We arrived in Holland ahead of schedule having made the earlier ferry crossing so had a chance to settle into Center Parcs on Friday evening and manage to consume a fewpints of theresorts finest Jupiler lager.

Saturday morning saw us head off to Gennep, literally a stones throw from the resort for our first games. We were registered nice and early at the home of Vitesse 08 and watched a little bit of the high quaity football on show.

Before we had even kicked a ball, we heard that the host team Vitesse 08 hadbeen disqualified from our group for trying to play players ranging from 12 to 17(!) years so we knew we would only have the two games.

We started at 1:30pm against RKV DSS from Harlem Amsterdam. A team who finished third in the A Class Amsterdam League. RKV started the better of the game with some slick passing. The Sharks seemed a little in awe of the whole occasion and for the first 18 minute half, we didn't look the side that we are.

However, a few words at half time and the second half was completely different. The girls were class and really took the game to our Dutch opponents. We scored on 5 minutes, a wonder goal from Ella who picked the ball up on half way ran at two defenders and lashed a left footer into the bottom corner. Magic!!

We saw the result out without much danger.

The second game at 3:00pm saw us play Cambridge Centre of Excellence. The size of our opposition physically was daunting and watching them warm up was impressive. Cambridge started really and we were under pressure straight away but our midfield and defence were rock solid with Ellice making a couple of great saves. However we went 1 down from a corner that was headed goalbound and stopped but the rebound slammed home. We were up against it! But the Sharks played magnificently, battled amazing and despite Cambridge throwing the kitchen sink at us, the Sharks held firm so we ended up losing 1-0 but the result actualy felt like a victory such was the girls performance.

So, with only 2 games played, we finished in 2nd place in the group and progress to Sunday's games against the second placed teams from the other 3 groups. And it couldn't have worked out better.

We play TIPS (Finland), Constantia (Holland) and GVI (Denmark). More to follow tomorrow.

Blyth Town also did fantastic winning all three games, finishing their group in pole position.

BRING IT ON!!