TheFA.com

Thrilling draw for U15s

  • Monday, 15 March, 2010

Women's U15s shared a 3-3 draw in Holland on Monday.

Holland 3-3 England
International Friendly
Monday 15 March
Be Quick '28, Zwolle, Holland
 Click here for fixtures

On a very cold, wet and windy night in Holland, England shared a thrilling 3-3 draw with their hosts in which they played well and could quite easily have won the game.

England made a bright start and were in control during the early part of the match after taking a 14th minute lead through Paige Williams' 25 yard free-kick.

However, the Dutch hit back two minutes later from a similar situation, with a 35 yard set piece shot giving goalkeeper Leah Fish no chance.

The Dutch then took the lead just before the half hour mark, following a good move on the right and a neat turn and finish in the area from the home striker.

This time it was England's turn to hit back quickly though, as Holland failed to clear a corner and Hollie Kelsh shot home to see the teams go in level at the break.

The second half saw England enjoy the better of the play, only for a final ball to prove elusive. They eventually found their range though, as Holly Crosby split the defence to find Beth Mead in the area and she cooly rounded the goalkeeper to slip the ball home.

England were looking good for their lead but were unfortunate to concede from another long range free-kick deep into added time, as the ball found its way just under the bar with Fish again having no chance in what was a cruel finish to the game.

England play Holland again on Wednesday afternoon.

England: 1 Leah Fish, 2 Aoife Mannion, 3 Marie Buckley (15 Billie Brooks, 63) (18 Sam McGarry, 73), 4 Lauren Haynes, 5 Molly Cawthorn, 6 Paige Williams (c), 7 Jenna Dear (16 Carla Humphrey, 66), 8 Holly Crosby, 9 Beth Mead, 10 Katie Zelem (14 Lucy Whipp, 55), 11 Hollie Kelsh (17 Kiera Walsh, 55).

Substitutes not used: 12 Molly Bartrip, 13 Amy Mullett.

What Do You Think?

  • I would like to reply to all these people who knock the COE, My friends daughter has played for a local team for 2 years, in all that time never once was her wishes taking into consideration, I myself noticed the ability she held, along with other coaches from teams she played against. Never once did her coach encourage her and because he and his team meant more to him then a girls dream, he often told her the COE was not the place to go. Along with so called team mates who told her untrue stories of what went on at these centres, I phoned the COE to ask more questions on there Centre and after the conversation and a invite to bring the lass to a trial session we went along, It was the best move she had ever done, the coaching staff have help her progress and become a more confident player, she has discovered hidden talents she never would have found playing for her local team, she can read the game and understands the game a lot better, she now knows that there is more to the game than scoring goals and making the other teams girls feel humiliated by having double figured score lines against them. If it had not been for the COE in the north west my friends daughter would have more than likely giving up on football, which I know would have been a huge mistake, as for these people who are against the COE and say there are better players at grassroots who are more worthy than the girls from the centre to play for England, then why aren’t their coaches doing more for these girls, why is it so important for them to hammer more goals in against weaker teams and win cups then what these girls want a chance to play for England. At least at these centres the coaches are there for the girls and train them to play the game more as a team than an individual scoring machine, I have no doubt in my mind that these FA Centres are by far the best thing to have happened in encouraging girls to play football. All I can say is its a BIG THUMBS UP FOR THESE CENTRE'S OF EXCELLENCE AROUND THIS COUNTRY, AND ESPESSIALY THE ONE IN THE NORTH WEST { CUMBRIA } By jacko (25 months ago)
  • Don't know why you've chosen the bottom of a report on a very good under 15s performance to voice your concerns, which I would largely diisagree with. I coach a team at grass roots level, but also have a daughter who has moved to play for a COE and England, so I would say I have an idea how both sides work. At grass roots level we come across very good teams and have had some great games, but the level of commitment across the league is variable, and there are certainly 'easy' games. My daughter's level of fitness and technical ability has undoubtedly been lifted by playing for a COE against other Centres of Excellence, and when when triallists from very good grass roots teams are brought in it sometimes surprises me that they no longer stand out in the company of COE girls. The COE recommends girls for England trial and England scouts then trial these girls at a variety of nationwide camps. The structure is a pyramid, much like every path to sporting achievement, and to scout at grass-roots teams directly I imagine is impractical, and is much like Capello stood on the touchline at Barnet because their striker has been banging them in! If a girl wants a chance she has to make sacrifices. My daughter left my team to progress at the COE and I encouraged her to do that. It was very hard for her to leave the club, but she had the desire to achieve at a higher level. Too many of the better grass roots teams have a self interest in holding on to players to suit their aims, but then will rail against the 'unfairness' of a clearly mapped out route to representative honours. The COE structure is young, and it will make mistakes, but sometimes the better grass roots players would be better suited to being tested at a COE level, where medals and 10 v 0 victories aren't the order of the day. My other daughter plays at grass roots level and thoroughly enjoys it. By Joy Division Oven Gloves (33 months ago)
  • I would like to reply and ask the fa where they scout their players from? The simple fact is that they dont scout their players.They infact ask for people to attend centre of excellence trials.They then pick what they think is the best of what they have seen and received form these centres.Fact is that girls including my own daughter have played for these centres and decided that the centres offer no more of a better standard than is currently being played in some grass roots leagues.The fact is that some very talented girls choose to punch 2 years above their weight to get to a competitive level and still excell.These girls also find that the centres coaches do not in any way shape or form compete with the standard of coaching they are receiving at some clubs.The fact is that the FA is so stubborn in their approach to finding the best talent arround that they will never ever have an England squad that is WORTHY of the best talent in England until they listen to what is being voiced. For anyone to say that all grass roots leagues are not competitive is testamont to the fact they have their heads firmly in the sand.The fact is that the FA ia ruining grass roots football.The fact is that their are better footballers in england out there and i know that as a hardcore fact and if the FA was not so beligerent then they would except friendlies against teams of the same age around the country in grass roots level and find themselves getting beat on a regular basis. FACT ! The fact is that the current champions of britain playing some 15 games and competing against some 3500 players in the tesco cup does not contain one single payer playing for England beacause the girls choose to play for their club and be loyal to the club and teammates and are punished for this but this make them more determined to rebel against the FA s policies. FACT ! FACT ! FACT ! By ANONYMOUS (37 months ago)
  • i would like to reply to the comment on Centre of Excellence not working if the players in the north west are that good why dont they come to a CoE to see the standard of the players who attend Very rarely are there any games that are whitewashes unlike at grass roots level where one team with a few good players will dominate and win all the trophys, how does that improve these players also how does it improve the average players I agree with you on the scouting issue the England scouts dont always pick the best players the policy seems to be all about pick the biggest and strongest not the most talented By anonymous (37 months ago)
  • Without any wins and with heavy defeats against Germany don't the FA understand that Centres of Excellence are not working and that the current womens international scouting system is flawed ? We have many excellent players in the North West who just simply don't fall within the range of the selectors becuase those players choose not to play for centre of Excellence Teams and play in competitive leagues instead. The FA need to change the system so that the best players play for England and teh scouting system takes in players other than from CoE teams. By anonymous (37 months ago)