It was meant to be a home game, but weeks of rain meant the Charnock pitch was waterlogged, so the match was switched to a 4G surface over in Barnsley. It was also the girl’s first game since November last year, so a bit of rust was expected.

Pogmoor kicked things off and straight away there was a proper battle in midfield. Pogmoor put the ball in the net early on, but it was offside and quickly chalked off. For the first ten minutes or so Pogmoor kept the pressure on, and Georgie had to be strong at the back to steady things.
New signing Estelle, playing her first match in a Charnock shirt, showed real spirit early on. She broke forward well and ran at Pogmoor, setting up Nevaeh to put them under pressure. At the other end Eva timed her tackles perfectly to clear well leading to a half chance for Rae.
Evie made a solid clearance that landed with Maisie, who got stuck in and Evie and Chloe were both alert as Pogmoor put pressure on Charnock’s defence. Amaya broke well when she could and put in some excellent tackles. Chloe then made a great save keep it at nil-nil, with Eva there to clear the ball.
Nevaeh had a chance from a decent Grace pass, and then Nevaeh went close again firing her shot into the side of the Pogmoor net. Chloe was in full voice by now, shouting booming instructions and keeping everyone switched on.
At the other end Evie cleared to safety, but Georgie was unlucky to take the clearance straight in her face and had to leave the field. Amelia came on, and Chloe followed that up with another great save after a goalmouth scramble. Charnock won a corner, but Pogmoor dealt with it well.
With Summer taking a clever throw-in, Charnock then started to build a bit of pressure. Amelia worked nicely into space and had a shot that went wide and Estelle, working hard, put in a well-timed clearance. Pogmoor then hit the post at the other end, a warning sign for Charnock, before Chloe kicked long to halfway. Charnock were growing into the game now and there was some lovely passing between Estelle, Amaya and Summer, while Eva and Evie stayed solid at the back.
Amelia made a strong run down the wing to push forward, and Nevaeh used three long throw-ins to keep Pogmoor pinned in their own half. Keavey did well to find Grace in space who had a half chance, before Chloe was busy again, forced to clear outside her area.
After a full-on half for both sides, the whistle went for half-time, with the score 0-0.

Charnock kicked off the second half with Rae leading the line and early on, Charnock went a bit quiet. With Pogmoor on top, they won a corner that flashed across the Charnock goal for Eva to clear. Things changed quickly thanks to some booming shouts from Chloe, who pulled off another save from a long-range effort. Amaya really started pushing forward, sliding a lovely through ball to Rose, and Georgie got back into the thick of it with two good throws. Eva headed clear, and then Chloe produced another outstanding save from a powerful shot, tipping it out for a corner. Estelle cleared that corner well, covering the pitch brilliantly.

Amaya linked up again with Rose to win a throw. Chloe stayed fearless and made yet another save, pushing the ball out for a corner. Grace played a neat one-two with Rae, and Rose drove into the area before being tackled as she tried to shoot. Charnock kept pressing, with two good throws from Amaya and another positive run down the wing from Amelia.
At the other end Chloe was shouting and saving again as Pogmoor pushed back hard. Charnock were under pressure, but holding on, Maisie doing well to win a corner, which she took. Amaya met it with her head but sent it wide.
Pogmoor then broke and were unlucky not to score, firing wide for a corner. From that corner Amaya broke away but was fouled by a two-handed push. Rose and Estelle came back on, and Summer was excellent down the right wing, winning a throw deep in the Pogmoor half. Nevaeh threw the ball long to Summer, and Rae had a shot.

Then came the moment nobody wanted. Pogmoor broke and Chloe rushed out to clear. The clearance rebounded off a Pogmoor player and rolled back into the Charnock net. A fluke goal and 1-0 to Pogmoor.

With just three minutes left Charnock chased the equaliser. Nevaeh had a great chance as the clock ticked down but fired over the bar. And in the final minute Charnock won a corner. Chloe came upfield, everyone pushed on, and Amaya tried a long shot. The final whistle followed soon after, and it finished 1-0 to Pogmoor.

After the game, manager James said it was a cruel way to lose after 15 weeks without a match. He spoke about early rust, how the girls found their rhythm, used space well, passed the ball and created danger. He mentioned tired legs late on but praised the effort and fight shown by every girl. He gave special mention to Estelle for an outstanding return after injury, Chloe for her brilliant saves and constant voice, and Amaya for closing everything down and driving the team forward.
James also reminded the squad that every player’s effort was noticed today. Girl of the Game went to Chloe, whilst Jamie was happy to hand over the parents’ award to Amaya.

It was great to be back playing football after a break that was far too long. Next week the girls are back in Barnsley again, this time against Pogmoor Whites in the league. Up the Charnock.