Last Sunday (6 July), we took part in the U12 Girls Only Football Tournament hosted by Petone FC, and what a day it was!
The weather gods were definitely on our side, and the girls came ready to play.
Pool Game 1 vs Petone Totara – 0-0 Draw
We kicked off against the unbeaten Petone Totara, top of Div1 and undefeated all season. It was a tough, hard-fought battle with both teams showing grit and determination. Our girls matched them across the pitch, holding them to a 0-0 draw, a fantastic result against a top team.
Pool Game 2 vs Wainuiomata Remutaka – 2-0 Win
This was a fun and fast-paced game, with great passing, movement, and communication from our girls. A strong team performance earned us a 2-0 win and a great confidence boost.
Pool Game 3 vs Carterton – 1-1 Draw
We weren’t sure what to expect from Carterton, having never played them before, but our girls rose to the challenge. We had plenty of chances and went up early, but Carterton equalized with a stunning goal. A competitive 1-1 draw.
Pool Game 4 vs KCU – 0-0 Draw
We knew this would be a tough one. KCU are a strong side, and we knew we had to dig deep. The whole team stepped up, defence, midfield, and attack all doing their jobs brilliantly. We held them to a hard-earned 0-0 draw.
Final Result: 3rd in Pool → 3rd vs 3rd Final vs Wainuiomata Whakanui
Final vs Wainuiomata Whakanui – 1-1 Draw (Lost 3-2 on Penalties)
And what a final it was! Wainui scored in the first half and looked strong, but our girls kept pushing. With just one minute left in the second half, we found the equaliser, taking it to 1-1 at full-time. Into 5 minutes of golden goal overtime we went. Both teams gave it everything, and both keepers were phenomenal. Still tied at the end of overtime, it went to penalties. The girls stepped up with courage, but we narrowly lost 3-2 in the shootout.
Final Placement:
3rd in our pool and 6th overall out of 12 teams. A result we’re incredibly proud of! Especially considering two of our three draws were against the tournament winners and top teams in our league, both of whom were shocked we held them to draws. An outstanding effort from every single player. Well done, girls! 👏⚽🧡
Special Mentions:
A massive thank you to Erin, Harper, Emma, Keria-Leigh & Kaitlin for helping us out on the day, your contributions were hugely appreciated!
Kaitlin had a fantastic day, especially shining in her best position all day: Left Defensive Back.
Keria-Leigh was outstanding on the Left Wing, and scored the crucial goal in the final to take us into extra time. What a moment!
Erin was a true asset all over the pitch, showing versatility, teamwork, and great spirit.
Harper held strong in Centre Back all day, keeping the defence tight, encouraging the team, and communicating brilliantly.
Emma had an amazing tournament on the Left Wing and in Midfield, showing tenacity, passing to everyone, and scoring two fantastic goals in our second game.
Player of the Tournament (x2):
🏅 Emma – For her outstanding day on the wing and in midfield. Her team spirit, determination, passing, and goal-scoring efforts stood out.
🏅 Kaylee – Playing striker all day, Kaylee had her best game play ever. Her energy, footwork, and team play were phenomenal. What truly amazed us was when she stepped up in the final and started rallying the team, telling players to “get back” and “mark up”. It was like something finally clicked 💡. Amazing leadership and effort!
Final Thanks:
A huge thank you to all the parents, we couldn’t do any of this without your support, time, and energy.
And finally, to every single player who participated in the tournament:
I am beyond proud. You all showed incredible spirit, grit, and determination, and truly did the team proud. 💪⚽🧡
Now… onto the next tournament at the end of July! 😅
Linda Colvin
Photo credit: Imray’s Snaps.
See more photos on Imray’s Snaps Facebook and Petone FC Facebook