There was great excitement on the opening day of the Junior Premier League. Watford Ladies FC Academy teams have grown in strength and depth over the last few seasons in the local Herts league but competing in the JPL against the best in the country was always going to be a challenge.
On a warm, sunny day, the signs were looking promising. The U16 Hornets travelled to West Malling in Kent to play MFA, coming from behind to win a hard-fought match 2-1. While in the West Country the U14 Hornets had a stunning 5-1 victory against Bridgwater. The score was equally impressive when the U12 Academy took on South Coast visitors Atalanta FC at Parmiter’s School, sealing a 4-nil win. But home advantage couldn’t help the battling U14 Warriors who went down 7-1 against Nottingham’s rampant Aspire FC.
The U16 Warriors hosted a resilient Ipswich Town. It was an evenly matched contest until they conceded a penalty late in the first half. The Warriors thought they had equalised after the break, only for the goal to be disallowed. Ipswich found the net again just ahead of the final whistle for a 2-0 win.
Reflecting on the opening day, WLFC Chairman Andrew Lovelace was delighted. “What a strong start to the JPL season. It’s great to see our Academy girls competing so well at this level. After a challenging 18 months, I’m proud of the club and everything the players, coaches and support staff have achieved.”
Photos courtesy of Andy Gilbert.
