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| Hockey 2nd XI Team 'Blog' |
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Wednesday 21st February v Aldro This was without doubt the 2nd XI’s best performance. They looked very strong and mobile in this match and were able to move up the right wing with much greater effect. Aldro put up a very good fight and played well, but the vision and control of Haider Rubbani, the defensive and offensive play of Dominic Auger, the width provided by Nikolai Malyguine on the right wing and Frankie Gaff’s attacking instincts in the ‘D’ were crucial to our performance. It was an excellent performance all round, with Jamie Allum providing strength and a huge hit in defence, Kevin Akunwa roving and attacking at every opportunity and Tom Inglis in goal making very good saves when called upon. Felix Fowler teased the defence from his left wing and Sapan Maini-Thompson, James Vonchek, Alex Mitchell, Matthew Fitz-James and Max Kirk were all solid in defence. Final score Eagle House 3 Aldro 0 Scorers: Frankie Gaff (2) and Felix Fowler (1)
Wednesday 7th February v Hoe Bridge After a few defeats, this was a good match to win. Hoe Bridge played well and made it difficult for us to create chances. The 2nd XI were in control for much of the game and played well as a unit. We attacked often and really we should have scored more, except a number of chances were squandered around the outside of the ‘D’. We seemed unable to get the ball wide in any space and could not thread our way through Hoe Bridge’s defence. A late goal from Kevin Akunwa was well deserved and this performance should set us up for our future matches. Final score Eagle House 1 Hoe Bridge 0
Saturday 3 February v Dragon This was a match between two evenly matches teams. The difference was that Dragon were able to provide more opportunites to score than we were and took their chances well. The first half saw the 2nd XI start slowly, but with a good level of skill. We matched Dragon in midfield for most of the half, however, on the three occcassions we let them through, they scored. We battled hard and defended stoutly, but 'hit and hope' at the opposition did not help our cause and we became penned in. When we got the ball to the attack, we lacked support and many attacks fizzled out. The second half was much like our previous game. We passed the ball better, but all too often when we received the ball, we turned into trouble or carried the ball away from the support. As a team, we felt we needed to be more patient. Instead of taking the opposition on through the middle of defense, we need to hold the ball up, wait for support and then play the ball around them. We played much better in the second half and Dragon only scored the one goal during this period. The 2nd XI are improving their understanding of the game all the time and we have the skill and determination to perform very well in our remaining games. Final score Eagle House 0 Dragon school 4
Wednesday 31 January v Parkside The 2nd XI worked very hard to match a very strong Parkside team. We worked tirelessly to put pressure on their attacking opportunities, however in the first half Parkside were skilful enough to break away from our efforts to close them down early and scored 3 goals past us. At half time, the 2nds were told to keep their efforts and their heads high. We were against a good team, but if we kept chasing them and if we could play the ball earlier and more sensibly, we could keep them out in the 2nd half and maybe get a goal ourselves. In the 2nd half we continued to believe that we could match them. We started with a great deal of pressure in their half and forced an early short corner from which we thought we had scored only for it to be disallowed. The second half saw the 2nds play very well, with tremendous effort and passion. However, we were unable to get the goal we desperately deserved and conceded a very unfortunate goal in the dying minutes. A very spirited performance. We tried our best and played out of our skins. We were simply beaten by a better team. Final score Eagle House 0 Parkside 4
Wednesday 17 January v St. Andrews (Woking)
The 2nd XI started their season with a bang, playing very well and finishing deserved winners. Although, it took a last minute goal from Kevin Akunwa, who scored 2, to win the game. The game started very well with some excellent passing moves and probing attacks. We looked comfortable on the ball and threatening in attack. After Kevin scored a goal in the first half, it looked like it would be a comfortable win. However, St. Andrews fought brilliantly and made further chances difficult for us to take. The second half ran much the same way. We made all the running and they made all the stopping. Then St. Andrews scored a goal after we went to sleep a little at the back and allowed a shot from a central position deflect off a defender into the goal. All of a sudden, we were rocked and St. Andrews tried to push for a winner. Our defence held against further tragedy and up stepped Kevin to score a reverse stick flick close to the goalie with little to aim at. A very good goal, after some very good play, in a very good match, played in an excellent spirit. Final score Eagle House 2 St Andrews 1
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