Yardley's Cup, Yardley's Double!

Following school closures earlier in the day, the Girls 6-a-side tournament began with nine schools divided into two groups and the games kicked off in glorious sunshine on Wednesday evening.

Defending champions, Short Heath, were unable to attend due to school residential, but reigning league champions, Yardley were and they lived up to their favourites billing by securing the trophy thus completing the girls double.

Group A saw Yardley, Paget, Rosary, Lea Forest and Parkfield lock horns and it was no surprise to see Yardley topping the group with twelve points from their four games. The Youths netted sixteen times without reply in along the way. Rosary’s seven points, gained from two wins and a draw, saw them, more surprisingly, take runners-up spot. Paget, courtesy of a win and two draws finished third, whilst Parkfield – celebrating a first win of the season – claimed fourth spot and a quarter-final berth. Lea Forest’s girls fought gallantly but unfortunately, they were the team to miss out on the last eight.

In Group B, St Bernadette’s were clear winners but it was tight for second and third. Harper Bell’s gift of a goal to Abbey meant that they would finish third a point behind St Barnabas in second place. Abbey, despite finishing bottom of their group, still made the quarter finals due to them having a better record over the group than Lea Forest did in theirs.

The quarter finals saw the Youths up against Harper Bell and the league champions were given an almighty scare by Bell’s lively and courageous girls but Yardley just did enough to get over the line with a 1-0 victory. St Bernadette’s had a more comfortable cruise, defeating Parkfield 6-0. Abbey defeated a rather flat and tired Rosary, 2-0 and that was also the margin of victory for Paget over St Barnabas.

And to the semi-finals. Paget stood in the way of Yardley’s chase for the girls ‘double’ of league and cup and put up a battling performance but the Youths were just too strong for them and, though they left it late, ran out 2-0 winners. Meanwhile, St Bernadette’s were taking on Abbey side who suddenly found themselves in a semi-final but Bernie’s were dominant throughout and eased to a 2-0 win and a final date against Yardley.

The Final

Yardley 2 – 0 St Bernadette’s

Yardley began on the front foot and a couple of early strikes saw Bernie’s ‘keeper have to make two, relatively comfortable, saves. The Youths continued to press for an opening goal but were also wary of Bernie’s swift counter attacks. However, Youths nerves were settled midway through the game when a free-kick following a hand-ball, flew into the top corner of the net. Bernie’s went in search of an equaliser and almost had one but for a fine point-blank stop by the Youths goalie. And shortly after that, Yardley sealed victory with a second goal slotted in from close-range. The Youths celebrated at the final whistle and their record was deserving of the title: seven games played twenty-one goals scored, none conceded. Some record that, worthy winners, worthy double winners!