Winchester Hockey Club Oracle Edition 56
U18 Girls
EHC Cup rd 1 vs Woking - 2-2 (3-1)
The team got off to a great start with Meg scoring seven minutes into the game, but despite a run of short corners they were unable to add to the score in the first half. Woking started the second half quickly and equalised early on but another good run of play led to Amelie scoring. The two teams were very evenly matched and both determined to win. Winchester defended the short corners well and it looked like they might hang on to a 2-1 win but Woking substituted their goalie for an outfield player in the last few minutes of the game leading to a goal just before the whistle.
That left it at 2-2 and a move to penalty flicks, not something the team have ever had to do before. Well done to Josie in goal and the players who stepped forward to take the flicks. Alice scored a great first goal, but ultimately the flicks ended up 3-1.
It was a great team effort and the girls now move into the plate competition.
U14 Girls
vs Havant - 3-2 (1 Oct)
Scorers: Freya, Daisy and Charlotte
The match started off with an early goal against Winchester but the girls fought back hard and managed to win 3-2 by the final whistle. Short corners had a 100% accuracy and looked really dangerous so this eventually bore fruit with a superb goal by Freya from a short corner. Our own press was very effective and provided us lots of opportunity to attack. Further work is need to break the opposition press as we struggled to transition the ball effectively from penalties but overall Winchester played a superb game with some excellent phases of play. This was a great result against predominantly Havant A team, including a number of players from AC trials.
Players of the match: Annebelle and Flora
U12 Girls
Blacks Div 1 vs Haslemere (1-3) and Bournemouth (3-2)
A sunlit Trojans astro welcomed the U12 Blacks for their first league games of the season. First up Haslemere, who had a strong team last year and looked to have retained a number of their best players. Their experience showed as Winchester tried time and time again to break them down but they proved formidable opposition and rightly won the game despite heroics from all the Blacks team. Final score 3-1 to Haslemere.
Bournemouth were the next opposition and Winchester Blacks really hit their stride in the opening minutes with some fantastic play across the pitch and darting runs down the wing. The Bournemouth keeper did her best as she was peppered time and time again, but Winchester’s strength in depth proved to be too much and the Blacks rightly won their second game with a great performance from all and much to build on for the next few games. Final score 3-2 to Winchester.
Yellows Div 2 (N) vs Fleet & Ewshot (3-0) and basingstoke bs (
Under the bright and blazing October(!) sun, U12 Yellows shone brilliantly and enjoyed a supremely successful start to their season. Playing two 30 minute matches against Fleet and Ewshot and Basingstoke B’s at the immaculate Aldershot Hockey Club, the yellows showed us some dazzling hockey.
After the shortest of warm-ups, the Yellows - a little cold despite the unseasonal heat - were immediately put on the defensive by Hook, who were raring to go having played their first match already. Thankfully our goalie, SC, was alert and agile and made a couple of very good saves to repel the danger. Stung into action, the Yellows responded swiftly and with great communication and precise passing, soon turned the tables on Hook. Despite some intense pressure and a hatful of chances, including some excellent saves by the Fleet and Ewshot goalie, they approached half-time goalless.
Fleet and Ewshot were still a danger on the break and again Winchester were indebted to SC, who made another fantastic save to keep it goalless. From this save, JG quickly and brilliantly transitioned the ball out to the right, LO passing up the wing to the marauding BE who delivered a great cross into the box. Pinball ensued with the yellows pinging numerous shots at Fleet’s goal. The pressure paid off and as the final seconds of the half ticked away, SH pounced on a half save and slammed the ball into the back of the net for a well deserved lead.
The goal resulted in a renewed sense of confidence throughout the team and the second half began with Winchester Yellows playing some brilliant hockey where they made the pitch big, passed the ball with pace and created numerous scoring situations, one of which SH put away emphatically to double the score. However, Fleet were still dangerous on the break and it took some resolute and brave defending from JG and OB to stop the Yellows being caught out. On the odd occasion Fleet did break through the solid defensive wall, SC was there with some determined saves and powerful clearances. With more great team play, especially from the middle pairing SDN and LO, Winchester forced another goal which was powerfully finished by ST, to make it 3-0 and secure the victory.
After a short turnaround involving copious amounts of oranges, sweets, water and suncream, Winchester were back on for their second match against Basingstoke B’s. With instructions to let the ball do the work, to focus on their passing and to use the full width of the pitch, Winchester quickly asserted themselves and dominated the game from the outset. With the constant pressure another good team goal came, with SH scoring brilliantly at the back post. Winchester were utterly dominant and the rock solid defence of JG and OB laid the foundations for more goals to be snaffled up by the ever alert SH. Half time came with the Yellows 3-0 up and Basingstoke blowing hard.
The second half continued as the first half had ended, with constant Winchester possession and pressure; however this time the goals became more free flowing. LO and ST playing with increasing brilliance, confidence and skill, both scoring cracking goals to get on the score sheet.
Despite the Basingstoke goalkeeper playing a blinder and making numerous saves, SH slotted another couple of goals and SDN capped two great performances - full of energy and skill in the middle of the park - with two very good goals of her own. When the whistle finally came, everyone was grateful and the Winchester Yellows could bask in the warm glow of an emphatic and quite brilliant 9-0 victory.
Oppositions’ players of the match were JG and SH in the first match followed by JG (aka the Rock) again and the strong and tireless BE in the second. However, all of the Yellows deserve great praise for playing such great hockey in such a positive and supportive manner. It really was a great team performance with everyone playing their part and giving maximum effort. Pleasingly, the hockey played got better and better as the day wore on. Special mention to SH for some quite brilliant centre forward play and bagging a very impressive seven goals on the day; but again these all were built on the foundations of great teamwork and tireless performances across the pitch.
A big thank you to the team and the fantastic supporters, and of course ST and CB for brilliant organising, first aid provision and keeping everyone fuelled up with water and goodies.
Purples Division 2 (W) vs Southampton (3-4) and bournemouth jaguars (4-1)
In the first game, Southampton benefited from a goalie-advantage. The girls worked hard attacking, achieving some excellent outcomes in the D. Unfortunately the Southampton goalie did a fantastic job resisting our forwards, who were on the attack and regularly shooting on target. The girls achieved three great goals and when Southampton did gain possession, the girls were good at putting them under pressure to win the ball back. In the end, lack of a goalie allowed Southampton the win, 4-3 in a hard-fought game.
After a quick turnaround and a team chat, the girls played Bournemouth also without a goalie. The girls started working together as a team. Attacking, they drove the ball up the sides, scoring four set-piece goals. They defended well when the opposition gained possession, moving the ball back up the side, taking free hits quickly to gain the advantage, helping them achieve a great win.