LOASS report on how the club claimed two trophies on the same day, at the London Youth Games and also the Canvey Island Tournament.
Loass U-14 girls were prominent in The London Youth Games held at The National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace on Sunday 6th July 2014 .
The London Borough of Waltham Forest took the silverware on the day with a team comprised of 8 Loass players. Having been unbeaten in the first league phase, the second continued with similar success, only losing one match against Hackney, who included two Loass members, with Lauren George scoring two late goals of the highest quality.
During the knockout round, Waltham Forest defeated Sutton 2-0 in the semi-finals, setting up a final against the power house that is the Hammersmith & Fulham, whose players feature for Chelsea’s own Academy during the regular season.
The match ended in a draw after Waltham Forest, who had played a strong match and held the ball for most of the game, conceded a late equaliser with the last kick of normal time .The final went into a sudden-death penalty shootout in which Loass’ regular striker, Shawna Harvey, became goalkeeper and saved the first penalty, with Aaliyah Boyea eventually netting the decider., giving Waltham Forest their first success in this tournament in 12 years.
Loass FC Girls Head Coach, Joe Sheehan, said “Competing and succeeding against 33 London Boroughs that consisted of players representing the likes of Charlton, Brentford, Chelsea and Spurs during regular season, gives me great pleasure and shows the advances we have made not only as a club but as a Borough team .I would like to thank Dean Roberts and all in his department at the Waltham Forest Sports development section for his belief and hard work in putting together the resources ,which have now paid dividends for the Borough.”
Sheehan continued “To win a tournament in Europe’s biggest youth sports competition is an incredible achievement both for the Borough of Waltham Forest and also for LOASS FC Girls.”
On the same day, the U-11 Girls’ squad succeeded in their own right by going unbeaten once again and delivering more silverware during the Island Girls tournament held at Canvey Island .The sweet smell of success was all the better when the hosts of the tournament became Loass FC Girls opponents in the final. This match, also ,like the Youth Sports Tournament Final, ended in a sudden-death penalty shootout. Once again, Jessie Burke guarding the net showed nerve by saving during the shootout ,which allowed the Loass penalty takers to slot into the target with relative ease and little pressure.
Sheehan commented “Through the hard work and determination of the Loass FC family, the U-11 Girls could very well be the ones lifting aloft future U-14 London Youth Festival trophies .This is the next generation of players and they have some real positive role models to look up to in the U-14 squad.”
The U-14s will be holding an exhibition friendly match versus USA opponents, Washington DC FC, hosted by Waltham Forest at the newly refurbished Drapers Field in Leyton on 5th August .
Whilst the U-11s will hope to continue their run of success at the St.Clere’s Tournament in Essex next Sunday 13th July, they will finish their summer matches by travelling to the Bristol Academy invitational tournament at the end of the month.
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