Glenrothes Stroller’s Under 13’s took on Bayside 13’s last Saturday in the second round of the Lisa Evans League Cup. The girls started the game strongly and continued in this vein for much of the match.
The visitors passed the ball well, but our girls stood up well to the pressure, closing down every pass they made. The Strollers defence played well for much of the match, with Courtney Porter and Emma Swanson mopping up a lot of long balls with ease.
The first half finished 0-0, which gave our girls confidence going in to the second half and the belief they could go on and win the game against their more fancied opponents.
The second half was played with just as much passion as the first by both teams and with thirteen minutes left on the clock the breakthrough eventually came. Brodie Clark broke away up the right wing going past the Bayside midfield and defence before slotting the ball past the visitors ‘keeper.
Bayside piled on the pressure in the closing stages as they desperately looked for an equaliser, but the Strollers held firm and had further chances through Kerys Blythe and Denver Hopkins to put the game out of sight. The game was now frantic and in the dying stages Betheney Scott tipped a well struck Bayside shot over the bar.
The home side were seconds from winning the cup tie but, in the second minute of time added on, heartbreak came for the Strollers when Bayside finally got the equaliser, tying the game and taking it to extra time.
In extra time both teams got their heads down and it was clear neither wanted to lose the game, with all the girls on the pitch giving everything they possibly could for their team mates. Agonisingly for the Strollers, Bayside got the winner with only three minutes left to play, ending our girls hopes of playing in the third round. After being seconds away from going through this was very hard to take, but this is what can often happen in cup football.
At the end of the game the Bayside parents and coaches congratulated the Stroller’s Girls for being part of such a hard fought match.
Congratulations to Bayside 13’s, and we wish them all the best for the next round and the rest of the season.
