Girls U14

   Wryley Pumas 0 Lichfield Diamonds 3
Diamonds are widely known for their passing and work ethic and their reputation was enhanced today threw the excellant performance from the away team. Diamonds' 8 battled hard against an ever changing Pumas side. Playing the 2,3,1,1 Diamonds had to change the way they defended and were put straight on the back footwith Pumas pushing forward. Diamonds had some chances of their own with an outstanding Katie Hitchcock just hitting wide and an ever improving Megan Wright shot being savedby the keeper. HT 0-0.
This was going to be a tough second half as Pumas had a squad of 16 and Diamonds had 8. Pumas again started the most attacking but excellant performances from Adeana Edwards, Sophie Hitchcock and Niamh Bowlder allowed only long range shots. Diamonds started putting on more pressure and when a Jodi Whorton-Eales ball was cut out, a quick throw from K Hitchcock found an impressive Katie Clarke who`s shot settled in the corner of the net. Pumas tried to put more pressure on and looked they were going to equalise when their striker went 1 on 1 but Bowlder stood tall and saved easily. With long throws and corners being launched into the away box there looked like no way out. Another long throw was headed by Wright and calmly passed to Rosie Mason-Green who picked up the ball just outside the 18 and dribbled 3/4 of the pitch holding of 5-6 players fired a shot which was well saved but reacted quickly to the rebound. Pumas still tried to create chances but the 8 Diamonds players stayed strong and scored a well earned third goal from Katie Hitchcock who along with the other 7 girls were outstanding and did the club and themselves proud. FT 0-3

  Staffs Fa / Tesco County Cup Quter final
  Diamonds U14 2 Billbrook Girls 1
An interesting encounter with Diamonds who are top of the Staffs County League pitted against Wolverhamptons Billbrook Girls who are flying high in the Central Warwickshire League. Diamonds took a grip on the game from the off keeping the visiting keeper on her toes and at the back Jo Bates, Adeane Edwards, Danni Harley and Thea Cummings were rock solid and in midfield Jodie Whorton-Eales was outstanding. Eventualy the pressure told and Katie Hitchcock ran clear to fire left footed into the roof of the net. Unfortunately the City side couldnt increase their lead and with only minutes left of the first half they went to sleep at the back allowing the equliser from a long throw. The second half followed a similar pattern with Diamonds having the better possesion but finding the keeper in excellent form, again Diamonds patience payed off and it was Hitchcock once more showing her prowess in front of goal. A fantastic advert for Girls football from both teams but unfortunately not the team officials.

   Lichfield Diamonds 3 Colron 1
Diamonds have had to work really hard for every point this season as they are the team to beat and this game was no different. It was a very even game and Colron minimised the home team chances. The longer it was 0-0 the more frustrated Diamonds got and the quality of football disintergrated. It was midfielder Steph Speck who broke the deadlock, a repeat from last week, a Jo Bates throw to Speck who danced her way threw several defenders and put the home team ahead. Diamonds then relaxed and started to play better football. HT 1-0.
Second half and it was Speck who doubled the lead which was very much an individual goal. Speck picked the ball up half way into the Colron half and ghosted past the Colron defenders to score again. Diamonds then let Colron back into the game and and Colron grew in confidence and it was the away side to score next. A combination of static players and woeful defending resulted in Colron getting back into the game. The entrance of Ellie Lewis gave the home team a lift and from that point both teams were competing. Striker Katie Hitchcock who restored Diamonds 2 goal cushion, recieving the ball on the edge of the 18 yard box with her back to goal turned and hit an unstoppable shot. This time Diamonds never took their foot of the gas and nearly scored again. Colron still never gave up and were still a threat, making it very difficult for Diamonds who worked hard and deserved the 3 points. FT 3-1 POM Katie Hitchcock.
County Cup - Lichfield Diamonds 4 Brownhills 2
With a few players missing some Diamonds players were out of position but this never stopped the home team. Playing some good football the home team had the best of possession and had the most of the chances. Forwards Rosie Mason-Green and Megan Brindley were working hard upfront but Diamonds failed to convert the chances with the brownhills keeper making some good saves and Diamonds hitting most straight at her. HT 0-0.
Second half and Diamonds were still on top, every shot that the home team had was directly at the keeper and the first shot from Katie Hitchcock that wasnt went in but after that the home team started shooting at the keeper again. Diamonds were still playing some nice footballbut the much improved Brownhills werent out of the game. The last attack of the game went for brownhills, a free kick outside the penalty area and a few errors and Brownhills had equalised. FT 1-1
With it being the county cup the game went to extra time and it didnt take long for Diamonds to score. Great work down the left by Rosie Mason-Green crossed the ball for Megan Brindley who cushioned it into the net. It was the in form Danielle Harley to score next with a low driven shot outside the penalty area. Then a few mistakes in the middle of the park led to Brownhills getting a goal back. With Brownhills now confident it was Hannah Yousef to add a 4th from a through ball from Mason-Green with Yousef finishing well. With the midfield tiring more pressure went on to the Diamonds defense who withheld the pressure. Despite coneeding 2 goals Diamonds defence consisting of Danielle Harley, Adeana Edwards, Bea Morris, Sophie Hitchcock and Chelsea Czekeryla were solid all game. AET 4-2 POM Adeana Edwards.
Brownhills 1 Lichfield Diamonds 2
It was a very physical Brownhills team and it was a game of very few chances. Diamonds started the game stronger and were unlucky not to have gone ahead when a Steph SPeck corner was driven in where Rosie Mason-Green adn Bea Morris couldnt force it over the line. The next attack it did cross the line when Speck picked the ball up just inside the home team half and stormed down the right hand side beating several Brownhills playedrs and sli it passed the on coming keeper. It was a difficult game to play football but Diamonds had the most of the possession and it was Diamonds who got the next goal with another Speck strike. Brownhills got back into the game when a defensive mix upresulted in a few Brownhills players being free and fired an unstoppable shot that keeper Niamh Bowdler could do nothing about. It was a firery game that was end to end. HT 1-2.
Seconds half and a 10 player Diamodns were going to get tired but for the first 20 minutes Diamonds were on top. With being a player down sometimes in the game they could be overrun but a solid performacne from captian Jodie Whorton-Eales reduced the chances for the home team. During the the final 10 mintues the midfield were working harder than any other part of the game and not because Brownhills had upped their game but because when the Diamonds defense had cleared the ball the attackers were to flat and were beaten to the ball. An overall good performance and the girls worked hard. FT 1-2 POM Jodie Whorton-Eales
Lichfield Diamonds 4 Wryley Pumas 1
With only playing Pumas a few weeks back the game was still fresh in peoples minds but it was a reverse of the game 2 weeks back. Both teams battled and played good football. It was Danielle Harley who broke the deadlock after a left footed cross from Katie Hitchcock was dropped by the keeper and Harley was there to tap home. Diamonds doubled their lead shortly after when Harley stormed into the box and fired an unstoppable shot. Diamonds could have gone on to score more but the enthusiasm and the dtermination of Pumas stopped that. It was Pumas who scored next after sloppy defending Pumas capitalized and drew 1 back. It was an entertaining game with both teams putting 100% effort in and Diamonds effort was rewarded when Steph Speck tapped in a Danielle Harley cross. HT 3-1.
Second half and Pumas started the better and looked dangerous everytime they went forward, but a much improved defense managed to hold out and keep the score at 3-1. Diamonds struggled to keep playing good football mainly due to the work rate of Pumas but managed to get another goal. It was Danielle Harley for her Hat-trick when she settled the ball into the far corner. Pumas were still looking dangerous and looked more likely to score but it was the home team who went closest when a threw ball from KAtie Hitchcock found Danielle Cummings who slid it the wrong side of the post. It was great play and Cummings was unfortunate not to cap her player of the match performance with a goal. FT 4-1.