Blades edge our Women’s Under-19s in seven-goal thriller

In an action-packed first half at the Blades training ground, Grace Breen handed us the lead with an excellent free-kick but that was quickly cancelled out with a stunning strike from Alexandra Rigg after just 20 minutes. Rigg grabbed her second of the afternoon to give her side the advantage before Rania Oukriss converted from the penalty spot to bring the scores level on the stroke of half time and net her second goal in as many games.

We regained the lead 10 minutes into the second period through Grace Bellwood - her 15th goal of the campaign - but the hosts fought back once again to turn the game into their favour, Mollie Austin finding an equaliser before Abigail Jones struck in the closing stages to earn her side the victory in our final away game of the season.

It was an evenly-matched opening stages to the game, with the first moment of note coming just after the 10th minute when Rigg's curling effort was routine for Erin Radbourne. However, with our first opportunity at goal, we took the lead on 16 minutes and it was something that we have come accustomed to see from Breen this season as she sent a low, powerful free-kick from a central position, around 25 yards out, into the bottom corner.

But that was short lived as, at the other end, Rigg produced an even better strike to bring the scores level six minutes later, receiving the ball from the right edge of the box, she sent a first time effort into the far top corner. Rigg quickly had her second of the afternoon to give her side the advantage just before the half hour mark, intercepting Radbourne’s pass through the middle before sending a lofted ball over our shot stopper and into the back of the net.

Rigg was close to sealing her hat-trick by the 37th-minute, but Radbourne was on hand with a strong hand to tip her free-kick over the bar but, as we approached the closing stages of the first period, Ruby Mace found Daria Ordean out wide on the left, she raced inside and played a lovely ball into the feet of Oukriss who was brought down inside the box and the referee pointed to spot. Oukriss stepped up to take the spot-kick and calmly slotted away to send us into the break on level terms.

We started on the front foot after the restart, Ruby Gaitely going close with a low drive from the edge of the box before, 10 minutes into the second period, we reinstated our lead. After some excellent pressing from Mace saw her win possession inside their half, she played the ball through to Bellwood to go one-on-one with the hosts’ shot stopper and she showed composure, stepping across to her right foot before curling low into the bottom corner.

The Blades responded well after falling behind for a second time, Isobel Stewart unable to find the target from just outside of the area, but they managed to find the leveller once again in the 70th minute with Rigg turning provider this time, producing a low cross from the right into the middle and Austin got in front of Radbourne to slot home from close range.

Then, seven minutes remaining of normal time, the home side completed the turnaround for the second time in the contest, Jones seeing her initial cut back blocked by Holly-Mae Elmes but she was able to force the loose ball home on the rebound. Rigg came close to grabbing her hat-trick in stoppage time, dragging a shot wide from the left of the box, while, at the other end, Bellwood was unable to direct Eloise Summers-Mee’s cross on target, as the Blades escaped with maximum points in our penultimate game of the season.

"It’s disappointing but it’s part of the learning for us to be more consistent in our actions across the game"

Speaking after the game, coach Sabiha Jamal said: “I thought we started really well and that’s something we consciously went after, so it was even better to find ourselves one-nil up early on in the game. However, we’re frustrated as we allowed the momentum to shift and drop our standards, which results us being 2-1 down quickly after and heading into the break at 2-2. We responded well after the break, we scored a great goal to get us back in the lead but, at this stage in the campaign, we’re at a point where we should do better to manage the game.

"Then, through our own errors, we conceded two poor goals. It’s disappointing but it’s part of the learning for us to be more consistent in our actions across the game. We’ve one more game left of the season, it has been long and very much up-and-down, but we’ve seen plenty of growth and I hope we can round off the term with one more positive performance.”

Line-ups

Starting XI: Radbourne, Neill (Northwood 80), Elmes, Breen, Hills, Mace, Gaitely, Oukriss, Summers-Mee, Bellwood, Ordean (Deria 64). Substitutes (not used): Mylam, Bird.