The Briggerettes entered their second tournament over the weekend since their formation a few weeks ago.
The tournament was to offer a different challenge due to the cancellation of the event for their age group, this meant the girls had to step up to the age group above and with two players already playing a year up for the team – this was going to be a tough afternoon of football.
The squad consisted of captain Hawcroft, Millar, Marshall, Kilby, Bradley-Morrison, Lindsall, Dudley, Morriss and a debut for the Bridge for talented local youngster Hoosen. However Salter and Thompson were missing.
It became apparent early on in the group stages that the obvious physical advantage offered by opposing teams was not going to be an issue as the Briggers held themselves well in all areas of the field. Defensively the team was sound, Bradley-Morrison and Lindsall producing a brick wall at the back that was barely knocked through, Dudley and Morriss also provided cover and managed to work well producing counter attacks that constantly threatened the opposition.
Kilby and Bradley-Morrison once again gave sterling performances in the net whilst Kilby worked the midfield well along with the ever impressive Marshall. Up top and the deadly duo of Millar and Hawcroft worked well with Hoosen who gave an impressive debut.
During the group stages it was Millar who opened the days scoring after a superb move straight from the training ground with link up play from Kilby to split the defence open and Millar netted to set the Briggerettes on their way to the first win of the day. A winning start which was then followed by a 0-0 draw, only the heroics of the opposition keeper stopping a whitewash result.
The first defeat and goal conceded in a group stage match was to follow after the girls lost for the first time, outmuscled, by a strong Wickersley side, although bridge were technically better, they fell 1-0. But the girls bounced back quickly and did not lose again, games being won and drawn with goals from Hawcroft being the difference over the next couple of games. A 1-1 draw against hopefulls Handsworth after going 1-0 down put the Briggers in driving position in second place with a hope of reaching the semis.
With this in mind the girls went into a game against Sheffield United Community Ladies and stepped up a gear, SUCL offered very little resistance as Bridge went on to the tournaments biggest win of the day thanks to a stunning 8 minute Hat-trick from Millar and a well taken one on one by Hoosen gave Worsbrough a 4-0 victory, Millar had double reason to celebrate as she was the first ever female to score a hat-trick for the club, Hoosen also scoring her first goal for the club in her debut tournament.
With two games to go hopes were high of a semi-final spot, an amazing achievement for a team playing a year up.
Next up was Sheffield FC, during the game a lengthy stoppage with Hawcroft getting injured knocking the girls off course. It was a quiet game after that and no side made a breakthrough so the game ended 0-0.
Once again it came down to the last game against Sheffield Wednesday, both sides could go through although Bridge had the point’s advantage. In the end it mattered little, the game was settled by a well-deserved Kilby fire bolt to send the Ladies through to the semi-finals.
The semi-final was a tense affair against a well organised Gidsley Southbank squad, Gidsley scored early on with a well taken goal. The Briggers had not given up though and inch close efforts by Millar and Hawcroft both falling the wrong side of the woodwork kept Bridge in with a fighting chance until the very last second, but after 6 hours of football Worsbrough lost the game 1-0 and finished third in the tournament.
The disappointment of going out in the semi-final was overcome by the fact that along the way they managed to get through above another 6 teams that were playing the age above, with one manager commenting ‘I am glad we don’t have to play you next season, it’s scary to think they are a year younger and they have took teams apart today’ also adding ‘They are the most technically gifted side I have seen for a long time’ a point emphasised by manger Kay Kilby, also in her first year within a management role who said ‘I am so proud of the girls ‘ ‘Another outstanding run for the girls today, playing mostly Under 15s but never looked like underdogs throughout the whole tournament. Got through to semis and could have gone either way. Same again performance wise next week and hopefully get to the finals’.
Next up for the Briggerettes is a trip down to Retford for the 9v9 competition