In a game against Berks County, the girls showed determination and grit despite an early onslaught, battling back to regain control in the second half.

First Half:
The game started poorly, with the team conceding in the opening two minutes. Before they could settle, Berks County struck again after just five minutes and added a third goal in the 17th minute. Being 3-0 down inside the first 20 minutes, the girls could have easily dropped their heads, but instead, they remained positive and resilient.
As the half progressed, the team found their footing. The defense, led by Maya, managed to stop the flow of goals, and the midfield started to disrupt the opposition’s rhythm. It looked as if they would see out the half without further damage, but Berks County snuck in a fourth just before halftime, leaving us trailing 4-0.

Half-Time Team Talk:
At halftime, the focus was on keeping the girls’ spirits high. We acknowledged the unfortunate nature of the fourth goal but reminded the team that they were in a rebuilding phase, and setbacks like this would happen. The key point was not to let their heads drop. We stressed the importance of tactical discipline: getting the ball down the wings, playing direct, and keeping the play forward rather than passing backward.
The key instructions were clear: "Everything goes down the line. Get rid of it, smash it, and give our forwards something to chase." He encouraged the team to keep pressing and pushing forward, highlighting Milana, Shira, and Sophie’s pace as key to unsettling the opposition. The message was simple: go out with the mindset of nil-nil and fight to win the second half.

Second Half:
The team responded brilliantly. From the start of the second half, the girls chased the ball down harder, pressured Berks County, and gained control of the game. Esther, Sophie, and Milana began to shine as the ball was played forward more frequently, giving them the opportunity to run at the opposition's defense.
In the 50th minute, a moment of magic changed the game. Esther played a delightful through pass to Milana, and with the Coach begging her to keep going and not pass, Milana surged forward. From 25 yards out, she unleashed a powerful strike that flew into the top-right corner of the net—an absolute screamer that will surely be a contender for goal of the season.
Buoyed by the goal, the team dominated large portions of the second half, pushing Berks County back and creating chances. Olivia and Sophie continued to make dangerous runs, with the midfield pushing the ball forward at every opportunity. However, despite the sustained pressure, the team couldn’t create enough clear-cut opportunities to close the gap.
In the 60th minute, Berks County scored a fifth goal, slightly dampening the team’s momentum. Despite this setback, the girls remained positive and continued to play with energy, keeping the ball forward and applying pressure until the final whistle.

Conclusion:
Though the game ended 5-1, the performance in the second half was full of promise. Milana’s stunning goal was the highlight of the game, and the team's fightback showed they are moving in the right direction.
After the game, we gave feedback to each player, noting how much improved their play was compared to earlier matches. “More balls going forward, better attacking, and a much better overall performance,”. We reminded the girls that this is a learning process and it will take time to find their rhythm as a new team. Jones and Ray have been moving players around to see where they fit best, emphasising that incremental improvements are key.

He praised Esther for her forward movement, Amy for building confidence in getting the ball down the wing, and Shira for her relentless closing down of the opposition. Milana was singled out for her tireless effort, which culminated in an outstanding goal (and winning player of the match), while Sophie’s constant pressure on the opposition was applauded. Molly and Beth received recognition for their solid defensive work, with Beth making some key reaction saves to keep the scoreline in check.

Elisa’s tireless marking on the left, particularly against Berks County’s strongest players, was highlighted, while Maya was praised for her organisation and control of the defensive line. Olivia was also commended for her work in the center, providing a great shift throughout the game. Finally we had three players playing through injuries and/or sickness captain, Abi M, who’s playing through an injury, made critical interceptions and beautiful balls forward throughout the game. Abi F, who was everywhere I wanted her to be. Abi F made so many critical interceptions and kept moving the ball forwards. Finally, Shruthi, who was coming back from a sickness bug, managed to turn out a solid performance in the centre of the park, to take a lot of pressure off Olivia and Abi M.

Despite the loss, the team can be proud of their progress and continue to build on the positive second-half performance as they head into the next game.