LOASS FC report from the Enfield Town LFC Tournament, where their U-11s reached a third final in six weeks and their Ladies’ team finished as runners-up in their very first competition.
Sunday 29th June began as a bright sunny day for participants at the Enfield Town FC’s invitational 5 a-side tournament. Discerning teams had been invited from as far afield as Brighton and Leicester and had all arrived with the hope of taking away one of the summer’s most coveted prizes. LOASS FC Girls were represented by seven teams including U-11s, U-12s, U-13s, U-14s and Senior Ladies.
Once the games got underway, it was clear within LOASS U-11 camp that there would really only be one outcome. The U-11 girls had previously been in similar situations during the summer, which had honed their spirit and resilience. They went through the qualifying rounds unbeaten, keeping a clean sheet and scoring 21 goals, which included a victory over the tournament hosts.
The U-11s took their spirit into the semi-final stage where their opponents from Boreham Wood raised their game to take the undefeated LOASS FC to a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. The tension was tangible as both teams gathered their selected penalty takers on the halfway line. Both goalkeepers were awaiting the referees instructions behind the touch line. The first five penalty series ended in stalemate, which then took the tie to sudden death where Loass defender Jaena Tolliday mirrored the first successful penalty by slotting into the bottom left corner. Goalkeeper Jessie Burke duly saved with her left leg whilst diving to her right, which took LOASS U-11s into their third final in 6 weeks.
Leigh Ramblers FC were worthy opponents for LOASS FC in the final having defeated the hosts Enfield Town FC in the other semi final. Once again LOASS FC continued their unstoppable scoring prowess with a comfortable 3-0 win at full time. LOASS FC U-11s were crowned champions of the Enfield Town FC Tournament.
The U-13 age group saw LOASS represented by two squads and although both reached their side of the draw semi-finals, their journey ended at that stage after two fiercely contested matches. They then met in a 3rd place play off match to round off a fabulous contest, while the U-14 squad suffered defeat in their final group game, which despatched them out of the tournament .
LOASS Ladies, captained by Athena Yennaris, competed in their first tournament and were one of 48 teams participating in the open age group. They managed to successfully defeat teams such as Napoli, Enfield Town and Leicester City Ladies to reach the final against Brighton & Hove Albion, with the Sussex side victorious, whilst the LOASS Captain lifted the Enfield Town FC Plate as runners up, to finish off a truly wonderful day of female football in the region.
LOASS FC continue their travels with further appearances at Canvey Island and St.Clere’s in the coming weeks, together with London Borough of Waltham Forest being represented by a squad of LOASS FC U-14 girls playing in the London Youth Games at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Sunday 6th July. The summer’s tours will end with a visit to the Bristol Academy FC invitational tournament taking place on 19th July at the Stoke Gifford Stadium.
LOASS FC Girls will be hosting their own Football Festival on 6th September at Leyton Orient Trust’s Score facility in Leyton E11, where teams such as West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, Watford and Charlton Athletic will be in attendance at all age groups.
Pictured – LOASS FC Girls U-11s.
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