No stopping Hassy High girl aces

SCHOOLS FOOTBALL A SUPER six-a-side girls’ football team from Haslingden High School won all seven matches in the final of a Lancashire competition.

The team of U13 girls will now represent Blackburn Rovers in the North West final of the Kinder Sport UK Girls’ Cup and could end up in the national final.

The team comprised 12-year-olds Libby Humphreys, Abby Clarke, Lucy Spence, Beth MacDonald and Lucy Valentine, Chloe Leftly, 13, and the youngest member and goalie Millie Thompson, 11.

A total of 24 Lancashire teams entered the first round when they were split into four groups. Haslingden High School played five other teams in their group and qualified for the final in second place after playing some excellent football.

The matches were played for five minutes a side and in the first round the Haslingden team beat one school 6-0. The top two teams in all four groups went through to the final, including last year’s winning side Greenbank High School.

Lucy Valentine said: “Last year we didn’t take part in this competition, but we knew that Greenbank had won it previously and that two of their players also were on the girls’ team for Blackburn Rovers U14s.

“It was my job to mark their best player and I managed to only let her score one goal. The match finished 3-1 to us.”

In the final the team also played a local side from All Saints Catholic High School, Rawtenstall, and won 5-2

The team practice every Tuesday on the outdoor artificial grass pitch, but the competition was held inside at Blackburn Rovers Indoor Arena.

Millie was the youngest member of the team and the only Year 7 student to take part.

Beth, who was the team’s top goal scorer, said: “Millie managed to save some quite difficult shots that we thought ●● Haslingden High School’s U13s 6-a-side football team were going to go in.”

PE teacher Nikki Berko said: “All the girls played brilliantly. They scored some excellent goals and showed great character at the same time. I’m very proud of them.”

The North West final will be played in January. ●● Winning team, from left, Ben Wilson, Jack Waters, Max Constant and James Peacock.