Girl soccer aces meet their match
By James Fuller on Thursday, 24th May 2001.
GIRLS from a Haverhill school, juggling football and exams narrowly failed to win the final of a national soccer competition.
The girls under-16s team from Castle Manor Upper School had swept all before them this season, but they were finally beaten in the final of the English Schools' Football Association United Norwest Co-op Schools' Cup.
The girls went 1-0 up after four minutes with a penalty from Aimee Rawlings after four minutes of the game, played at Shrewsbury FC Gay's Meadows Ground.
But then, despite having one player sent-off, Bridge North School from Shropshire equalised just before half-time. Halfway through the second-half they scored again and hung on until full-time.
Katie Sanders, co-manager of the side and head of PE at the school, said: "The girls played absolutely brilliantly and we had more chances than they did but unfortunately they finished theirs. The girls were unlucky but credit to the winners they're the best team we've faced."
Julie Winterman, headteacher at Castle Manor, said: "It was a fantastic final and we were unlucky to lose. We are so proud of the team, they played so well. They are a credit to themselves, the school and the town."
Friends and family cheered the girls on, with two coach loads of about 70 people making the trip to Shrewsbury for the big game.
The girls, representing Suffolk in the final, had already won the County Cup.
There had been a few problems before the final when it was realised that the date clashed with five of the girls' GCSE humanities exam. However, The Wakemans School, Shrewsbury, came to the rescue by providing a room for the exam, which lasted from 9.30-11.15am.
Speaking on Tuesday, Katie Sanders, said: "The exam went fine. The girls did some revision last night, and this morning, and they all came out saying that they didn't think it had gone too badly."
The girls under-16s team from Castle Manor Upper School had swept all before them this season, but they were finally beaten in the final of the English Schools' Football Association United Norwest Co-op Schools' Cup.
The girls went 1-0 up after four minutes with a penalty from Aimee Rawlings after four minutes of the game, played at Shrewsbury FC Gay's Meadows Ground.
But then, despite having one player sent-off, Bridge North School from Shropshire equalised just before half-time. Halfway through the second-half they scored again and hung on until full-time.
Katie Sanders, co-manager of the side and head of PE at the school, said: "The girls played absolutely brilliantly and we had more chances than they did but unfortunately they finished theirs. The girls were unlucky but credit to the winners they're the best team we've faced."
Julie Winterman, headteacher at Castle Manor, said: "It was a fantastic final and we were unlucky to lose. We are so proud of the team, they played so well. They are a credit to themselves, the school and the town."
Friends and family cheered the girls on, with two coach loads of about 70 people making the trip to Shrewsbury for the big game.
The girls, representing Suffolk in the final, had already won the County Cup.
There had been a few problems before the final when it was realised that the date clashed with five of the girls' GCSE humanities exam. However, The Wakemans School, Shrewsbury, came to the rescue by providing a room for the exam, which lasted from 9.30-11.15am.
Speaking on Tuesday, Katie Sanders, said: "The exam went fine. The girls did some revision last night, and this morning, and they all came out saying that they didn't think it had gone too badly."
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