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| Hockey Under 10/Under 9 and Under 8 Girls Team 'Blog' |
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U10 v Lambrook Haileybury Wednesday 25th November 2009 Lost 3-1 Player of the Match: Ella Dow Coach’s player: Dasha Angelova Yes! Yes! Now we are playing hockey! It doesn’t matter that we weren’t victorious, the improvement on the pitch was a 100%. The girls have been working extremely hard at school to raise their game and they certainly did that. All spectators saw a drive and determination to win the ball and to get it into the ‘D’. Instead of standing back, the forwards had many chances at goal but Lambrook’s GK was quite skilful in stopping and kicking the ball out of the circle. Emily & Sophie had a couple of hard shots but were slightly off target, heads up girls and look at the goal. Next time you will be successful. The play was nearly all ours after half-time. Eagle House, led by Ella at midfield put continual pressure on Lambrook. The girls looked for each other, passed out wide and played as a team. There was some promising play here from Jessica who had quite a few good runs into the circle backed up ably by Josie to her right. All our defence had a great game especially in the second half when nearly all balls that came down to our goal were quickly despatched back. Dasha was quite ferocious in her attack, keeping her stick low and going in for the tackle. This was a great performance from a girl who is new to hockey. Daisy and Amynta picked up their game and played with more confidence, both clearing the ball out wide to the wing. Charlotte really came into her own in the second fifteen with several great saves and some really strong kicks to clear the ball Well done girls, this was a really positive game. I am so pleased with all of you.
Under 10 v Hoe Bridge Saturday 7th November Lost 10-0 Despite the lovely afternoon and the exciting prospect of the bonfire and fireworks, this was a tough game. The opposition demonstrated excellent stick skills and had the real desire to work the ball up the pitch throughout the game. The first half saw EH keep the ball in the centre, often hitting without looking or trying for the long pass which was far too easily intercepted. Our defense had to work very hard stopping the attack from Hoe Bridge, Emily A played some good hockey here and tried to pass the ball wide. Sophie worked strongly out on the wing, managing to get the ball up to the circle but this is where we need the support. We need to attack their goal! HB deserved their 3-0 lead at half-time. The second half was a much better half for EH despite to score. Our goalkeeper Charlotte was feeling particulary poorly and we thank her for staying on the pitch. We attacked the ball with renewed vigour and passed the ball out wide. We still waited for the ball to come to us but that we will practise again....and again! Each player had their moment so I know that the skills are there but they seem to lay dormant when faced with stiff opposition. Dasha, Maeve and Jessica made some excellent stops and cleared the ball well, their play is improving. My player of the match has to be Sophie for her drive and determination.
Under 9 v Yateley Manor Wednesday 10th October Won 5-0 It was raining and soon the windscreen wipers on the glasses had shorted out, leaving me wondering what was going on. Luckily, the girls were playing in the right direction and showing some real umph off the ball to chase down possession or to win it back if it had been lost. That was really the main difference between the two teams. Yateley showed on occasions that they were able to play simple passing hockey, moving the ball wide into the wide spaces of the pitch. On occasions we showed similar ambition, but too often we were too slow moving our feet round so that we could push the ball quickly to the wings. We cannot be lazy but think what we are meant to be doing. Eleanor was solid in defence stopping attacks down the left with a solid stick and releasing the ball up her wing and she was backed up by Emily-Louise who was beginning to show a greater awareness of where she should be. Ellie again put some telling tackles, as did Zara, but both must be quicker to work back and recover from their own mistakes and those that others make. Lulu had a quiet first half, but started the second superbly and drove the opposition back and back for Maddie to pick up the loose ball to score. It is these five minutes of the second half that we must all reproduce for the full match time. The halves fed Holly and Maddie well and Holly especially chased down the pass into space and took her four chances well. I fear that that is our last hockey match this term, a shame as there were instances when we tried to play properly and the whole team should be proud of that. However we must build upon this and work even harder through to the next match next term. Oh Yes, Ellis, in goal: it's a horrible job, and it is the efforts of the goalkeeper that I appreciate the most. Ellis made two good saves and showed good awareness of what was needed, so from all the team, 'Many thanks, Ellis, and well done'.
Under 10's Hockey Team Under 10 v Yateley Manor Wednesday 7th October 2009 Lost 5-0 Player of the match: Emily Anichebe I was looking forward to this game as the girls had worked hard in training. They had been driving up the wing, centering the ball and then hitting it into the goal with great panache. Unfortunately this all blew away with the wind and rain. When we had possession of the ball, it was just passed without looking, up and down the centre of the pitch. We had forgotten about the wings and even the wings had forgotten their positions. Yateley played with more determination, often passing the ball out onto the wing and easily took the ball into our goal area. They attacked the goal with great determination but Charlotte(GK) defended well, kicking the ball out wide. Still the attack came back and managed to produce a couple of lovely goals by half-time. Emily A worked tirelessly in defence clearing the ball on many occasion which otherwise was heading straight for the goal. Half-time talk in the rain but with exceptionally juicy oranges seem to lift the spirits on a very damp game. The girls started off well trying to get the ball out onto the wing, Amynta tried to hold her position but then got drawn in like a magnet to the central zone. Josie as centre needs to control the pass out and head up to the goal. We managed to penetrate their defence on several times but there was no-one who seemed determined to get into the circle to score the goals. Ella worked hard with some solid stick work but as the striker must be prepared to follow up the pass, get into the circle, be brave and go for goal. It's back to the drawing board but I just know these girls have the makings of a good team, this was just a hiccup on route.
U10's v Holme Grange Wednesday 23 September 2009 Lost 8 - 1 Team: Charlotte Evershed, Jose Lunnon, Ella Dow, Daisy Robinson, Dasha Angelova, Emily Anichebe, Amynta Rimmer, Sophie Bignell-Edwards, Jessica Hill, Maeve Hutchinson. Player of the Match: Sophie Bignell-Edwards Coaches player of the Match: Emily Anichebe The first match of the season is always a hard one especially if you have new players in the team and you are playing on a pitch where you can use the sides to rebound off - which is of course not what you are used to. Our defensive unit (Emily, Amynta & Charlotte) were certainly having to do a lot of running and at times perhaps needed more back up from the rest of the team. Holme Grange were very good at both dribbling the ball past our players into the "D" and then taking an accurate shot. We need to practice going towards these players with our sticks down and the determination that we are going to win the ball off them. We also need to be more aware of our spacing on the pitch. If we all start crowding our own players this also brings in the defence and we end up with a "swarm of bees around the honey pot" and no-one out on the wings to pass the ball to, and then to drive on towards the goal. Girls I know you can all play alot better than you did today, so try and remember how wonderfully you were playing at the end of last year and bring that along to the next practice and match.
Under 9s Friendly match v The Oratory - Match drawn 2-2 Frenetic, I think would be the best way to describe this afternoon. Both sides constructed some good hockey, but everybody was guilty of not using the time available to STOP, CONTROL and then PUSH/PASS to somebody in their OWN team. Players have a duty to make themselves available in SPACE to receive the ball, and if they lose the ball or it does not reach them then they have to run back and win back possession. 2-2 was a fair result, and both sides can take much from the game, providing that they will build upon it in the next sessions. Lulu and Emily were sound in defence, but they must be wary of passing the ball into the middle of their own 'D'. They should look square and out every time. Zara worked tirelessly in midfield and finished off both goals with confidence. Ellie similarly put some good tackles in the centre and was beginning to distribute the ball better as the minutes passed. Maddie and Eleanor generally stayed wide, and were able to give a little width to the game, while Holly looked to control and distribute at the top of the 'd' making herself available in space on a number of occasions. A fair start, but you must listen to what you are told in the coaching sessions so that you can achieve greater consistency and control with the ball. Don't panic when the ball comes your way, but move your feet so that you can pass it on quickly and accurately. Remember that you cannot pass through people. Above all you must work much harder in the practices.
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