It's not often that we (Pudsey) get to crow these days. Most of our recent matches have resulted in us being on the wrong end of the score line but last Wednesday's display by the Pudsey and Altofts girls was absolutely magnificent. As usual Harry from Grangefield school came to our rescue and kindly allowed us to play on the Grangefield school pitch. After a customary ring round the Pudsey team managed to muster 11 players and when the Altofts team turned up with enough subs to turn a full second team out it looked like Pudsey were in for a torrid evening. How things would change over the following 60 minutes. The game started with Pudsey playing up hill, against the wind and with only 10 players but battle they did and after five minutes managed to get the number of players evened up when Vicky arrived straight from her school break. The first half quickly developed into a fairly one sided affair. Altofts are a quality side and their lofty second position in the first division of the West Riding Girls League clearly indicated that they were a good side. The Pudsey girls are now developing into a committed and gifted team themselves and wave after wave of Altofts attacks were repelled by some great defending and goalkeeping. It was only a matter of time however and the Altofts team went 1-0 up after a lapse in concentration by the Pudsey team when a long ball down the left wasn't cleared and two Altofts players burst through to score. The first half then drew to a close with Altofts still on the attack. Pudsey held out and the score remained 1-0 as the teams turned around. The second half saw Pudsey coming back into the game and it was their turn to push forward and create havoc in front of the Altofts net. Hot shot Haley started to show her class and gave a good Altofts centre half a torrid time as she began to get goal side more and more often. Five minutes into the second half and it looked like Haley would even up the scores when she broke free of her man marker and headed towards goal. Picture this. Open goal. Eight yards out. Only the keeper to beat and you guessed it Haley gives it the helicopter shot. Ball bounces through to keeper and after Haley stops spinning she finds herself two foot into the ground. Never mind it was now obvious that the Pudsey team had found their feet and more chances were to follow. Pudsey's next strike was from the penalty spot. Once again Haley gave her marker the run around and found herself flat on the deck as she was pulled down inside the box. No doubts about the call but another poor finish from the spot kick saw the ball hit straight at the keeper. Little legs was next (Katie). A great ball down the right saw her home in on goal but one touch too many and the keeper managed to block the eventual shot. Ball after ball was then fired into the Altofts 18 yard box. How the keeper managed to knock Haley's next shot onto the bar was almost miraculous but persistence eventually paid off and although it was scrambled Pusey's equaliser came with only fi9ve minutes on the clock but was extremely well deserved. At this point it looked like the game would end a one all draw but the Pudsey girls weren't going to give up. Another great through ball well controlled on Haley chest saw her burst through the Altofts defence. This time she hit a sweat right footed drive across goal and above the keepers head. The ball burst the back of the Altofts net and gave the Pudsey team their best result of the season. The winning goal came in time added on and the Altofts girls had little time to respond to such a great Pudsey team effort. This game was a testament to both teams. The quality of girls football is now extremely high and the game was watched and played in great sportsmanlike manner. The result was immaterial and could so easily have gone either way. Well done to both teams. | 
