Futures Cup Day One Roundup

Saxon Tigers’ U15 Girls took victory in their opening match with an accomplished performance over Celtic Jaguars’ U16 Girls side.

Camilla Giglio claimed the first goal of the match before Monica Watkins’ clever lofted finish doubled the lead with just over twenty minutes on the clock.

In what was a ruthless first half, Saxon Tigers already held a commanding 3-0 lead after Amie Hunt also got in on the act.

Hunt would have a brace shortly after the interval as the Tigers showed their class with yet more brilliant attacking play.

Though the side already held a 4-0 advantage, the result would be put beyond doubt when Katy Furber and Sophie Watts scored within a minute of each other as the Tigers triumphed 6-0.

Similarly to the Girls match on Pitch A, Saxon Tigers U15 Boys took a well earned 6-1 victory over a spirited Celtic Jaguars side.

It didn’t take long for Saxon Tigers to make the breakthrough and assert themselves on the score board, Sam Carleton recording the first goal of 2021’s Futures Cup to make it 1-0.

There wasn’t much to separate the sides through the remainder of the half with Oliver Sawtell’s effort the only further score as the Tigers went into the break with a two-goal lead.

That advantage was quickly trimmed after the restart as Finn Browne looked to get the Jaguars back into the game.

Their momentum was dashed just minutes later as Wilf Stockhuyzen restored the Tigers’ two goal cushion and put the team firmly in the ascendancy.

There was no stopping Saxon Tigers from there. James O’Malley-Kumar, Ben Hanson and Charlie Cook all found the scoresheet to ensure the side would emerge with an emphatic 6-1 victory.

Saxon Tigers claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wessex Leopards in their U17 Girls Pool A match.

Wessex Leopards took an early lead through Kea Murray who found the back of the net with just five minutes on the clock.

The Leopards looked electric going forward and were enjoying the bulk of possession through the first half, but resilient defending and superb goalkeeping kept the scores close and the Saxon Tigers well within the game.

Things started to change come the second half as the Tigers looked to respond to the early onslaught they’d received and got on the front foot.

Having soaked up pressure early in the game, the match took a sudden turn in the final ten minutes as Issy Baileff and Sophie Griffith’s quickfire double gave the Saxon Tigers a late advantage to take a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Saxon Tigers made it four wins from four games on the opening day of 2021’s Futures Cup as the U17s Boys defeated Celtic Jaguars 7-0.

It was a hotly contested opening quarter in which both sides largely matched each other as chances continued to fall but not be converted.

As the game progressed, Saxon Tigers continued to grow in stature and grabbed a two-goal lead heading into the half-time break through Josh Barrott and Casper Beyer.

The team continued on the offensive come the second half and extended the lead through Tom Spreckley five minutes after the restart.

It would be a clinical showing from the Tigers as Barrott got his second of the match before Archie Crowley added another just three minutes later as the team made it five going into the final quarter.

Further gloss would be added to the scoreline as goals from Luke Holland and Liam Sillis would seal a comprehensive 7-0 victory for Saxon Tigers.

Mercia Lynx claimed a narrow 4-3 victory over Wessex Leopards in the Girls U15s Pool B match in what a closely fought encounter.

Caitlin Thompson had given Wessex Leopards the lead with just over five minutes of play, but Martha Goodridge ensured Mercia Lynx wouldn’t be behind for long as her strike restored parity.

The Leopards responded well to the equaliser and got back on the front foot, their efforts being rewarded with two goals in quick succession courtesy of Emily Jury and Amy Cornfield to earn a 3-1 lead.

Again, Mercia Lynx responded well to the adversity and battled their way back into the game, Beth Phillips’ goal just before half time breathing life back into the team.

Phillips would have her second of the match less than five minutes after the restart to bring the scores level again at 3-3 in what had been a remarkable battle.

The Lynx’s comeback was completed in dramatic fashion as Leila Scott’s finish just over five minutes from time gave the team a 4-3 victory.

Having seen their U15 Girls side lose on Pitch A to the same opponent, Wessex Leopards would get revenge in the U15 Boys competition as the side triumphed 3-2 over Mercia Lynx.

Toby Day, who looked lethal in front of goal through the game, fired Wessex Leopards into the lead with less than ten minutes on the clock as his side took the early impetus.

Ten minutes later, Ollie Brannen hit back for the Lynx’s to restore parity and keep the contest close.

The sides continued to battle and matched each other for large parts as the scores couldn’t be altered heading into half-time.

Just one minute after the restart things changed as Day struck his second of the match to restore the Leopards’ lead.

Twenty minutes later and Day’s hattrick was completed with another fine finish, though that strike wouldn’t make it a comfortable finish as Casper Lea responded just one minute later to set up a tense conclusion to the game.

Though Mercia Lynx pushed to find an equaliser, they couldn’t find a way through a resilient defence as the Leopards took a 3-2 win.

Having witnessed three Celtic Jaguars defeats earlier in the day, the U17s Girls made up for those losses with a composed 3-1 win over Mercia Lynx.

In an end-to-end game, both sides were well within the match throughout the early exchanges.

The balanced nature of the game was swayed when Ava Dempsey put Celtic Jaguars ahead just before the end of the opening quarter with a good finish.

Having gone behind, Mercia Lynx looked to fight their way back into the game but were met by a stubborn defence which saw the score locked at 1-0 going into half-time.

Dempsey bagged her second goal of the game just over five minutes into the third quarter as the team looked to consolidate their advantage.

Violet O’Neill’s strike looked to have set up a tense conclusion to the match, but any fears of a late comeback were quickly dismissed as Alana Hamilton-Tombs’ effort just two minutes later ensured the Jaguars would take a 3-1 win.

In the final match of the day, Mercia Lynx bagged a hard-earned 3-2 victory over Wessex Leopards in Pool B of the Boys U17s competition.

Ben Taylor had given Wessex Leopards the lead two minutes before the end of the opening quarter only to see that lead dashed just a couple of minutes after the restart thanks to George Fletcher.

It got worse for the Leopards who then conceded two further goals as Fletcher got his second before Satvir Sahota also got in on the act as Mercia Lynx stormed to a 3-1 lead heading into the final quarter.

There wouldn’t be a routine finish to the match as Dan Hunt struck with little over ten minutes remaining to set up a nervy conclusion to the match.

Though the scores were firmly in the balance, Mercia Lynx held on to take away a 3-2 win in what was another hotly contested battle.