Derby night for Jeanfield Girls 17s at Letham’s seven acres was well attended with the spectators side of the pitch packed tighter than a Lionel Messi tax return. The Scotland Male Football team were at playing Poland at Hampden in a televised game, so it was encouraging to see a big support for the young Women turn up from both clubs.

This was a rescheduled fixture from the original home game. That Sunday game in the sun failed to go ahead due to a no show referee, so credit is due to Letham for moving this to theirs for a mid-week game under the lights on a weather friendly 3g. With a few regulars unavailable, youth was given its chance as Jeanfield continued to demonstrate a determination in their drive to develop players and allow them to play at a level that the challenges them. Nine of the starting eleven are all still young enough to play for the 15s, with five of that nine all able to play 15s next season as well. Two of the five, Rachel Wolecki and Leah Fleming walked out onto the pitch with heads held high having been confirmed as selected for the Scotland U15s trip to Germany.

Jeanfield 17s line up;
Becky Cameron , Leah Fleming , Ellie Cowie , Jade MacFadyen , Eve Barnett , Vicky Goodwin , Emma MacLean , Casey Townsley , Kayleigh Fowler , Lauren Rose Smith , Rachel Wolecki .
Subs – Sheyenne Bayne , Deanna Haxton , Megan Sidey , Louise Lawson , Lisa Stewart , Olivia Revie .

Perhaps inspired by the recent performances from the 15s, the 17s went straight at goal and opened the scoring inside thirty seconds with their first chance. Rachel Wolecki found Casey Townsley from the right. Her attempt to open the scoring was good but the keeper saved well. Kayleigh Fowler was there for the rebound however and made no mistake in shooting into the gaping net to start celebrations.

Fresh from her first Jeanfield hat-trick on Saturday, Lauren Rose Smith looked hungry to get on the end of the ball whenever she was nearest. Eve Barnett played what is becoming a regular killer ball from right back for Casey Townsley to chase down the right wing. Townsley collected and supplied a dangerous cross in for Lauren Rose Smith who hassled well and pressed the last defender into knocking the ball over the line. Smith claimed the goal as Jeanfield found themselves with a cushion inside five minutes without having had to defend in their own box.

Letham defended better for a spell. A high defensive line was keeping the game in the middle of the park while frustrating the runs made through. The referee was struggling to decide what was onside and what was not, but he was having a good game. With twelve minutes played, frustrations were eased when Lauren Rose Smith burst through onto a through ball from Emma MacLean. Calm and composed, Smith picked her spot and shot low from the edge of the box to beat the keeper at the near corner. Ellie Cowie came close next with a header before Smith scuffed a shot under pressure.

Rachel Wolecki was playing as a classic number ten in this one and almost found the net next when her audacious lob from 20 yards hit the post. Emma Maclean was showing experience with a cool performance in the middle of the pitch and came close moments later after good individual play. Casey Townsley had to leave the game just after this with a shoulder problem and was replaced by Olivia Revie. After a fine performance with the 15s on Saturday, Olivia Revie impressed straight away with pacey runs and good feet causing problems for her marker. The fourth goal arrived with twenty minutes played when Olivia Revie left her marker behind to drive deep into the box to deliver an inch perfect pass for Lauren Rose Smith to meet first time and pass into the net for her second hat trick in six days.

The game lost its cutting edge for a spell after this however as Letham dug in and made it harder for the Sisters, but Jeanfield dealt with threats at goal with ease. With thirty minutes played, Rachel Wolecki had an effort well saved at the near post. The resulting corner taken by Leah Fleming was headed in by the impressive Emma Maclean to make it five nil. Jeanfield continued to try to find the killer final ball and changed shape to keep Letham guessing. The last chance of the half came when Lauren Rose Smith took a great touch with her back to goal to turn in to shoot, but she couldn’t keep her effort from twelve yards down and her strike flew over the bar.

Half Time – Letham 0 v 5 Jeanfield

Sheyenne Bayne came on for Lauren Rose Smith and Lisa Stewart for Vicky Goodwin at the break as the coaching team of Shaw, Wyllie, McClelland, MacDonald and Barnett shuffled the pack. Jeanfield were showing superior technical ability all over the pitch and played a great passing game with triangles everywhere. Olivia Revie showed some nice footwork to release Rachel Wolecki into the left of penalty area, but the referee blew for offside. Revie was showing off her skills again moments later and found space from the left bye line. A cross seemed imminent but instead a low strike at goal snuck past the surprised keeper to make it six nil. The Letham keeper fell awkwardly trying to stop the effort and had to go off holding her shoulder.

Another Jeanfield player smarting from a Hat-trick on Saturday was Ellie Cowie and she was to enjoy the buzz of scoring again next. Olivia Revie played Rachel Wolecki through to cross in for the incoming Sheyenne Bayne. The ball went past her as she tried to connect but Ellie Cowie was on her toes at the back post and rushed in to strike into the far side of the net to make it seven.

Eve Barnett impressed next and broke out of right back well to pass to Emma MacLean who quickly moved the ball on as a through ball for Rachel Wolecki. There was no stopping Rachel Wolecki as she strode through at goal to slam the ball high into the top corner to make it eight nil. Some lovely football from Jade MacFadyen was seen next as she played Ellie Cowie through but her shot found the wrong side of the side netting. Rachel Wolecki and Kayleigh Fowler made way for Deanna Haxton and Louise Lawson.

The game slowed down between twenty and thirty minutes played as Letham battled hard and Jeanfield struggled to create chances as freely as they had. Becky Cameron could still be heard loud and proud as ever instructing her defence and was a commanding figure as Jeanfield Captain all night. In truth it was a quiet night for her however, with little to do. Olivia Revie went off to allow Lauren Smith to return to action. A cracking free kick from Eve Barnett found Lisa Stewarts feet next and she came close with her effort. Clearly unsatisfied with just a hat trick, Lauren Rose Smith pounced on a mishit goal kick and drove in away from the defenders to fire her fourth and the Jeanfield ninth.

This was clearly going to be a great night for the young forward. Brimming with confidence, Smith scored her fifth and the Jeanfield tenth a few minutes later with goal of the game. Lisa Stewart crossed over from the left, the ball bounced awkwardly on the edge of the box but Smith somehow managed to get a driven lob shot away that looped over the keeper high into the net.

Leah Fleming drove up the left into the middle jinking through Letham players and almost found the inside of the far post with a drive as the game came to a close. Lisa Stewart came close again when her left footed half volley went just over.

This was an impressive Derby victory for Jeanfield who were simply further ahead in terms of development. The young Women played superbly as a team and are clearly being trained, educated and directed expertly.

With Boroughmuir, Spartans and Hibs left to play for the 17s, they will have to reproduce performances like this and perhaps even improve to pick up points for these challenging games ahead.

#OJAJ

MJC