National 9v9 Football Tournament

St. Georges Park, the home of football, was the stage that was set for the Barking Abbey girls academy football team to take part in a National 9v9 Football Tournament, organised by National Football Youth League and included 14 teams from across the country.

For our qualifying matches, we were placed in to a difficult fixture group, but the girls showed their quality and winning edge easing through to the semi-finals with wins over This Girl Kicks, Durham & Sunderland.

In the semi-finals we were met with local opposition EDSV college & some of the best football was on display from our players.

It was Gillingham who we would go on to face in the final. Having played them previously this season and coming out the narrow victors we were aware this game would be a tough contest. We were able to dominate play and were given our just rewards in the dying minutes of the game. However, in a twist of fate seconds later we were to concede a penalty, with only 20 seconds left on the clock, it meant this game would be decided on penalties.

With the players cool and calm demeanour, you would have never known that they had never been involved in a penalty shootout. After a great save and some composed finishing we rightly came out on top. To top the day off, Sanaa Williams was also voted by the organisers and sponsors as player of the tournament.

Throughout the tournament we encouraged the team to take control of the games and play how they thought would be best, even down to allowing them to pick the penalty takers.