U-12 Strikers Own The Field Against North London

The U-12 Chatham Strikers were hosting the North London Wildcats at home on Tuesday evening, and were determined to keep their hold on 1st place with a good showing. Chatham managed to capture another win beating North London 3-1.

Chatham was short 2 key starters due to injury, so the Strikers were focused on not having a let down. Chatham did however come out flat and were caught watching the Wildcats control the play and outwork the strikers at both ends of the field. Chatham started to pick up their pace and intensity, but not until a great individual effort from co-captain Kristen Calabrese, who single handedly carried the ball past the London defence and broke in alone on goal, giving Chatham a 1 – 0 lead. This helped Chatham gain some much needed momentum and with the half nearly over, Allyson Huckle sent in a long, high cross into the 18 yard box that found the feet of Emily McFeat. After a brief scramble resulting from McFeat’s shot on net, Ceara Travis jumped on the rebound and buried it in the back of the net for a 2 goal lead. 

The 2nd half saw Chatham revert to some bad habits as they again sat back and let London control the play and eventually a turnover in front of their net, and an ensuing high shot over Chatham goalie Brooke Foster’s outstretched arms, allowed the Wildcats back into the game. Chatham woke up after London scored and picked up their pace, and as a result only minutes later, Kaylee Boulley recorded the daily double! She had already played goal in the 1st half and shut out the Wildcats, now she was playing midfield and deked through a couple of Wildcat defenders and scooped a high shot over the North London goalie to give Chatham back a two goal lead.

Chatham would close out the game with some inspired play and walked away with a 3 – 1 victory to remain undefeated at home and in 1st place in the division.