Tales From Wales
17 Jan 2011

Tales From Wales!
Prestatyn May 2010.

Our first European tour took us to sunny Prestatyn for a two day tournament against teams from all across Britain. Steel City arrived, took one look at the accommodation, with its 1970’s retro feel, and divided into three teams – the girls escaped to the pool, some parents ran to the Queen Vic & some went to browse the three aisles of cleaning products at the local Nisa.
After a late night on the Friday we woke up to brilliant sunshine on the Saturday & four matches to look forward to in the afternoon. After the Lingards enjoyed a breakfast of sausage & egg, garnished with wild mushrooms ( a local delicacy, grown organically on site), the squad played rounders on the beach before heading off to the pitches at Rhyl.
Our first opponents of the day were Scottish side Cupar Violet Girls. The girls started really well and had most of the early play. Our opening goal will live long in the memory; as the ball fell to Beth O’Grady just inside the attacking half she walloped it and saw it bounce in front of the keeper & into the net. A debut goal & her Dad missed it!! One goal was enough to give us a winning start.
Next up were a very strong Birstall Utd Vixens, from Leicester. The girls went in full of confidence & they needed it! This was a very tight game but top scorer Beth Wragg gave us the lead, finishing off a great move. She gave us a 2-0 lead early in the second half but with the help of a very dodgy ref (who received some good ‘advice’ from Sophie) Birstall pulled a goal back. At 2-1 the last few minutes were frantic but top defending from Sophie & Livvy got us the points. Played 2, won 2 & the sun was still shining!
Our 3rd opponents, Kilwinning from Scotland, had also won their first 2 games and one minute into the game we could all see why! We both gave each other the toughest test of the day – their control, passing & movement was breathtaking but so was our defending – with Livvy, Sophie, Zoe & Jess blocking everything they threw at us. It finished 0-0 & we were very happy with a point.
We went into the final match of the day determined to remain undefeated. This time we were up against home team Prestatyn. We were the better team & had several chances to take all the points but were looking a little tired. We had to settle for a draw but what a first day and everything to play for on day 2.
Sunday morning & the Lindley’s smoke alarm got us all up and at it for our early start – off to Rhyll for a 9.30 k.o. Welsh team Kinmel Bay GFC were our first opposition. Again we started well; looking determined & solid as a team we pushed forward for an opener. A well worked goal - with Dymphna & Lauren combining to give fox in the box Beth Wragg a sight of goal which she finished off in typical fashion - was enough to give us another winning start. 1-0 to Steels.
Next up were Duston Girls from Northants. Full of confidence, Steels took this team apart with Beth Wragg grabbing 2 more & Lauren having enough chances to get a hat trick!! We had to settle for 2-0 but found ourselves going into the last match only needing a point to reach the final.
Steels made sure in the last match against Birstall Utd Belles from Leicestershire, again dominating play & Dymphna’s belly tap in from a corner was enough to grab the points. Seven matches undefeated & into the final against top class opposition in Kilwinning.
The final began much the same as our first encounter, with Kilwinning moving the ball around well, our defence & midfield blocking everything & Steels looking sharp on the break. The first chance fell to Sophie who went on a storming run from the back into their box but just over ran it for their keeper to clear. Kilwinning gradually got on top and opened the scoring with a speculative shot which just squirmed under Jess & trickled agonisingly over the line. 0-1 at half-time but apart from a spot of ‘twin trouble’ we went back on looking for an equaliser. We got straight back into them and chances fell for both Lauren & Beth but it wasn’t to be. Kilwinning grabbed a second to seal the victory but to their credit the girls kept at it til the whistle. Final score was 0-2 & the girls had to settle for runners-up trophies. They were obviously disappointed but they made us all extremely proud – playing some of the best stuff we have seen from them in a long time & against top class opposition. Their effort, team spirit & attitude was exceptional. There were no star players this weekend as all 10 girls – Jess, Zoe, Livvy, Sophie, Ellie, Beth O, Lauren, Lucy, Diddy & Beth W - gave us their very best.
We rushed back to the Queen Vic to see Wednesday relegated - no punches were thrown but I think David smirking in his luminous Blade’s away shirt & Tim’s celebration whilst bearing more than a passing resemblance to Palace striker Alan Lee, may have come very close!! The girls spent the afternoon on site, swimming, go-karting and winning the verbal tussle with Kilwinning when they arrived on our patch to celebrate their victory – both Beths managed to bridge the language gap with the victorious Scots! An encounter which surely, along with Tim & Sophie’s advice to the ref & Livvy & Diddy’s punch-up in the final, should have got us the Fair Play trophy! We were robbed!
Presentation night saw the girls go up for their awards, presented by Mark Lawrenson, before going off to the fair to chat up a few Irish lads. The parents said goodbye to the Queen Vic & David volunteered to lead the way in the morning to see us all safely back to England. A fantastic weekend made possible by the girls & parents hard work off the pitch, bag packing & running, & the team’s awesome display on it! WE WILL BE BACK…