Today we were playing Ossett Town Saphires, who are an established division 5 team. A lovely team, very polite, nice footballers and zero aggression. What a difference to our usual opponents ?

Right from the pick off this game felt like a traditional cup tie, both teams were trying to establish possession, but getting involved in a real arm wrestle ?.

The first goal arrived in the 3rd minute and was registered by Ossett, this was after two shots from Stanningley and end to end play. ⚽️ ? Stanningley 0 - 1 Ossett

As the players were moving back to take the kick off, Captain Millie was providing the Rallying calls, C’mon Stanningley!

Right from the Kick off Stanningley attacked and scored! Millie providing the cool and calm finish after a superb run and assist from Tabs ⚽️ Stanningley 1 - 1 Ossett.

What followed was some of the most frantic, high energy end to end attacking football that we have seen. Millie, Tabs and Alexia all forced outstanding saves from the Ossett keeper, equally matched by Layla-Mai who was also producing big, game changing saves.

Both defences having to work very hard and combine with keepers to keep control of this one.

On 11 minutes, some nice attacking interplay down the stanningley left, saw Tabs turn and tear up the Ossett defence, rounding the last one and leaving the keeper stranded with a fierce shot in the bottom right corner of the goal. ⚽️ Stanningley 2 - 1 Ossett.

Within a minute we were all level again, some powerful central running caused confusion and led to a ferocious shot, that just beat Layla-mai. ⚽️ Stanningley 2 - 2 Ossett.

Again end to end fast paced football, shots at either goal and both goalkeepers were in sensational form, otherwise this could have been a rugby scoreline.

Who would react next? Stanningley!

On 23 minutes some tricky wing play from Alexia and interplay with Tabs was rewarded with a wonderful goal for Alexia to retake the lead! ⚽️ Stanningley 3 - 2 Ossett.
1 minute later (24 mins) roles reversed and interplay between Tabs and Alexia, along with Millie set up a glorious strike from Tabs to extend the lead further, ⚽️ Stanningley 4 - 2 Ossett.

Stanningley worthy of the lead and making the most of their opportunities, were now growing in confidence and controlling the game.

For the next 11 minutes (unto Half time) what we witnessed was unbelievable harmonious football, the whole team working for each other, they were more urgent, breaking up play and intercepting, linking passes and moving together forwards and sideways. Pressurising Ossett and making them make mistakes, then taking over and controlling their attacking play. Recording 6 shots to Ossett’s 2. Ossett keeper just managing to keep them in the game. ? As a coach this is joyous to watch and real statement of how much your players have grown ?

One of those Ossett shots, on the 30th minute, was from a quick counter attack and powerful central play from their number 10, who squeezed the ball into the goal to reduce the gap. ⚽️ Stanningley 4 - 3 Ossett.

Halftime arrived, Stanningley 4 - 3 Ossett.

The message, was about being calm and composed, playing the same way as we ended the first half, finishing with simple words of “keep on doing that brilliant work!”
Substitution made seeing the introduction of Cally for Lily Sheldon (who had worked tirelessly and having a great game).

Ossett looked up for the second half and straight from the kick off were making forward runs and keeping our defenders on their toes. Suddenly they seemed to be getting back into the game and forcing more midfield play centrally.

3 minutes in, a powerful central move was rewarded with the equaliser by Ossett. ⚽️ Stanningley 4 - 4 Ossett.

An injury to Daisy (who had been awesome in the first half), saw Lola introduced for her cup debut. Challenge accepted, time again for the Stanningley character!

Quick linking play saw a further 2 shots at the Ossett goal, before Millie retook the lead for Stanningley on 41 minutes, after a perfect assist from Tabs. ⚽️ Stanningley 5 - 4 Ossett.

Stanningley forced into another substitution with Cally getting a bang to her ankle in a hard challenge in midfield, she swapped with Lily Sheldon.
A few minutes later Cally returned for Alys (who had her best game for Stanningley today & POM).

Stanningley again winning the arm wrestle, midfield and defence working hard together to limit Ossett attacking opportunities. When they did get through Layla-Mai was there to close out the danger and set our counter attack in motion.

Ossett did manage to convert one of their shots in the 55th minute, again pressure from their number 10, saw them level the game and set the game up for. Grandstand finish! ⚽️ Stanningley 5 - 5 Ossett.

Again the game turned into an end to end battle, fast and frantic and the thoughts of a penalty shoot out were on peoples minds.

Ossett were starting to grow again and Stanningley having to show every bit of resilience that this wonderful team has developed in recent months. Lola, Amelia, Amber and Hadjer were working overtime to keep Stanningley in defensive control, with Cally, Lily Sheldon, Lily Murphy and Alexia involved in every play and working just as hard to keep Ossett contained. Millie and Tabs were a constant threat and some interchanging of attacking positions, with Alexia and Lily Murphy kept Ossett guessing.

Into the last 3 minutes of the match and with a penalty shoot out looming, we witnessed three massive game defining moments, that keep running around in my head! ?

(1) On 67 minutes an attack from Ossett broke through to leave their number 10, 1 on 1 with Layla-Mai, who came off her line to gave herself an advantage, she made a great save and immediately gathered the ball in hands safely. (2) She spotted that our attackers were in position and launched a massive kick from hands. An awkward bounce saw Tabs collect the ball, and immediately Lily Murphy, Alexia and Mille were sprinting in unison to create an attacking opportunity, overload and panic for the Ossett defenders. Tabs beat two players and threaded an inch perfect pass to Mille, who drove into the penalty area and cooly smashed the ball past the keeper to claim her hat-trick and retake the lead for Stanningley. ⚽️ Stanningley 6 - 5 Ossett. Queue team celebrations and emotion.

Straight from kick off Ossett upped the urgency and Stanningley duly responded. (3) Quick interplay from Ossett saw their striker again breaking through the Stanningley defence to get herself 1 on 1 with Layla-Mai, who again made a massive save under immense pressure to stop the equalizer. She then again calmly dispatched a kick from hands to our left wing, a timely pass from Cally saw Lily Murphy breaking free and shooting just narrowly wide.

The final whistle sounded, Stanningley hearts pounding and emotions overloading. Our girls were very sporting and humbly offered consolations to a very good team, who played the game in great spirits. ❤️

I know I have said this a few times already, but genuinely this was the best performance that we have seen from this growing team. Everyone worked their socks off, some players leaving the field exhausted. The resilience they showed in the seesaw battle with the scoreline was beyond their years. The composure and urgency they showed in abundance was down to the fantastic listening and putting the advice into actions.

A massive thank you to both Tabitha and Alexia for joining us today and playing with such intensity and ferocity, this spurred on the whole team.

? You were all class today, well done, what a team and you are into the second round draw of the cup!

See you all at training on Wednesday ?

⭐️❤️?#United⭐️