St Bart’s U13 girls make history with County Cup triumph

Last week the St Bart’s U13 girls football team set off to Cantley Park in Wokingham to play The Piggott School, with the aim to make history and win the Berkshire School Football Association Elite Cup for the first time.

The talented team included Freya Barr (Year 8), Lucia Biais Zambelli (Year 7), Tilly Clare (Year 7), Rose Cooper (Year 8), Isla East (Year 8), Freya Ilsley (Year 8), Alice Kirby (Year 8), Olivia Lewis (Year 8), Hattie Mason (Year 8), Jessie McCurtin - Captain (Year 8), Amy Price (Year 7), Izzy Rands (Year 7), Freya Smith (Year 7), and Poppy Smith (Year 8).

In order to make the final, the St Bart’s U13 team had already executed a fantastic run in the Cup, claiming victories over Charters School, Brackenhale School and The Marist School.

The final kicked off at 1:30pm on Thursday afternoon and St Bart’s faced a well-drilled and organised Piggott School side, who took the initiative in the first 20 minutes.

St Bart’s weathered the storm though, soaked up the pressure and then started to get a foot-hold in the game.

After half-time St Bart’s made two substitutions, bringing on Olivia and Tilly.

Ten minutes into the second-half, Tilly drove the ball into the box, resulting in a Piggott School handball that gave St Bart’s a penalty.

Up stepped Alice, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner for 1-0.

Piggott School pushed on with some great attacking play that lead to a stunning save from Freya S in goal, and some fantastic defending from Rose, Lucia and Hattie.

With a few minutes to go and everybody's blood pressure rising, St Bart’s delivered a beautiful goal, resulting from Olivia’s great touch and pass to Amy who found herself in acres of space to slot home.

The final whistle saw a jubilant St Bart’s side celebrate a 2-0 win and claim the honour of becoming County Cup Champions.

The team have been supported and motivated all the way by the dedicated St Bart’s PE department.

Miss Bilcliff (PE Teacher) and Miss Ostinelli (Head of PE), who accompanied the team, said: “Football is the fastest growing girls sport in the country and at St Bart`s football is now one of our main elite girls sports.

“We have a great number of girls, in all year groups, training and taking part in league and cup fixtures across the school year, with a number also playing club football outside of school.

“This is a fantastic achievement and it demonstrates the impact of hard work and opportunities.

“From turning up to all the after school practices, to attending home and away fixtures, and to playing some brilliant football along the way, we couldn’t be prouder of the girls' efforts.”