Murieston U14 Girls Reds

🔴 Musselburgh 2013 2–5 Murieston Reds

What a difference a week makes!

The coaching team couldn’t have been happier for the girls today. Every single one of them was at it from the first whistle, and the composure, intensity and quality shown from back to front was brilliant.

Tier 1 is a tough environment for a first-year U14 team, but these girls have been fantastic. We’ve come breathtakingly close to taking points from some of the strongest second-year teams in the league, while strangely finding some of the games where we’ve expected to pick up points a little more difficult. Sometimes those fine margins just don’t fall your way.

But we knew something was building, and today it all came together against a Musselburgh side we know well and have a lot of respect for.

From the off, the Reds were on it. The pressure and intensity paid off when Leaha closed down a loose back pass before showing great composure to calmly slot home the opener.

From there, Murieston really took control. What was particularly pleasing was the versatility in the performance. The girls were able to mix up how they played depending on what the game required — composed and solid at the back, creative through midfield and showing a real killer instinct in front of goal.

The two goals conceded came from two brilliantly struck free kicks from Musselburgh, but otherwise the girls managed the game extremely well.

A couple of special mentions today.

First to our hat-trick hero and POTM Maya, who produced three unbelievable finishes. A beautifully composed lob from distance, a top-bins strike and, for the hat-trick, something that can only be described as a right-footed Roberto Carlos curler! ⚽⚽⚽

It was also fantastic to welcome back one of the OG 2013 Reds, Kayleigh, for a trial game after a few years away at Hearts — and she marked her “re-debut” in the perfect way by getting herself on the scoresheet. ❤️

Most importantly, win, lose or draw, we will always ask our girls to represent themselves and Murieston in the right way. Respect and sportsmanship matter regardless of the result, and our girls will always be expected to shake hands and show respect to their opponents at the final whistle.

A brilliant team performance, three well-earned points and, most importantly, the Reds looking back to their best. 🔴⚽

Murieston Reds 0 – 1 Dalkeith 🔴
29/08/26

Not our day, and not quite the Reds at their usual best.

Murieston fell behind to a disappointing early goal and never really managed to settle into our normal rhythm. After going a goal down, we perhaps tried to force the game a little too much rather than showing our usual patience and composure.

It was also a different type of game for the girls to manage, with Dalkeith happy to slow things down and run the seconds off the clock at every opportunity from very early in the match.

The second half was a different story, with Murieston beginning to dominate the play and creating more than enough opportunities to turn the game around. On another day, the number of chances created could easily have produced several goals.

Unfortunately, our decision-making in the final third just wasn’t quite there. At times we passed when we should have shot, shot when the better option was a pass, and when we did get it right, some good goalkeeping kept us out.

The girls kept pushing right until the end, but the breakthrough simply wouldn’t come.

Sometimes football is like that. We weren’t at our best, we didn’t take our chances, and ultimately we were punished for it.

Not our day. It happens!

We dust ourselves down, learn from it and move on. 🔴⚽

Murieston Reds 1 – 3 Boroughmuir 2012 Purples 🔴

Another tough challenge met head-on by the Reds against a talented side a year older than ourselves.

The Joelle Murray League returned for Murieston with a difficult test against a Boroughmuir team who have won all but one of their games this season.

The Reds started with their usual incredible intensity, pressing aggressively from the first whistle and making life difficult for the visitors. That pressure was rewarded in the 3rd minute when Leaha raced through one-on-one and finished coolly to give Murieston an early lead.

The intensity continued throughout the first half and, in truth, only an outstanding performance from the Boroughmuir goalkeeper prevented the Reds from extending their advantage significantly. Several excellent saves kept the visitors in the game, including an incredible double save from the penalty spot.

Boroughmuir did eventually find an equaliser, and the teams went into half time level at 1–1.

The second half developed into a really physical and competitive battle, with both teams showing huge hunger and desire to win. The game remained finely balanced, but two individual moments of real quality from Boroughmuir ultimately proved the difference, including an unstoppable 30-yard free kick.

The coaches are incredibly proud of the way these girls continue to go toe-to-toe with older and some of the very best teams Tier 1 has to offer. Every time they step onto the pitch, they make sure the opposition know they have been involved in a proper competitive game.

Truthfully, we are a wee bit gutted not to have taken at least a point from this one, but that’s football.

Plenty to be proud of, plenty to learn from, and another performance that shows just how far this group continues to come. 🔴⚽

Come along and support our girls 🔴⚽️

EDINBURGH CUP PLATE FINAL

After some fantastic whole team performances on Friday and Saturday to secure the plate play-off on Sunday, unfortunately it was not to be.

The girls faced an older, very physical team and were just unable to find their usual rhythm against such physically strong opponents. Although the girls themselves came away disappointed not to have secured some silverware, the coaches were incredibly proud of every single girl for their effort, commitment and teamwork over the whole tournament.

They represented Murieston fantastically all weekend.

Every difficult match and every disappointment is an opportunity to learn from and we know that this wonderful group of girls will come back stronger next time.

Thoughts now turn to the rest of our season and continuing to play with our heads held high.

EDINBURGH CUP 26

After two fantastic days of football from our girls - hard work, determination and most of all excellent team work 💪🏻 we find ourselves in the Plate Final tomorrow. ❤️💙🤍

12:20 KO Ainslie Park. Come along and support our girls if you can.