Regional Year 10 Match – 28/7/07, Greenbank Liverpool

Merseyside 16  v 17 Lancashire

The final competitive handball game of the season saw a thrilling regional match played out between Merseyside and Lancashire u15 girls. The previous meeting between these 2 teams produced an extremely close match with Merseyside edging to victory in an exciting, close fought game. So it was always on the cards that this game would follow suit and it didn’t fail to deliver.

Merseyside started the game well and opened a 2 goal lead which would have been more but for some fine saves from stand in keeper for the day Mel McCann. However, once Lancashire settled into their rhythm they used the experience and skill of Chloe Lam-Moores to open up the Merseyside defence and slowly build a lead. When Merseyside thought they had arranged their defence to nullify Lam-Moores, Nicola Quick began to shoot powerfully from distance to keep the Lancashire momentum up and keep their lead building. At one point they had established a 6 goal advantage over the opposition from the other end of the East Lancs Road. It wasn’t until the final 15 minutes that Merseyside began to slowly real in Lancashire through some quick attacks and excellent centre play from Paige Weaver and Laura Black. With only minutes to go and Lancashire in the lead by 3, Merseyside went for broke with a player to player press. They quickly gained possession several times to keep the gap closing. However, time ran out for Merseyside and a goal on the buzzer wasn’t enough and Lancashire claimed a deserved 1 goal victory.

Sad news followed the game as it was discovered that in attempting to save the final shot, Lancashire keeper Mel McCann may have fractured her knee. Everyone involved wishes her a speedy recovery with the opening games of next season not too far away.

Despite the injury to McCann, the game had many highlights, with several fine performances. Lam-Moores and Weaver shone for their teams and we’re ably supported by 2 squads which contained players that had been nurtured in the North West’s various junior leagues. It seems that the development of the women’s sport in the Counties is moving in the right direction and next season’s Regional Championships will be as keenly fought.

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