Vale epitomise the growing skill and entertainment in girls' game

Published on Wednesday 19 December 2007 09:46

GIRLS' football continues to improve in terms of skill, fitness and commitment with Hutchison Vale under-15s among the teams leading the way in their age group, as shown in their 9-0 win against Dunfermline in a league clash at the Gyle Park.

The Edinburgh side were better than their opponents in all areas of the pitch and the winning margin could have been much more at the finish.

The relentless pressure put on the Fife team's goalkeeper, Caitlin Drylie, and her colleagues in the defence by Vale produced three of their goals in the first half.

The young Fifers were 1-0 down early on when the very impressive Lisa Wilson broke on the right and sent in a great cross for Carrie Reynolds to score.

The quality passing and movement from the Edinburgh side helped confine Dunfermline in their own half for long spells in the first half.

Following the early goal for Vale, the visiting side tried to hit back and Joni Blackmore fired a good effort wide of the target. But it was the Dunfermline keeper who was in the thick of the action for most of the first half and she did very well indeed to prevent Vale scoring on several occasions with good saves.

Jenna Sexton set off on a break up the right wing for the Fifers, but play switched back to the Dunfermline goal once again and it was Scottish under-15 international star, Louise Mason, who brought out the best in the Dunfermline keeper with a good effort at goal.

Goal No.2 for Vale was a disaster for the Fifers as a mis-hit clearance from a defender soared up in the air and over the outstretched arms of Drylie. Mason continued to press forward in a bid to get her name of the score sheet with another cracking effort, but Drylie saved well.

The non-stop pressure on the Dunfermline defence resulted in the home team getting a third goal shortly before the half-way stage of a very sporting game, with Megan Wight finding the back of the net with a good shot from the left.

That made it 3-0 at the break and the comment from Vale secretary, Elaine Mason, that "we play our best football in the second half of all our games" came true in a one-sided second period that was highlighted by the non-stop – but failed – efforts of her daughter, Louise, to get among the goalscorers. The Vale No.4 could not be faulted for effort, but she must have had a dozen attempts at putting the ball in the Dunfermline net, all without success. Vale went 4-0 up shortly after the restart with wonderful passing football giving Reynolds the opportunity to score again, although the ball just trundled over the line.

The pressure continued and superb play by Wilson, again, on the right set up Joanne Russell to score a fifth goal for Vale.

A shot from Wight on the left-side of the 18-yard box had just enough power to creep over the Dunfermline goal-line to take the margin to 6-0 in Vale's favour and the Dunfermline players struggled from then on to keep their fired-up opponents from running riot – and still Mason could not stick the ball in the back of the net!

The industrious player deserved to get on the score sheet and fulfil her desire to get her name in this match report, but it wasn't to be and she was totally frustrated at not scoring.

In a break from Mason's personal battle to exorcise her demons and score a goal, wee Joanne Russell showed her more illustrious team-mate how to do it when netting Vale's seventh goal.

Wilson set up Russell to make it 8-0 and it was the Vale No.9 who turned from provider to finisher when she wrapped up a great individual display when scoring her side's ninth goal of the game. Girls' football is now firmly established in Scotland and even more young females are taking up the game than ever before. The standard continues to rise in the process with good coaching and this current Vale under-15 squad is full of talented young footballers. They looked to be well coached as well as being highly talented in this game at the Gyle. It was a real bad day at the office for the Dunfermline girls. They never got over losing an early goal and were really made to suffer in the second half.

Hutchison Vale: Amy Thomson, Connie Reynolds, Kerri Peterson, Louise Mason, Shannon Todd, Amy Graham, Joanne Russell, Carly Jappy, Lisa Wilson, Rebecca Caulfield, Megan Wight, Mhairi Porteous, Carrie Reynolds, Kelsey Wishart, Megan Tierney.

Dunfermline: Caitlin Drylie, Kim Bryson, Danielle Wilson, Frances Martin, Louise McNeill, Shannen McGuire, Jenna Sexton, Leona Kir, Carolyn Bullen, Jonie Blackmore, Megan Robbie, Lisa Blyth, Kim McFarlane, Amy Burton, Demmi Lister.

Referee: George Mathieson.