Pre season update

Penistone Church Women U13s began their pre-season schedule at the beginning of May and have continued to build momentum ahead of the new campaign.

The squad has been strengthened with two new signings. We welcome forward Alyssia from Stocksbridge Steels and defender Indi from Barnsley Ladies. Indi is no stranger to the club, having won Player of the Season with us two years ago, and it's great to have her back in Church colours.

The pre-season campaign got off to the perfect start with a solid 2-0 victory over Steel City. The visitors arrived full of confidence after going unbeaten in Division 4 last season, but the girls stood firm, played some excellent football and finished their chances well.

Next came an away trip to Rothwell, providing a new challenge against unfamiliar opposition from West Yorkshire. Rothwell's slick passing proved difficult to contain, and they capitalised on their opportunities to claim a 3-1 win.

A quick turnaround saw Penistone face Dearne & District Sunday Team. In another closely contested encounter, the visitors edged a narrow 2-1 victory.

Millmoor were next, a side that had previously caused problems with their physical, direct style of play. Following back-to-back defeats, training was stepped up with a focus on improving strength, movement and making smarter decisions without the ball. The hard work paid off as Penistone responded with an impressive 3-1 victory.

League champions Handsworth provided the next test. Facing another technically gifted side with quick passing, Penistone worked tirelessly both in and out of possession. The determination and discipline shown by the girls earned a fantastic 2-0 win.

The toughest day of pre-season followed as Kiveton handed Penistone their heaviest defeat in over a year, running out 5-0 winners. The girls looked tired after a demanding schedule, and full credit goes to the opposition for an excellent performance.

Rather than dwell on the setback, the coaching team took a different approach. Training shifted towards working as a unit, defending long balls, improving combination play through quick one-twos, and, most importantly, enjoying football again.

That fresh approach paid dividends at the annual Wickersley Football Tournament. Determined to bounce back, Penistone produced some outstanding football, keeping four clean sheets and conceding just two goals across five matches. Their excellent run came to an end in the semi-finals, where they narrowly lost 2-1 to Division 1 side Sheffield Wednesday.

There's still plenty of work to do before the season kicks off. The remaining fixtures see Penistone take on Division 1 side Pogmoor, Division 3 promotion winners Worksop, a rematch with Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster Belles, and finally North Gawber to round off what has been a challenging and highly productive pre-season.

The results have been mixed, but the progress, resilience and togetherness shown by this group have been clear to see. Every game has provided valuable lessons, and the girls continue to develop with each passing week.

Up the Church! ⚪⚽⚫⛪