*****U14 CUP FINAL MATCH REPORT*****

Wargrave Warriors vs Finchampstead Fire

The last few weeks had been gearing up to this showpiece event - the U14 Cup Final

Having fallen just short in the County Cup with a heartbreaking last gasp semi final defeat at the hands of Woodley we’d made it to this final and were hell bent on making the most of our chance to finish the season with a ?.

The girls had prepped well with a strong performance last weekend to see off as fate would decree the same team!

Where that was a potential banana skin it actually galvanised our girls’ belief that they could do it again.

We set up our formation to match last weekend. We knew it worked but we were also mindful that this is what they were expecting.

Nonetheless we felt that 3 in midfield to start the game would provide a layer of security against a strong and physical side to help us set up a good foundation.

The first half played out quite evenly, we were the better side and created more chances that we should have made more of but in warm conditions it was crucial to get a decent foothold in the game and not concede an early goal.

Isla, Lucy G and Lucy B took a stranglehold of the midfield and both Poppy and Lottie worked prodigiously both on and off the ball to take the game to Finch who couldn’t find any rhythm.

HT 0-0

Having settled into the game we felt we needed to inject some wing play to get in behind Finch so switched to a 4-4-2.

This put more pressure on Isla and Lucy G in midfield but gave us more attacking thrust with Poppy and Annabel on the wings with Belle & Lottie as a front 2.

Lottie in particular was full of running and unsettled their defence and this helped us to create a number of clear chances we really should have buried.
First Annabel missed from right in front of goal after great wing play on the left from Poppy and then Belle was sent clean through but couldn’t get her shot away and the goalie was able to save the rebound.

We have to be more clinical.

And yet whilst it was 0-0 and they were still in the game, Finch lacked imagination in the creative areas and our majestic defence dealt with what little danger was posed.

There was just one scare when Jemima missed her kick and the ball ran through but Blossom was alert. In fact her decision making all day was great.

We sent on the fresh legs of Holly and Celine to try and unlock them but just couldn’t get that decisive goal and the match went to the dreaded penalty shootout

Would our girls hold their nerve in a game we had definitely deserved to win.
Would our super goalie Blossom play the decisive role with some saves?

This is how it played out

Wargrave went first.

WG 1-0 Poppy ⚽️ hard past the keeper to the left
FF 1-0 Blossom save
WG 1-0 Belle’s saved
FF 1-1 - good pen. Blossom no chance
WG 2-1 Celine ⚽️ with a calm drilled finish bottom right
FF 2-1 Blossom save, then a retake and another Blossom save
WG 3-1 Lucy G ⚽️ into the bottom left hand corner
FF 3-2 good pen, Blossom no chance

And so it came down to Jemima as our 5th taker. Score and she’d seal it and damn, too close to the keeper who saved
WG 3-2

And so now if Finch score it goes to sudden death, if Blossom saves then Warriors win.

Up stepped their keeper. Blossom stood tall. Stared her out and…SAVE!

Absolute delirium as all our girls mobbed Blossom. We’d done it!

Wargrave Warriors- U14 CUP WINNERS 2026

Well that was tense. We had to do it the hard way. Where’s the drama in a regulation 2-0 win anyway.

Well done girls. We’re so utterly proud of you all. Everyone played their part to get us here and we end the season with a ?

You all deserve it.

And well done to my fellow Coaches. We held our nerve, made some great tactical moves and we helped them see it through.

????⚽️?