Under 16 match report.
Cambridge started brightly putting early pressure on the Chesterfield goal, Blues defenders Aimee Bramman and Katie Gifford were in good form but were unable to deny the visitors a 20th minute lead when a Cambridge striker reacted first to a loose ball in the area following a well taken corner.
Chesterfield were soon on level terms when from Simpkin's corner striker Lisa Jones headed the ball passed the visiting keeper.
The central midfield duo of Grace Whitaker and Emily Simpkins started to take control of the game feeding the ball out to the left wing where Gemma Plumb delivered a succession of fine crosses.
In the second half Chesterfield looked better organised and focused , Simpkins and Whittaker were again at the centre of some fine moves constantly playing the ball out to Siobhan Woods and Catherine Davie who caused havoc down the flanks.
Full backs Sarah Chambers and Carla Milan gave good support to these wide players as Chesterfield continued to dominate the game.
However the Spireites were made to pay for their deficiencies in front of goal when Cambridge regained their lead after 60 minutes when the home defence were caught flat footed
Chesterfield's reply was immediate. From the restart the ball went to Simpkins who put a quick ball through to Siobhan Wood, The pacey winger raced in on goal and with the keeper at her mercy slotted the ball home for a deserved equaliser.
Within a minute the blues were in the lead flying winger Catherine Davie received the ball forty yards from goal, tricked and teased her way past four defenders before slotting the ball past the hapless keeper.
The visitors wilted under the pressure and gave away a free kick on the corner of the eighteen yard box, this presented an opportunity to impressive left back Carla Milan who smashed the ball over the keeper and into the corner of the net to seal a 4-2 victory and another impressive performance from the Blues.
U14's Match Report
1ST Period (Chesterfield 2 v Cambridge 1)
Chesterfield dominated the first 10 minutes of the game with all the play in the Cambridge half of the field. Chesterfield's first effort arrived courtesy of a terrific shot from April Bingham, which resulted in a great save from the visiting keeper. Nicole Dale was a constant threat down the right flank, whipping in some dangerous crosses.
Chesterfield took a well-deserved lead when Dale beat 2 defenders then delivered a cross into Mollie Brennan who passed across the 18 yard box to Amy Gavuzzi who coolly finished from close range.
Cambridge's quick reply came from a corner, which Chesterfield failed to clear, resulting in a sloppy goal.
Chesterfield thought that they had regained the lead through lively striker Gavuzzi who slotted the ball past the Cambridge keeper from short range, but her effort was adjudged to be offside.
Within a minute Gavuzzi was again the centre of attention this time she made a terrific run which was halted by the advancing keeper who fouled the striker just outside the 18 yard box.
Amy Nicole punished the keeper with a well taken free-kick which dipped over the wall and into the bottom corner to put Chesterfield into a much deserved 2-1 lead.
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2nd Period (Chesterfield 2 v Cambridge 1)
A more determined Cambridge side came out and put Chesterfield under constant pressure for much of this period. Good defending from Emma Crump and excellent goalkeeping from Helen Greenhalgh kept the Blues in the lead
Chesterfield were not without their chances as they hit Cambridge on the counter attack, April Bingham ran the ball down the left flank then delivered a nicely weighted pass into Mollie Brennan who switched the ball into the path of Nicole Dale whose shot went inches over the bar. Chesterfield goal lead a charmed life in this period as Cambridge managed to miss a glut of chances.
3rd Period (Chesterfield 5 v Cambridge 3)
Chesterfield recaptured the form shown in the first period and there confidence was restored when a free kick from just inside the Chesterfield's half was lobbed over the top for Amy Gavuzzi to run onto and then beat the keeper for the third time.
The whole team were now playing with tremendous confidence, Jasmin Kerin distributing the ball well in mid-field along with Tiffany Kynaston who executed a great little turn passing to April Bingham whose exquisite pass found Amy Gavuzzi in space on the edge of the Cambridge box. The inform striker hit a thunderous shot into the netting for a well deserved hat trick.
Cambridge to their credit pulled a goal back, but the blues and in particular Gavuzzi were in fine form , the goal hungry striker pounced on a fine ball from Wildgust stroking the ball around the keeper with the outside of her left boot into the bottom corner for her 4th goal of the afternoon.
In the final minutes Cambridge pull another goal back again from a corner to make the final score Chesterfield 5 Cambridge 3.
Player of the match was awarded by the opposition to April Bingham.
Under 12's match report
A depleted Chesterfield team went down 4:0 to a very quick and organised Cambridge team. The pick of the Cambridge players was Scymona Nche whose speed and close control was the undoing of the Chesterfield defence. Three goals were scored in the first 12 minutes however the girls regained there composure and in the last 2 periods became competitive losing the second period by a single goal.
Further progress was made in the final phase when the Spireites were unlucky not to score as both Alice Clark and Jodie Peacock brought fine saves out of the Cambridge keeper.
The Blues goalkeeping duo of Kate Marriott and Briony Dove continue to impress. They have been by far the best pair of goalkeepers seen in the league and are sure to attract the attention of the scouts before long.
A sterling performance by Lauren Allen Warwick in midfield typified the spirit of the team as they tried to get something out of this game.
