FOOTBALLERS from Haslingden High School are just one match away from a place in a national final after an eight-goal thriller, but a key player will be missing.
In the quarter-final of the English Schools’ Football Association Girls’ U16 Arnold Clark Schools’ Cup, the team beat Lydiard Park Academy from Swindon 5-3.
Central defensive midfielder Darcie Dixon scored a hattrick and right-wing Daisy Botham put another two past the goalkeeper.
However, 15-year-old centre midfielder Ocean Flanagan will be missing from the side that takes on Durham team St Bede’s RC School and Byron College next Wednesday March 20 at Haslingden High.
Ocean broke her left tibia while playing for Lancashire after a tricky tackle. She is currently sporting a full leg plaster which will be on for another eight weeks.
She said: “I watched the quarter-final match from the sidelines and I was a bit grumpy as I wanted to be playing, but I was glad that they won.”
Ten minutes into the game, Darcie found herself in the box and hit the ball over the keeper and landed it in the top middle of the net, then Daisy crossed to Darcie and she scored a second – it was 2-0 at half time.
In the second half Lydiard Park scored, before Daisy got a run on goal from the half-way line and knocked the ball over the keeper and into the top of the net.
Lydiard Park got another goal before Darcie completed her hattrick.
Darcie said: “I was in the middle of two defenders and they had just taken a corner when defender Summer Jackson had the ball and she whacked it to me. I ran on to it at the half-way line and just tapped it in.”
However, Lydiard Park scored again to make the score 4-3. Then Daisy spotted her chance and slotted the ball into the bottom corner. With 10 minutes to go the team worked hard to keep pushing to secure the win.
Ocean said: “Four of the Durham players we will be facing next week also play for the county side and they are very good. It is going to be a tough match.”
Darcie said: “I am not nervous, but I know it is going to be tough.”