got a chance to tinker with positions, which resulted in us winning by just the solitary goal despite our dominance on the ball.
"Topping the group saw us progress to the Champions League in the knockout phases.
"In the semi-final we were matched against Timperley. In normal time I thought we were the better team but we couldn’t find the back of net and penalties ensued.
Having already done the BBDFL higher league and cup double, they completed the treble with victory in the Wigan Athletic under-12s Stanway tournament.
They managed it without conceding a single goal in regulation play.
Coach Mark said: "The girls kicked off the group games with a convincing 3-0 victory over Bury FC Shakers, just the start you want in tournament football.
"Match two saw the girls up against a small but technically proficient CN Sports. Diamonds running out 1-0 winners in what was to be their only test in the group stages.
"Match three was another comfortable performance where the coaches got a chance to tinker with positions, which resulted in us winning by just the solitary goal despite our dominance on the ball.
"Topping the group saw us progress to the Champions League in the knockout phases.
"In the semi-final we were matched against Timperley. In normal time I thought we were the better team but we couldn’t find the back of net and penalties ensued.
Diamonds converting all of theirs, with number one saving Timperley’s final spot kick.
"After years of heartache on penalties the Diamonds now have back to back shootout wins - long may it continue.
"The final saw Diamonds face Maghull, who had topped the other group. I thought we dominated the final but inexplicably couldn’t extend on our early goal. There were numerous goal mouth scrambles and somehow we didn’t get over the line but we managed to see the 1-0 result out even if though we deserved a higher margin of victory."
Radcliffe Plate
The girls then followed that up by winning the plate at the Radcliffe tournament - playing up a year.
Mark said: "While not at our very best, the girls still managed to come home with some silverware and again I saw nothing to worry us about moving up a year up next season.
"It was as much a battle against the elements and the tournament format today as anything else, with the girls playing back to back 30 minute matches then hanging around for close to 90 minutes before playing their final group game.
"Match 1 saw us facing Crompton Simbas who we dominated throughout and we walked away 2-0 winners.
"We then immediately played Aspull Lionesses which was to be a 0-0 stalemate, a draw being a fair result as our decision making wasn’t the best and we lacked a little composure on the ball, all of which was understandable given the conditions. Aspull were to go on and win the higher cup.
"Then came a lengthy wait before match three where we faced Radcliffe Ravens who were to avenge last week's loss with a 1-0 win, their goal being an absolute worldy and was the only thing that separated us.
"We ended up third in the group which saw us play for the plate, as we faced Brandon Bees.
"Bees couldn’t field a full 11 and we quickly raced into a 3-0 lead, and then they lost a couple of players to injury during the match, we switched positions up a little and took a couple of players off too.
"All credit to Bees whose heads never dropped.
"While we weren’t to walk away with the top cup this time we still only conceded one goal in two hours of football in a tournament an age group up and we walk away with another trophy for the cabinet."
First taste of 11-aside
Earlier in the month the girls played their first game at 11-aside in preparation for the big step up next season.
Mark said: "We faced last seasons BBDFL section B under-13s champions in an away friendly. Ravens won their title at a canter and were a level above everyone else in the division, so I went into the game with the mindset that if we could be competitive we’d have a chance at winning section B.
"The Diamonds being the Diamonds though, flipped the script, and apart from the opening few minutes, dominated the game and it wouldn’t have been unworthy to come away with a bigger scoreline.
"While I’m not going to get too carried away as Ravens had a few key players missing and we had a guest playing who was superb throughout, it makes sense to go Section A at under-14s next season.
"Radcliffes Astro is a beautiful pitch and is a ‘full size’ 11-aside pitch. To play like we did in only our second ever 11-aside match and first on a big 11s was a joy. There were times in the second half when we pretty much had every player in the final 3rd of the pitch, the way we were on the front foot.
"Goals came from Erin and Imo, with Nyla getting player of the game."
New players needed
The team are looking for medium-high ability players to try out for the squad ahead of next season. Girls need to be in Year 8 from September. Contact Mark on: 07739 431966 for details.
"After years of heartache on penalties the Diamonds now have back to back shootout wins - long may it continue.
"The final saw Diamonds face Maghull, who had topped the other group. I thought we dominated the final but inexplicably couldn’t extend on our early goal. There were numerous goal mouth scrambles and somehow we didn’t get over the line but we managed to see the 1-0 result out even if though we deserved a higher margin of victory."
Radcliffe Plate
The girls then followed that up by winning the plate at the Radcliffe tournament - playing up a year.
Mark said: "While not at our very best, the girls still managed to come home with some silverware and again I saw nothing to worry us about moving up a year up next season.
"It was as much a battle against the elements and the tournament format today as anything else, with the girls playing back to back 30 minute matches then hanging around for close to 90 minutes before playing their final group game.
"Match 1 saw us facing Crompton Simbas who we dominated throughout and we walked away 2-0 winners.
"We then immediately played Aspull Lionesses which was to be a 0-0 stalemate, a draw being a fair result as our decision making wasn’t the best and we lacked a little composure on the ball, all of which was understandable given the conditions. Aspull were to go on and win the higher cup.
"Then came a lengthy wait before match three where we faced Radcliffe Ravens who were to avenge last week's loss with a 1-0 win, their goal being an absolute worldy and was the only thing that separated us.
"We ended up third in the group which saw us play for the plate, as we faced Brandon Bees.
"Bees couldn’t field a full 11 and we quickly raced into a 3-0 lead, and then they lost a couple of players to injury during the match, we switched positions up a little and took a couple of players off too.
"All credit to Bees whose heads never dropped.
"While we weren’t to walk away with the top cup this time we still only conceded one goal in two hours of football in a tournament an age group up and we walk away with another trophy for the cabinet."
First taste of 11-aside
Earlier in the month the girls played their first game at 11-aside in preparation for the big step up next season.
Mark said: "We faced last seasons BBDFL section B under-13s champions in an away friendly. Ravens won their title at a canter and were a level above everyone else in the division, so I went into the game with the mindset that if we could be competitive we’d have a chance at winning section B.
"The Diamonds being the Diamonds though, flipped the script, and apart from the opening few minutes, dominated the game and it wouldn’t have been unworthy to come away with a bigger scoreline.
"While I’m not going to get too carried away as Ravens had a few key players missing and we had a guest playing who was superb throughout, it makes sense to go Section A at under-14s next season.
"Radcliffes Astro is a beautiful pitch and is a ‘full size’ 11-aside pitch. To play like we did in only our second ever 11-aside match and first on a big 11s was a joy. There were times in the second half when we pretty much had every player in the final 3rd of the pitch, the way we were on the front foot.
"Goals came from Erin and Imo, with Nyla getting player of the game."
New players needed
The team are looking for medium-high ability players to try out for the squad ahead of next season. Girls need to be in Year 8 from September. Contact Mark on: 07739 431966 for details.
