Finally the sun allows play

Saturday  8 March  2014

Droitwich Spa 0 v 4 Wyre Forest Phoenix

The Under 9 Raiders were away to Droitwich Spa and made their intent known from the start. A good composed start combined with long spells of pressure ensured that Droitwich Spa were not given a sniff of the Wyre Forest Phoenix goal. The first goal came when a great defensive clearance from the debutant Isabelle Gibbons fell kindly to the feet of Rosie Lawley. After some nicely weighted passing with Caitlin Stanton, Rosie, under pressure from the Droitwich defence, found a gap to drive home a well placed goal into the bottom corner of the net. Phoenix's confidence grew and continued to play a very nice passing and moving game, but they had to wait until just before the break to double their lead. After a long throw in by Caitlin reached who dropped her shoulder and turned inside the defender for our second goal.
Phoenix kicked off the second half with the same intense pressure. A great defensive partnership between Tegan Wills and Isabelle Gibbons ensured that once again that Droitwich were finding the Wyre Forest Phoenix goal hard to find. The third goal came again from defence and Rosie received the pass to outwit the Droitwich goalkeeper and hammer home for a third. The Forth goal followed a good run from Tegan back in defence forced a corner.  Abi Reeves hammered the corner across the face of the Droitwich and quick thinking from Lily Williams allowed Rosie through on goal to score her fourth goal of the game. Droitwich found a second wind and began placing the Wyre Forest Phoenix Defence under pressure, but  quick reactions from Daisy Jenkins allowed Phoenix their first clean sheet of the season. Final Score 0-4. Goals : Rosie Lawley (4)

Wyre Forest Phoenix  H v W Evesham United

The Under 12's should have played away at Evesham this weekend but a phone call late on Friday saw the opposition without a team. The league have awarded the game as a home with for Phoenix to take the full 3 points.

Wyre Forest Phoenix 2 v 2 WVFC Wild Kittens

The Under 13  met the Wild Kittens for the first time this season, their first game for 8 weeks due to the fixture list and the weather!
The game got off to a great start and despite not being challenged for some weeks Phoenix equalled the Wild Kittens, right up to the 21st minute when the Wild Kittens finally found the back of the net.  The Flyers battled on and it was only a matter of time before Lucy McLatchy went up the middle and with a great shot on target levelled the game.  A minute later Sydney Harris drew out the goalie and the defender who piled her, could not stop Abbi Lawson calmly collecting it and knocking it in to the back of the net. Unfortunately Sydney was injured in this and missed the rest of the half.
The Flyers were in control in the second half until a mistake after 9 minutes allowed the Wild Kittens to level the score (2-2).  The Flyers tried to take control and played great football, and the Wild Kittens got rattled. It was probably just the lack of game play that stopped the Flyers taking the victory and instead having to settle for the draw. Final score 2-2. Goals : Abigail Lawson (1), Lucy McLatchy (1)

Withymore Colts 2 v 0 Wyre Forest Phoenix

The Under 14  travelled to Withymore Colts but lost in their first game for many weeks.

Wordesley Wasps 2 v 0 Wyre Forest Phoenix

In one of their best performances of the season, the Under 17 suffered a slender defeat against Wordsley in the cup after some dominant possession and fighting play. Final score 0-2.
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Sunday 09 March 2014

Hereford and Worcester Girls and Women's County League
Wyre Forest Phoenix 1 (1) v Bartestree Ladies 3 (2)

Today saw the WFP Ladies County team had a positive attitude on a wonderful sunny afternoon and although we were on the wrong end of this result we played some great stuff . Our play saw us battle hard in midfield, we attacked and defended well, so a true team performance today . We scored first with a great goal from Melissa Knott, which she dedicated to Troy Greenfield, a childhood friend who passed away last week. Then a calamity of minor errors were our downfall, we conceded a corner when a deflection sent it into the net 1-1. Our keeper Jodie Fox injured her knee and to be replaced by our other keeper Charleigh Lowe who was comfortable, until out of the blue a hopeful ball over the top was in her grasp when she slipped, the ball  fell loose to the striker who had a soft tap in. Halftime score 1-2. We came out and fighting in the second half and we should have scored a couple more goals but were denied by their keeper who was on fire. The Ref denied us two pushes in the box when no penalty was awarded . Against the run of play we conceded the third goal from a quick throw which we didn't defend and the ball was crossed to the far post and the oncoming player stroked it into the net score now 1-3. We continued to fight and a thunderous shot from Mel hit the bar but  could not get past the keeper into the net. Final score 1-3. Upon reflection this was a committed team effort today, which we have been lacking in recent weeks, but the overall result was a good one as we lost to this team 10-2 earlier in the season so a fantastic improvement .there Next week at home to top of the table Droitwich, another hard game.

West Midlands Regional Women's League
Wyre Forest Phoenix 3 (0) v Solihull Reserves 0 (0)

WFP Ladies got their second win in a row and kept a clean sheet in the process as they entertained Solihull Ladies Reserves on a bright sunny day, for a change.
Both teams had the opportunities in the first half to strike first, but failed to hit the back of the net with Keeper Tracy Evans pulling off some fine saves, and striking partnership Chelsea Mudge and Kirsty Jones getting frustrated with their missed opportunities. Kirsty did score a goal only for the official to rule it offside. So 0-0 at the half time break.
The second half was much the same with the exception that this time WFP Ladies put their chances away. Kirsty Jones opened the score sheet with a fantastic corner shot that seemed to bend in and go in at the top right hand corner. A few minutes later and she set up the second when she rounded three defenders in the penalty area then laid the ball into the 6yd box for a simple tap in by Vicky Hyde. The visitors were still pushing to get something out of the game and some excellent defending from the back four denied them any chance, especially player of the match, Molly Maguire who had to cover the right back position due to injuries. Kirsty Jones reacted to a weak goal kick off the visitors to see her shot rebound off the cross bar and cleared. The final goal came from super sub Mel Zaffino who is getting her match fitness back as more games go on, when she beat her defender and placed her shot into the bottom right of the goal. A well deserved goal. Final score 3-0. Goals : Kirsty Jones (1), Melissa Zaffino (1). Vicky Hyde (1).