On Thursday 17 November, 20 Year 5 girls proudly represented Surbiton High Girls’ Prep School in the Feltonfleet Football Festival in which they competed against four other schools. Although this was the Year 5 girls’ first football fixture of the term and their first ever for the Girls’ Prep School, they played with the confidence and cohesion of a seasoned professional team, showing great movement off the ball creating multiple attacking opportunities, as well as intricate technical dribbling when in possession. This led to many great team goals, particularly one where Daisy broke free with the ball on the halfway line, dribbling to the space on the wing, and with a quick glance spotted the run of Caoimhe down the line and threaded the ball perfectly into her path. Caoimhe, who either has eyes in the back of the head or recently had radar installed, spun on the ball, and very unselfishly played the ball across the goal to Isla at the back post who calmly slotted the ball home.
The two-touch football left the opposition defenders still chasing the ball whilst our girls wheeled away in mass celebration. At the opposite end of the pitch, a notable mention must be made to all the defenders who formed the greatest fortification seen since the construction of the Great Wall of China, particularly Amber whose perfect, mistake free tournament, has earned her the infamously rare 10/10 rating from L’Equipe magazine, putting her in the same category as the likes of world cup stars. Other stand-out performances are attributed to Sophia and Jemima, who at times were one-woman teams, relentlessly driving with the ball, head on, into the heart of the opposition defence at every opportunity, dragging their team up the pitch. Finally, the biggest commendation must be given to all the girls who proudly represented Surbiton High Girls’ Prep School – their spirit on and off the pitch was sky high from the moment we arrived until the moment we left five hours later. Each and every girl happily volunteered to do their part in goal and readily subbed on and off when called upon; a great show of sportsmanship and maturity all round.
