In a league away match held at Coundon Court School on 28th September 2024, SJB Juniors emerged victorious with a scoreline of 5-3 against Coundon Court U14 Girls. The match kicked off at 10:30 am and provided a feast of attacking football, with both teams displaying skill and determination throughout the encounter.
SJB Juniors lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, designed to provide solid defensive cover while allowing for fluid attacking transitions. Grace took her position in goal, while India and Summer Brown operated as right and left defenders respectively. Poppy and Tianna formed the central defensive partnership, offering a robust backbone to the team. The midfield was anchored by Pearl in a central role, flanked by Mya on the right and Maz and Ellie in more advanced positions. Eva Hart, initially on the left, was replaced early in the match but played a crucial role in the attacking dynamics before her substitution, with Freya Nicholson leading the line as the striker.
Substitutes for SJB Juniors included Layla, Daisy, Auraya, and Ruby, who were ready to make an impact from the bench as the match unfolded.
The match began with an explosive start for SJB Juniors, as Pearl found the back of the net in just the third minute, assisted brilliantly by Summer Brown. However, Coundon Court quickly levelled the scores in the seventh minute, demonstrating their resilience right from the onset.
In a tactical shuffle, Layla entered the fray for Eva Hart shortly after, ensuring SJB Juniors maintained their attacking threat. Eva Hart would soon make her mark again, scoring in the 20th minute, putting the Juniors 2-1 ahead. Further substitutions followed, with Daisy and Auraya replacing Pearl and Mya respectively in the 22nd minute, while Ruby was introduced for Layla a minute later.
As the match approached the half-time interval, Maz extended SJB Juniors' lead to 3-1, benefiting from a well-timed assist by Eva Hart in the 29th minute. The first half concluded with SJB Juniors in commanding form, leading 3-1.
The second half commenced with further changes for SJB Juniors, as Layla returned to replace Ruby in the 37th minute. Mya was also brought back into the action, coming on for Freya Nicholson in the 47th minute. Shortly after, Maz struck again in the 48th minute, scoring SJB Juniors' fourth goal with Ellie providing the assist.
Ellie herself got in on the scoring action in the 54th minute, putting SJB Juniors 5-1 ahead, showcasing their attacking prowess. However, Coundon Court were not done yet, scoring their second goal in the 57th minute and adding a third in the 66th minute, which made for a nervy ending as they closed the gap to 5-3.
Despite the late pressure from Coundon Court, SJB Juniors held firm to secure a vital victory, with Summer Brown deserving special mention for her influential performance throughout the match. The victory not only reflects the team's ability to score goals but also highlights the spirit and determination to defend their lead against a determined opponent.
