Coton Football Club

Great win for Coton U16 Girls as they head into cup final week. Against a very good Huntingdon side, the girls turned on the style today with 7 brilliant goals to only the single reply. Grace opened the scoring after Lexie had charged down the right and cut in to shoot. Her shot parried but Grace on hand to tuck away the rebound. Next a Lexie cross, and Amelie’s great first touch took her inside and she drilled her finish near post. Then a Tes-Amelie combo on the left, Amelie jinking inside and setting up Shannon to bend an effort in off the far post. A switch in positions and Lexie now burning up the left wing, cutting in and curling a rocket in the top bins. Second half now and Tes to Ilazki, on to Shannon who released Amelie for a quality twisting run, with those magnetic feet and a low finish for our 5th. Then a miscommunication between the Huntingdon keeper and defender and Grace pounced to run through and fire into an open net. Then an Ilazki slide-rule pass for Grace’s run and across the keeper for her hat-trick. A late consolation for Huntingdon after good work by their forwards forced us to concede the corner. Not dealt with well enough and a good drilled finish low into the corner to make it 7-1 at fulltime. A great game with quality throughout both teams. Next up, Newmarket in the cup final in Ely on Wednesday night. Please come along to cheer the girls on! 👍⚽️

A rare home game this morning for Coton U16 Girls, having not played at Coton since the start of October. And pressure was on in this cup semi-final, against opponents, Huntingdon, who currently sit third in the league but with games in hand on the teams above.

Huntingdon are a great side, with a good mix of quality, strength, pace, and it’s no surprise they’ve been doing so well this season, but today they came up against our girls in unbelievable form. We dominated this match from start to finish with neat quick short passing and dynamic through balls feeding the speed we now have all across the frontline. Whilst Huntingdon battled hard, it wasn’t long before Amelie picked the ball up high high on the left side and with so much skill, danced round the defenders along the line, skipped the challenges and fired in for 1-0. Seyma was first to everything in midfield, so quick and determined, and her touch brilliant today. Next to her, Tes was in top form, slowing it down and speeding it back up, the right pass every time. Clipped in behind, short for the one-two or recycling to maintain possession. Really good. Lexie in the pocket and playing against her school friends was out to make a point. And make it she did, with pace, skill and an eye for that killer ball. And Grace charging down that right wing at unbelievable speed, cutting in and causing chaos. Shannon up top had so much service today, it was only a matter of time before her goal would come. As we pressed the Huntingdon backline, Amelie nicked the ball high up, and a quick cross for Shannon to take a good first touch and fire in. 2-0. Alice and Elliyah on now. Huntingdon looked to get back in it and Cha was called upon to make one of her trademark blocks, but also her involvement today with our backline in great form, was a joy to watch. There is such a confidence in each other at the back now, and with Kate playing a cameo alongside AJ, we were just sliding that ball back and forth along the backline and back to Cha to lead the distribution. Always out of reach of the Huntingdon press, and always with skill and composure. Bam out wide, Lia out wide. The ball doing the work. And Huntingdon! Annie on now, and Lottie into the middle. Seyma clipped a ball into Amelie’s run and she tucked away it with her left for 3-0. On the bench we were really enjoying the football and didn’t want it to stop when the half time whilst blew.

Second half, and more of the same. Huntingdon were looking up for getting straight back in this game, but Shannon, receiving a difficult pass showed good strength to hold off the midfielder and thread a ball through to Lexie to run in with and coolly finish across the keeper for our 4th. Great work by Lottie on the left, recycled to Kate, interchange with Shannon and finally a Shannon shot from distance for 5-0. Too good. It surely couldn’t continue like this. Could this be our best all round performance ever? Then unfortunately for Tes, who had arguably been our player of the game today, made the right decision to play the ball back to Cha, but not with enough on her pass gave a gift for their striker 5-1. Nothing Cha could do. A good finish mind! Huntingdon heads back up, but not for long. Annie delivered a perfect ball to break the lines and Alice was on her bike, first to the ball, but with a tight angle, selected to chip, and what a goal, up and over the keeper for 6-1! Not long left now, but just enough for Shannon to help Tes feel better, by repeating that mistake, this time from further out, playing the pass back to Cha but so loose and another gift to their striker for 6-2. And that’s how it finished.

Didn’t want it to finish though! The football we are playing is awesome. Everyone looking to be involved, with a confidence on the ball, moving it quickly and with some cracking goals scattered throughout. The girls fully deserve their place in the final next month. Please come along to support them 👍⚽️

A third trip up in succession to Peterborough for Coton U16 Girls, after one failed visit due to a late match cancellation, the victory last weekend in the cup, and now this league game all against an every improving ICA team, albeit struggling with injuries.

With only AJ (who pulled up in the warmup) on the bench today, the formation picked itself. Shannon up top, with Amelie, Grace and Lexie marauding behind. Tes and Ilazki central, dictating play, and Cha between the sticks with Bam, Elliyah, Annie and Lottie ahead of her. ICA had some early joy, getting in behind with pace, but Cha was properly on it today and out quickly to avert the danger. Then from nowhere a Lexie Tes 1-2, on to Grace and across to Shannon to fire in under pressure from the defender. Disappointment for ICA after all their hard work, but a quality bit of play from our girls to open the scoring. We’d been struggling to get the ball properly under control on the bobbly pitch up until that point, but now we were cooking! Tes to Bam, up to Amelie to skin their right back and a cut back to Shannon again tightly marked and only option was a quick toe-poke into the far corner. Impressive! ICA came straight back though. Their efforts rewarded, although slightly unfortunately for us after a mix up let their attacker through. Cha again was quick and first to the ball to make the clearance, but this time a nasty bobble took it over her foot, leaving their striker running though to an open goal for a simple tap in. If ICA heads were up, they quickly went back down when Lexie’s quick and close control in the middle, worked an opening and she release a rocket from distance up and over the keeper into the top corner. Crazy goal! Well done Lex!! The half time whistle blew.

AJ led the team talk and injected some extra energy into the team before we went back out. Again ICA came out strong, but again the run of play was with us now. The passing was going well. All the girls were involved in the build up. From Cha playing neatly and calmly out to Bam or Tes (now at right back). Annie and Elliyah tackling strongly, and Lottie and Ilazki dominating the middle, even with a very impressive ICA centre-mid to contend with. Ilazki has such a calmness in possession, picking her passes and Lottie’s power driving past players or combining with Tes out on the right, meant the ball was doing the work and ICA were doing the running. Amelie’s mad control, always a joy to watch and with that super glue on her boots again today, dancing round defenders as if they weren’t there. A nice turn by Shannon in to Amelie and a quality ball slid through to Lexie’s run, checked, and a left foot finish under the keeper. So good. Then Lexie again, involved in everything today, with a ball through to meet Grace’s run, beat the defender and ball back across to Shannon who arrived before the keeper for her hattrick. A very impressive performance from Shannon, who missed last weeks game but was making up for it today! Grace was on fire, out for a long time through injury, but absolutely rampaging today. Burning down that left wing now after a switch with Amelie. Only thing that would stop her as she beared in on goal was a late tackle from their defender. Lexie handed Grace the ball for the pen and she duly dispatched it for 6. A nice gesture by Lexie who was on for her hattrick at the time of that penalty. But the game wasn’t quite over and Lexie wasn’t going to leave the field without her third. She collected it on the edge of the box, spotted a space and danced through at pace making the angle for a calm finish. AJ had been sensibly sitting this one out as we have a semi final next weekend that we hope she will be able to play in, but, watching the celebrations, she wanted to be out there on the pitch with her teammates now. A quick substitution and a final few minutes for her to chase around in the middle, and be a general nuisance before fulltime.

Make no mistake, ICA are a very good sides with very good players. But the play from us today, and every goal was of the highest quality. Even on a difficult pitch, the football you girls are playing now is so so good. Well done 👍⚽️

Coton FC U11 Girls are recruiting! School years 6 (and 5) welcome. Please get in touch to join this exciting and talented new team 👍⚽️

Merry Christmas! Wishing you all the best for the New Year! 👍🎄⚽️

Coton U16 Girls were worthy winners today away against a struggling Cambridge City side, rooted to the bottom of the table.

After many years of close battles against so many City teams at different age groups, we expected another today, but this was to be a very different game. You could see moments of quality from individuals in their team, but such was the brilliance and utter domination of our girls, it was only scraps today for the City players. Grace started the scoring within the first 5 minutes, after we’d threatened from the off. She’d added another within minutes, almost a carbon copy with neat skills from Shannon slipping her in to slot across the keeper. Next up was Amelie. Played in wide on the left after Seyma and Ilazki, both in complete control of the middle, combined. The City defender pushed Amelie to the goal line, but with her trademark sole roll, she skipped through and then released an audacious chip that dropped into the far top corner. Absolute quality! Shannon had a few chances next. Two ruled out for close offsides, another hitting the bar and another going over. Lexie, also had chances after her pace and skill got her into the box. Not long later, Grace completed her hat trick, Shannon and Alice combining, a nice first touch from Grace to maintain her run and a drilled finish that the City keeper could only watch. Annie, AJ, Lia and Bam were immense, calmly mopping up and setting us back on the front foot. The introduction of Kate, first appearance after injury and still with strapping on her wrist, closed out any hope City might have had of getting back into the game. Ilazki was already bossing the midfield, and Seyma was in beast mode, first to every ball, even the ones she had no right to. So Kate was free to push further forward, linking the attack. Bam was playing on the wing now and Elliyah looking quality behind her, taking a touch, looking for the passes and never giving the City winger a sniff. Captain Charlotte had hardly had a touch, only the odd one when our defence remembered she was there. As the half drew to a close, Lexie fought hard to win a bouncing 50/50 just inside the City box, turned and fired in her shot for our fifth.

We switched things around in the second half, partly to give opportunities for the girls to try out different positions, and partly to try to even things up. We took some time to adjust, but once we’d found the rhythm, we were amazing again. A majestic touch by Amelie to control a high ball kicked out by the City keeper, way out wide on the big Girton pitch, followed up by a rocket cross fired over to Alice to bring down, touch past the defender and thunder her strike into the back of the net. Honestly, top top quality from both girls. A brilliant goal! AJ up top now, and not long before she was on the scoresheet too. Shannon enjoying it at the heart of midfield, dictating play and sliding AJ in for a well taken effort. She could get used to this!! In fact, she did…more skill by Shannon, in to AJ again, back out to Grace, skipping inside the defence and laying back to AJ to slot in her second. Moments later, and looking for her hat trick, AJ rifled another effort at goal, but this time the crossbar denied her. Such was the change of playing positions and formation, City were having a couple of chances of their own. Most chances had been defended well by our, now, back two of Lia and Elliyah, when their central defending partner Seyma had wandered into midfield. But now City crafted a chance, moved quickly from right to left and finding the winger with time and space just outside the box. Captain for the game in the absence of injured Tes, Cha had had little to do this half, but as the City striker closed in, out came Cha to perfectly execute one of her trademark blocks. Fantastic! Another clean sheet for her team. Just before the final whistle, and having snapped at lots of previous efforts, Shannon finally closed out the game. A deserved goal, after unusually struggling to find the net today. Ilazki, won the ball again in the middle, popped it out to Grace, now marauding down the right. Beating her defender and whipping in the cross. An AJ flick and great first touch by Shannon, bringing it down and slamming the ball into the back of the net. The final whistle followed quickly.

Feels bad to be critical of a City side who seemed to be made up of players we’d never seen before, some from the age group below, and all doing their best. But such are the high standards set by City as a club over the years that we did expect more of a challenge. Of course you can only play what’s in front of you and, oh did our girls do that! Quality today. Some brilliant flowing moves and great finishes, all backed up by a mean defence. A joy to watch girls! 👍⚽️

Group stage of the cup for Coton U16 Girls this morning. Playing at Comberton on the 3G for the second week running, against Longstanton from the league below. We’d played once before in a summer tournament but this would be our first meeting at 11v11, and it turned out to be a game with a difference!…

Both teams were up for this from the off. We were quick to find our rhythm today; Shannon orchestrating the midfield, with Tes and Seyma behind her and Alice, Grace and Lexie ahead. Longstanton were well organised and all their players worked very hard to break up our flow. We quickly identified a super speedy and skilful winger, as their main threat and who required close attention, and our back four of Bam, Annie, AJ and Lia managed the threat well, helped out by Cha whenever the ball made it through. An unfortunate injury to AJ meant Elliyah was off the bench and into the action early. Quickly followed by Lottie and Ilazki to take over in the midfield. With all our girls performing well, and the passing combinations working, the gulf between the two teams became clearer and clearer. By the end of the first half we’d scored 10 goals to no reply, with an Alice hattrick, a Grace brace, a thundering header from Seyma after Lexie had whipped in a pinpoint corner, and four from Shannon including a quality chipped set and volley following nice work by Ilazki. The half time whistle blew but it was hard to spot a player on either team who seemed to be enjoying the game.

The game was already won so both coaching teams agreed to try to make things more even by switching things up a bit. Longstanton brought on all of their subs to outnumber us and mean we had far less time and space on the ball. Also we switched the Longstanton goal to the 9v9 size which worked really well to even things up. Longstanton drew first blood with a well taken finish by their speedy winger as she escaped her marker and fired a rocket that a retreating Cha got a touch on but not by enough to keep it out. Seyma worked hard on the right wing to try to get one back, scoring probably 6 or 7 times, but unfortunately only in the full-size goals behind our new target! Lexie remained determined though and managed to wriggle free of the Longstanton defence and neatly slot in. We continued to work the ball around to create chances but Longstanton were defending really well now, and creating chances of their own. It took a long range effort from Tes to finally beat their keeper again, but this half had been much more closely contested and, although a bit unusual, defintely made for a more entertaining game overall. Both teams left the field, this time with smiles all round!

Big thanks to Longstanton for making the trip over and playing us. We know you were apprehensive about this game beforehand, but also we know you’ll be super proud of all your players today - they were great! Also a massive well done to our girls - it can be easy to slip into bad habits when playing in these sort of games, but that didn’t happen once and you played some brilliant stuff, yet again! 👍⚽️

Plenty to be nervous about as Coton U16 Girls took on Cambourne on the CVC 3G pitch this morning. Although we’d won all the points, those recent games against Cambourne had been too close for comfort. With both teams losing some of their best players this summer, our team’s historical struggles on 3G surfaces, Cambourne’s recent great form, not to mention Storm Amy making the flight of the ball unpredictable, we had no idea how this one would go. Sorry for the long write up. So much to talk about in a fantastic performance by our girls. Maybe go and make a cup of tea before tackling this one…!

Often guilty of a slow start, our girls were on fire from start to finish today. New team captain, Tesni won the toss and elected to face away from the low sun. And a first outing of the season for our super Dash Aviation white kits. Grace had missed training this week, nursing a swollen knee, but since signing at the backend of last season she’s added a huge threat up front for us with her dynamism in the press, and blistering pace. So only into the first minute when Bam collected and fed Shannon sitting behind the front three, her turn and poked ball released Grace who put on the afterburners and was out of sight, finishing with a driven strike before anyone had caught their breath. 1-0! The girls moved the ball around with growing confidence. Cambourne chased and chased but the ball was moving fast and with accuracy. Ilazki’s previous season had been disrupted by injury, but this season she is back to her best, silky skills to beat players, simple turns, clever movement in the middle and with bounds of bravery. Her pinpoint ball between the lines met Amelie’s run with perfection. Amelie cut in front of her defender, opened up and fired the ball beyond the keeper. 2-0! Really nice play now by all the girls. There were many moments in this game where everything just clicked and the ball moved so quickly. Us coaches felt very proud. Seyma was alongside Ilazki in midfield, running and running, first to every ball. She slipped a neat ball in to Shannon ahead of her. With the retreating defenders, Shannon had time to turn and dribble forward. But guilty of holding on a little too long, when Alice’s powerful run was the right option, the Cambourne midfield worked back and were able to make the tackle before the ball was released. The ball still bobbling though, and Amelie first to it, chopping across the box and onto her left foot for a majestic chipped finish over their keeper. 3-0! Change of Goalie for Cambourne. More great work by Amelie again. Her brilliant cross somehow kept out when Shannon looked certain to score. Ball recycled and another chance for Shannon but the new keeper smothered the chance. Grace running through collided with the keeper and needed to come off. But our girls upped the pressure. Lottie on now, making her first appearance after an unfortunate injury in preseason. Calm with great composure and eye for the pass. Sitting in alongside Ilazki with Seyma moving ahead of them and Shannon up top. Alice’s confidence on show now against her old team. She has been great in training and bringing that form into the matches now. Storm Amy was quietening down, but Storm Alice was just getting started. Bursting onto a through ball after Shannon and Seyma battled on the edge, and firing in. 4-0! Time to change it up a bit. Ilazki off for rest. Elliyah on at left back, Amelie moving across to the right with Bam moving up on to the left wing. Seyma dropping to Centre Half and Shannon back into midfield with AJ moving up to striker. Amelie whipped the ball across to Alice, who made a great turn and tapped the ball back for Shannon to drill low past the keeper. 5-0! Bam was flying down the left, causing havoc for the Cambourne defenders, combining with an overlapping Elliyah. Alice, really on fire, turned on the edge and again slipped in Amelie, on the right now, to chase. So calm with the ball, and as strong on her left as her right. Whenever a chance falls to Amelie you always feel like she is going to bury it. Past the defender and cutting back to fool the keeper, Amelie neatly tucked the ball into the far corner with her left foot for her hat-trick. 6-0! Cambourne had battled well, but with every one of our girls fully on it, there had been few opportunities. Any sniff of a chance had been dealt with by an outstanding Annie at the back. Stepping out for strong tackles, covering where needed, dropping if necessary, and involving Cha when required. Quietly going about her work without fuss, but with a power and poise that is greatly appreciated throughout her team. Never a wrong decision and consistently brilliant in every match. She epitomises a team hungry for success again this season. Half time couldn’t arrive soon enough for Cambourne.

The second half started brightly for us again, AJ had been enjoying herself up front in the first half, reminding us that while she is now an incredible defender, with bags of pace and strength, she started her football life as a striker, and still has an eye for goal. In training this week she was consistently banging the ball into the back of the net. So when Ilazki won possession in the middle and moved it on to Shannon to turn and slip a pass into the space behind, AJ burned through, opened up and slotted a finish back across, giving the keeper no chance. 7-0! Elliyah was a menace; our press had taken on a whole new level, Cambourne hurried to clear their lines with an ever rushing AJ, Amelie and now Elliyah closing them down. The ball only making it as far Shannon who played a quick one-two off AJ and poked home past the onrushing keeper. 8-0! Tes was in midfield now, and with plenty of vocal encouragement from an ever louder bench with a still injured Lexie making a guest appearance and a recovering Grace leading the noise. Tes is super calm on the ball, doing the simple things well, physical with the opposition when required and spotting the passes before anyone else. And we were relentless. Cambourne, by their own admission, were having a bit of an off day, but also they were having it when every one of our girls was a 10 out of 10. Tes played the ball into Elliyah’s run and as she approached box, the defender had to make a last-ditch tackle, conceding the corner. We’re super excited to have Elliyah in the team. Bags of potential and demonstrating she can play anywhere on the field. Amelie whipped in the corner, and as it bobbled in the box, with players scrambling to get the first touch, Elliyah poked it home for her first Coton goal. 9-0! Out from defence now for Seyma, with Ilazki dropping back and Annie and Bam either side of her. Felt like we’ve had to wait a long time for Seyma to join this team, but it was worth the wait! Her energy is infectious!! Tes played the pass out to Alice, in to AJ who spotted Seyma’s run, jockeying with the defender and keeper and finally a drilling a neat finish. 10-0! We’d moved players around so much today, giving everyone a chance to try different things. It was a wonder anyone could keep track of where they were playing. But Cambourne, for all our possession and all our goals, had never given up. And as the game approached the end, a couple of mistakes, maybe our only of the match, let their rapid winger through for a great chance. Although we never want to concede, a consolation for the Cambourne attack who had not seen much of the ball, wasn’t going to be the end of the world. But hold up, don’t forget, we’ve got Cha in goal. A consolation? She wasn’t feeling it! Making a great block for the first shot and recovering to make an equally brilliant second save for the follow up. The danger averted? Not quite, as another Cambourne attacker joined the play and worked the ball neatly back onto her stronger right foot, thundering a strike across goal. Even an outstretched, diving Cha couldn’t keep that one out. 10-1, and cue the celebrations from Cambourne before the final whistle blew. Fair play. That’s what you deserve when you never give up.

Cambourne will 100% bounce back from this one. Lots of talent in their group and no question they’ll look to put this right in their next game. The challenge for us will be to maintain the levels achieved today! Well done girls! What a mega performance to go with that mega scoreline 👍⚽️

First off, apologies to everyone for the 1-week delay with this report!…

Last Saturday, the girls faced their second league match of the season and the first big test. After Newmarket Town beat Cambridge City 6-1 the week before and with rumours that they had picked up a few new players in the off season, Coton knew they had to come out strong. Not to be told, however, the girls decided that they play best when they are happy - so with smiles on their faces they came out happy…after a quick sniff of the new matchballs!! 🤷‍♂️

With the sides seeming to be fairly evenly matched, the game started with a lot of to-ing and fro-ing but Coton seemed relaxed and confident. The ball spent a lot of time in the midfield where Kate and Seyma were decisive. Seyma beat player after player to the ball and Kate calmly took on anyone who approached her using her skill to keep the ball, rather than her body. It was what looked like a slightly speculative high chip from Kate that Amelie took on her first run on the left, eventually using the outside of her foot to lob it towards goal and over the keeper. 1-0 Coton.

In an unusual turn of events, Coton scored first what promised to be a tight match!!

Newmarket kept working though and they tried to use their speedy winger on our back left over and over again. Annie and Tes worked really well as a pair to cover her. The most dangerous of her runs came from an early ball played in but it was abruptly stopped by a tackle from Annie. The Newmarket player turned out to be offside anyway. It was a physical game, especially in the midfield, and it was not too long before Coton had a free kick after Kate was taken down and had to go off, unfortunately it turns out, with a fractured wrist. Ilazki stepped in and stepped up. She took a free kick which landed well for Shannon. Back to Alice, Shannon again, and then to Alice who was able to fire it into the top corner. 2-0 Coton.

But Newmarket pressed on. At the other end, Cha came a long way out to stop a ball that was running at her (and being chased), and there was a collision between her and the attacking Newmarket player. The ref gave the penalty. Fingernails were being bitten on the sidelines but the ever-calm Cha saved it with a dive to her right. A bottom-corner or top-corner target would have scored it for Newmarket but the mid-level ball was brilliantly saved in the air by Cha.

At half time, Coach Darren turned up and with him and Emilia on the bench the volume suddenly went up a few notches!!! After the rest, both teams came back out strong again. Lexie did a power of work moving up towards goal on the right, supported by Lia and Seyma, and Seyma had some moments of technical brilliance dancing around the opposing players. At the other end, AJ controlled the defence, talking to them, and the four backs played as a unit, always backing each other up. Lia protected the back right by tackling strong and covering her player on runs, AJ ran down multiple fast balls and players, and Tes and Annie kept that speedy winger at bay and also managed to pass forwards accurately as well! Coton’s midfield and forwards looked strong and coherent too. Lexie used her speed to keep probing on the right, Amelie had Velcro on her boots and glided around the Newmarket defence. Grace’s work rate was something else as she nipped around defenders. Shannon made decisive moves offloading the ball quickly and Alice’s fast feet and fast strikes tested the Newmarket keeper. It has to be said that their keeper made a series of stunning saves in the second half (4, 5, who’s counting?) and Coton did not score again.

Midway through the second half, de facto Coach Olly was spotted on the home spectator’s side, appearing to mostly be keeping Coach Rob and Boxing Bex apart! (On that, stay tuned: the charity wrestling match will take place at the end of season party!) Once Olly was back on the bench side, it is safe to say that the volume again went up a few notches!!

Although the final score was 2-0, Coton looked in control of the match. The win was really the result of two things: some quality football and, possibly more importantly, playing as a team. Communication on the pitch, backing each other up, and hard graft won this one with every player winning their individual match ups. Bring on the rest of the season 💪💪💪

Thank you to Newmarket for the good game, we’ll look forward to the rematch! Speedy recovery to Kate, we want to see you back on the pitch soonest!! 👍⚽️