Hockey – U12B vs Windlesham/Handcross

It was another beautiful afternoon for hockey and the U12B team were looking forward to their first triangular against Handcross and Windlesham House. Our first match was against Windlesham House and it took us a while to get into the match. We were finding our feet, trying to figure out our positioning. Windlesham had a couple of girls that could hit the ball quite hard and early on in the first halve managed to get some good goals in against us. We were giving them too much space in the D and letting them get shots off, rather than going to the player and tackling the ball off them. We had a team talk and my target for them was to not let anymore goals in this half. They certainly improved in this half, there was some lovely play from the attacking players, Lara hitting the ball out wide to the right, Bethany/Alia getting onto the ball and driving towards the D, giving us a couple of chances at goal. Defence were more organised also and were proactive at going to the player with the ball and trying to tackle and disrupt play. Kosi particularly showed no fear and was great at closing her player down fast. No more goals were scored so 4-0 and a much better second half.

Next up was Windlesham House. This match was much closer and it was a really competitive game, great when both teams are evenly matched as they were. We were much more on it in this game. Tabitha in defence was hitting some lovely hard balls up the pitch and Harrie and Wren were picking them up and taking the ball in. Lara had a few opportunities at goal, their goalkeeper was quite the brick wall though. Harrie managed to get our only goal of the day, driving with the ball fast into the D, then a nice hard shot and in it went. There were more and more of these chances, they deserved a couple more goals for sure! Cara, Kosi and Tabitha were getting better at sticking with their players and going to them with the ball. They had a few chances at goal but we managed to hold them off. Matilda was being more active in goal in this match and kicked a few balls away out wide, exactly what we want her to be doing.

Handcross’ POM – Kosi

Windleshams’ POM – Bethany

Coache’s player – Lara, for being a solid centre mid and doing some great long balls out wide and forward into the D