U16 Boys faced New Salamis at home, a team of giants and speedsters that have only really lost this season against the very best teams. They needed all three points to maintain an outside chance of the title but, faced a Wood side in top form and in awe of no one, having ended New Salamis’ title hopes last season with an excellent away win in the penultimate game.
The Wood started slowly with the midfield sluggish and the opposition finding repeated success down the left flank in particular. A series of corners from this side ended with them taking a lead and the Wood’s defence of the high ball just wasn’t sharp enough.
However, the boys responded immediately and after excellent work from the impressive Silva, the equally in-form Fan was given a yard of space, firing the ball home unerringly for his 12th goal of what is fast developing into a very good season indeed. Hones dropped to centre back with Zefi and Makamian entering the fray to great effect in holding and left midfield. The changes stabilised that wing and the Wood surged forward.
The tricky Da Silva roasted his defender and squared perfectly for Fan to fire narrowly over. Makamian was winning free kicks and his dead-ball delivery thereafter was on-point and two sweet crosses in succession should have resulted in more. Green continued his excellent streak, producing another really good performance on the right wing; very diligent in his defending and a constant threat going forward. Montgomery and Marshall came on to give tired legs a rest and put themselves about hard for their team.
At the back, Boshjaku was enjoying a pretty much perfect defensive display, dominant in the air and displaying decision making of the very highest order. Behind him, keeper Elboukhari was in top form too, pulling off a couple of saves that were breath-taking in their brilliance and vital in keeping the Wood level against an opponent that always carried threat.
With the score 1-1 at half time, the battle re-commenced second half and again the Wood were slow to start. Ifeacho grew into the game and threw himself around bravely to great effect, while Hones enjoyed a solid display and then raided forward to sting the keeper’s hands with a pile-driver from 25 yards. Captain Crucefix was maintaining his levels well and playing consistently in the centre as was Zefi, enjoying an effective game centrally too.
Manning re-joined the game in midfield and instantly won a crucial defensive header but, Salamis were to go ahead soon after, with credit going to their attacker who took advantage of a strange bounce to fire home for 1-2. However, the Wood were not done, the Wood are never done. Pop announced his arrival with an utterly humongous slide tackle against a guy twice his size while McGuinness switched seamlessly to striker and produced a stunning drive that was well saved by the away keeper. From the resulting corner, the irrepressible ‘O Carteiro’ slammed in the perfect left foot delivery, the keeper helpless to stop it as it flew into the top corner; Silva the Postman delivered again, his 24th goal of a sensational season!
More chances came and went at both ends in a compulsive game of attack, with MoM Elboukhari somehow diverting an away howitzer on to the crossbar for a corner, but, the Wood came closest with the last kicks of the game. Pop and McGuinness were so tight to the away defender they almost morphed into him; he spilled possession and the relentless Fan piled in and secured the loose ball. His first shot was saved superbly as was the rebound and the final whistle blew shortly after.
This was an excellent point against a very tall, physically powerful and fast side. The Wood move up the table, came back twice to do so and showed a lot of character, perhaps unlucky not to seize all three points in the end? Most of all though, the boys’ mission to end the season unbeaten remains very much alive and they go into next week’s massive Challenge Cup semi-final in top form, primed and ready to make history!
+
From the very first whistle, there were no signs of cup nerves—just fire in their eyes. Led out by their inspirational captain Juniper, the team stood tall, ready for battle. And it didn’t take long for the action to kick off! Elsie, playing with the energy of ten players, made an instant impact with a surging solo run that had the crowd on their feet. A shot just wide, but it was a warning shot that said 'we mean business'.
Holding the backline like a seasoned general, Gracie was calm, composed, and commanding, clearing everything Croxley dared to send her way. In the middle of the park, there was magic in the air as Borehamwood's link-up play sliced through the Croxley defence. Daisy, always in the right place at the right time, rattled the crossbar with a thunderous shot that had the crowd gasping.
Though Borehamwood dominated possession, Croxley Green were no pushovers, and it took grit and steel to keep them at bay. Step forward Sienna, whose brave header sent the ball back into Croxley territory, while Juniper, dazzling on the wing, danced past defenders with silky footwork.
Quarter 2 saw Ruby enter the fray and what an introduction! The flair, the finesse—Maradona himself would’ve been on his feet. Elsie continued to unleash rockets from distance, one of which set up Ruby beautifully, only for a brave Croxley keeper to deny the goal. Polly, a revelation in defence, produced a run Messi would applaud, while Anisia, calm under pressure, snuffed out every threat like a seasoned pro.
Then came the moment. The crowd hushed. A corner from Juniper, curled in beautifully, met by the ever-present Elsie, who coolly slotted home the first goal of the game. Pandemonium in the stands. The Wood Army erupted. And the girls? They wanted more.
Quarter 3 was electric. Borehamwood were buzzing. Elsie and Ruby were linking up like they'd played together for a decade, causing all sorts of chaos. Olivia a brick wall in goal pulled off a world-class save to keep the scoreline safe. Polly, relentless, muscled through and delivered a pinpoint ball to Daisy, who raced down the wing and floated in a dream of a cross. Elsie was there again—Goal No. 2. The ground shook with cheers.
Quarter 4? Still full-throttle. Daisy, unleashing Beckham-esque crosses. Juniper, now in defence, tackling with everything she had, then driving forward to set up Ruby for Goal No. 4. Olivia capped her day with another vital save, while every girl pushed to the final whistle with unwavering determination.
The final score may not reflect the full picture—but make no mistake, this was a performance to remember. Every single player wore their shirt with pride. They played for each other. They fought for every ball. And they showed what it means to be a team.
Today’s game wasn’t just about goals, it was about character. It was about rising to the occasion. And it was about 9 young girls showing a crowd of proud supporters what true passion and teamwork looks like. A match report can't do justice for how well these girls performed.
_
U14 Girls completed their season today with a tough last game at home vs champions elect and cup finalists Bedwell Dragons. The teams had already played twice this season with Bedwell winning both games by the odd goal: 3-2 and 4-3.
Bedwell has a very good squad with a very talented core to their team: with an excellent CB, a very good midfielder in No 15, and probably the most complete striker in the league in their No9. However, Bedwell’s No9 was our main issue as she alone has scored 10 goals against us this season; collectively we couldn’t find a way of stopping her rare mix of skill, pace and fantastic finishing ability. We had tried 4-3-3 overloading the Bedwell defence and that game we probably should have won but lost 3-2. We then tried 3-5-2 with an extra man up front but we lost 4-3. So today we tried something new with our normal 4-5-1 formation but going man for man against the excellent No9. A tough job for a very particular player and the the only player in our ranks with the correct physical attributes of pace, tenacity, strength and defensive awareness was Isabella.
‘Today we must get something’ was the message around the group! We started very well as per usual and looked a yard quicker across the park than Bedwell. The game was going our way but could we keep the Reds out? Well, if G9 and Aandinho were to have anything to do with it, it was going to be a ‘yes’! Aanya, our silly skilled schemer who splits defences with precision passes like De Bruyne found G9 who raced onto the through ball to score a fantastic low finish into the corner for 1-0 Wood.
No sooner done and the same two players were at it again; 2-0 the Wood, and complete domination of a very, very good Bedwell side at this point. Wave after wave of attacks and we should have been out of site: Karadonna shot and should have scored from inside the box, Lolnaldo had the chance of a snap shop on her favourite left but came back to her right and the chance fizzled out.
Skipper Annie was patrolling the 18 yd box looking for any half chances to let a long range effort fly. Elsinho was dancing down her wing and the back 5 looked as solid as the Great Wall of China today! Yvie , Theaya and Skippy were superb and had loads of time to play and fill in because of Isabella taking the Bedwell danger woman out of the picture. It can’t be highlighted enough what a sterling job Isabella did for the team today, limiting the No9 to maybe one shot at goal all day. With their best player subdued, Bedwell couldn’t find another way to unlock our back door.
Hazel and Poppy came into the fray and both brought energy and drive. Pops got a couple of shots on goal and Hazel brought her superb power running and energy to the team, turning provider for G9’s hat trick with a great first time pass behind the back four and releasing Gabby to wreak havoc in the away defence. 3-0 the Wood and only 32 mins gone.
With half time fast approaching the girls switched off and gave up the only chance Bedwell had in the first half and this very good side didn’t need asking twice and slotted home to make it a different game at HT: 3-1.
The second half should have been a formality down the hill but we conspired to make it hard for ourselves. Granted, the wind seemed to change and pen us in a little at 3-1 but the girls held out and kept the danger player quiet!
We didn’t have to wait to long for our fourth of the day made and finished by Hazel’s hustle; chasing down and harrying the defence, she stole the ball in the box and was tripped from behind. Hazel stepped up and smashed the pen into the corner of the net for 4-1 Wood.
The crowd was going wild now as we’d been hurt in the previous two games vs Bedwell, with such close games going their way, today felt like justice. Bedwell were able to nick a second on 68 mins when we had just switched off again and stopped playing football. Today’s POM was the magnificent Aanya and a special mention to Isabella who’s destructive work set the platform for the team to play.