Page 105 - Herioter 2020

SFA Future Stars Cup Scottish Schools FA S6 made the breakthrough, however,
we started to take control of the game,
This year saw the launch of a new 7s Senior Girls’ Shield eventually scoring ten without reply and
competition in two age groups, S1/ A change to the rules for what is overrunning our opponents. In what was
S2 and S3/S4, with the local round effectively the Scottish Cup for to become a familiar story, Charlotte
scheduled for a bitterly cold, crisp Friday schools enabled us to combine forces had an absolute field day playing in that
afternoon at Peffermill. Heriot’s was, with our friends and sometimes rivals hole behind the striker, notching seven
not for the first time, flying the flag from George Watson’s College. With goals, with Nina Hegarty of S3, who
for the independent sector as its sole both schools unsure as to whether had an inspired game, helping herself to
representative, not merely within the they would have sufficient players in a hat-trick from wide left and midfield
Edinburgh area, but also nationally. the U18 age group to enable them to maestro Eilidh Adams of S4 grabbing
The S1/S2 squad put in a terrific shift make separate entries, our successful the other. Crucially, though not at full
to qualify for the regional semi-finals application to enter a combined squad strength, certain key partnerships and
courtesy of excellent wins versus facilitated a project which was not only positions had been established, with
Queensferry and Liberton High Schools unprecedented, but which also turned Tegan Browning using her extensive
(3-1 and 3-0 respectively) and a out to be truly unforgettable, with the knowledge and experience to mentor
very creditable 1-1 draw against final chapter(s) potentially still to be the ever improving Heidi Darragh into
old adversaries Boroughmuir High written. a highly accomplished fellow centre
School, with our only defeat coming Though traditionally arch rivals on the back, Eilidh Adams and Lucy Barraclough
at the hands of James Gillespie’s High pitch, in girls’ football a very healthy providing a base in front of the back
School (1-0), who finished top of the relationship based on friendship and four which was as solid when out of
section. In addition to the protagonists co-operation has developed between possession as it was creative when we
of other campaigns already reported the two schools, not least on account of had the ball, Anna Ramsay making an
upon above, all of whom made a telling the extensive collaborative work which absolute nuisance of herself up front
contribution, a shout out to Eva Morton has taken place between players and and Charlotte Maconachie wreaking
of S2 who had a fine afternoon and to coaches in the context of numerous havoc running at defenders from those
Charlotte Durkie of S1 for an excellent SISFA national squads, coupled with pockets of space between the midfield
competitive debut. the fact that many of the players and the striker.
But if you thought that was impressive, already know each other well through We knew that James Gillespie’s High
wait until you hear about the S3/S4 club football; as such this venture felt School in the next round would be
squad: six matches played, six wins, entirely organic, merely developing what
twelve goals scored and none conceded was already in place a step further.
as successive opponents, some very The first round saw us away to
formidable, were mercilessly put to Bishopbriggs Academy, a fixture
the sword; a remarkably relentless identical to the one which two years
performance which surely merits a previously had seen us edge a nine-
full roll call, so huge congratulations goal thriller with a last gasp strike, thus
to Madeleine Carruthers, Kanoa starting a run which took us all the way
Carter-Stampton, Heidi Darragh, Nina to the quarter-finals. This time around,
Hegarty and Martha Kibby (S3), and with the fixture having to be played on a
to Eilidh Adams, Lucy Barraclough, day when George Watson’s College was
Tegan Browning, Olivia George and still on its mid-term break, thus making
Anna Ramsay (S4). A special mention a number of their players unavailable,
must go to Eilidh and Tegan, who were we were required to draft in some
predictably outstanding in their dual players from as young as S1 in order to
player-coach role, bringing their very create a squad, and both Ella Beaton-Hill
considerable football knowledge and and Ilona Salters can be very proud of
experience to bear for the collective their contribution playing up several age
benefit of the squad, and to Nina who groups, with the latter coming within
finished top scorer, bagging four goals. a post’s width of getting on the score
So all in all a terrific afternoon’s work, sheet.
though circumstances obviously dictate As you would expect the opening
that it remains to be seen whether or exchanges were cagey, with Heriot’s/
not both squads, having qualified, will in Watson’s enjoying the bulk of possession
fact have the opportunity to compete and on those occasions when we were
in the next regional stage for a place able to create chances we found the
at the national finals, with all schools’ Bishopbriggs goalkeeper (the same
football suspended at the time of one from two years ago!) in inspired
writing. form. After Charlotte Maconachie of Heriot’s take on James Gillespie’s

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