TAVISTOCK College?s talented girls? football team is flying sky high after reaching the finals of a national cup competition, to be played at Premiership club West Bromwich Albion this spring. The team travelled to RAF Cosford near Wolverhampton last Thursday to play in the semi final of the English Schools Football Association RAF U16 Cup. In a tight match, they beat Aylsham High School from Norfolk 3-2. The girls? coach, Claire Crowther, said the game was easily the hardest the girls had faced during the competition and the match was ?incredibly tense?. ?It was really, really tough, they had to battle throughout the whole game,? said Miss Crowther. ?The opposition had some incredibly strong players, so we had to change our tactics for the second half, we just had to completely mark them out, but it seemed to work. ?Our goal keeper was incredible, she kept us in the game really, she was really on form ? we could easily have been six down without her, but all the girls worked their backsides off, they wanted to win so badly. I think it was sheer determination kept them going.? Miss Crowther said the score at half time was 3-1 at half time, with Tavistock?s goals being scored by Rebecca McMullin, Rhianne Parsons and Paige McGechie. Aylsham managed to pull a goal back in the second half and in spite of the tension, Tavistock kept their cool and stayed ahead until the final whistle. ?I am so pleased for them ? they did so well and it?s great to have made it to the final,? said Ms Crowther. Tavistock College principal Colin Eves said: ?We were all thrilled to hear the outcome of the match. We were aware the team had been meeting increasingly strong and talented opposition and to achieve another terrific victory reflects the strength of commitment and teamwork in a relatively young side. ?It was a fantastic experience for them to play in a big stadium and I was delighted we were able to send a bus load of supporters who made a real contribution in encouranging the side, particularly in the latter stages of the match when they were under real pressure.? The girls will travel to The Hawthorns on May 9, when they taken on Meadowhead School from Sheffield, who beat Church Stretton School from Shropshire 4-1 in their semi-final, also played at Cosford last Thursday. l The team is Robynne Honey (GK), Clarice Payne, Rhianne Parsons, Louise Galway, Laura Phillips, Laura Corales, Monica Les, Paige McGechie, Isobel De Carles, Rebecca McMullin, Heidi Davies, Sarah Lucas and Tamsin Bryant.
