A friendly took place between the Royal Wootton Bassett Town U13 and U14 girls on the AGP on Saturday.

Would the U13s rise to the challenge, despite there being a two-year age gap between them and some of the U14 players?

This would also be their first time playing a 70-minute match, and the scale of the pitch was a size larger than they were used to.

One thing was for sure - this game would be a taste of what was ahead for the coming season for both teams.

The game got under way and ten minutes in, Ava Merwood-Palmer slotted the ball cooly past the keeper, putting the U13s ahead by one.

However, the U14s weren't deterred, and fought back, claiming a goal for themselves through Elise Dart, who beat the keeper at her near post.

An unmarked Elise tapped in another at the end of a dangerous cross, making the score 2-1 to the U14s at half time.

Both teams battled hard through the second half, throwing their bodies on the line to block powerful shots and claim a win for their team.

This passage of play concluded when Mia Hughes' stunning strike found the top corner, putting the U14s ahead by two.

The U13s didn't give up and created wave after wave of attacking opportunities.

Maddie Gay eventually found the back of the net, giving the whole team hope of an equaliser.

However, the U14s were the ones who struck next, tired legs getting the better of the U13 defence. Mia Hughes made the score 4-2 with another one of her clinical finishes.

In a desperate attempt to bring the score to level, the U13s drove down the pitch. Christina Croft delivered a poacher's finish that found its way to the bottom corner, making the game a seven-goal thriller!

It wasn't enough to beat the U14s though, whose maturity showed through their confident passing out from the back.

The game finished 4-3 to the older team, but it was a close match and every single player worked their hardest.

Now they are all ready for the upcoming season.

Credit: Ava Merwood-Palmer
Last modified on Sunday 31st August 2025 at 14:36