SWINDON Spitfires under 13s secured fourth place in the Oxford Girls League with a 2-0 victory away at local rivals Swindon Town.
On the weekend when the two clubs’ first team meeting in the Ladies County Cup final fell victim to the weather, the youngsters took the game to the home side in the first half with quick balls to strikers Daniella Granato and Amy Connaghan causing problems.
Gradually the Spitfires attacking machine turned pressure into opportunities and attempts on goal came from Granato, Connaghan, Katie Dellow, Chiarna Deller and Kat Reynolds, which forced a couple of good saves from the Swindon keeper.
Spitfires did not have the first half all to themselves, though, as the home side battled their way back into the game before half time and came close to scoring from a corner.
The opening stages of the second half saw Swindon take control, and Jorjah Skinner and Serenn Sanghera were forced to put in some superb tackles to keep them at bay.
Another chance for Swindon came as they broke down the wing and Spitfires keeper Abby Fuller failed to collect the cross, but she soon recovered to keep her clean sheet intact with a good reflex save.
Minutes later Spitfires had the lead, as Granato broke from inside her own half and went on a driving run into the box, and slotted the ball past the keeper to give her side a 1-0 lead.
As Town tried to haul themselves back into the contest Granato struck again to make it 2-0 with a chipped shot over the keeper to kill off the game.
The home side came close to a consolation but a last ditch tackle from Liz Parry and good work from Fuller helped ensure Spitfires finish the season in fourth place.
Meanwhile, Spitfires under 15s chalked up a 5-0 success over visiting Trowbridge Wanderers.
After taking a quick lead inside two minutes when Hayley Shipp’s shot from the halfway line bounced over the Wanderers keeper, and Spitfires created a host of chances but couldn’t convert.
Shipp made it 2-0 on 36 minutes after being set up by Mya McKnight.
In the second half Spitfires again had the better chances, although keeper Ellie Cook saw a lot more action than the first period.
Niamh Montague netted Spitfires’ third on 46 minutes from a pinpoint cross by Shannon Kinsella, and again found the net in the 57th minute.
McKnight wrapped the scoring up in stoppage time after having earlier spurned half a dozen chances.
Spitfires under 16s also netted five, but ended up on the losing side as hosts Marston Saints went one better.
At half time Spitfires were 5-2 down, but rallied well before missing out 6-5. Spitfires’ goals came from Chantelle Parry, Susmita Shahi, Hannah Gulliver, and Bethany Turner (2).
Elsewhere Spitfires under 12s concluded their season with a 5-0 win at Carterton to finish in fifth place, but the under 10s slipped up 4-2 at Oxford City although they remain in third.
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