u18 National Plate QF – Northampton Lions 1 Ashford 5
Scorers: Shaney (2), Rosie (2), Davo
Fantastic result – our first half performance where we finished four goals up won us the game, most pleasing aspect of the game was the teams ability to adapt to the bounciness of the water-based pitch.
We prepared as best we could for the game, met early, organised (thanks to Posty) a deluxe coach, up in good time and prepped the team and involved the boys in the set-up, had balls, cones, water, medical bag, pom poms (was there no end to my organisational skills?!! er Yes)…then we find out we are at the wrong pitch!! We had to walk 10-12 minutes with all our kit, 15 minutes to warm up and get the feel of the pitch and get on with the game!
Well, it didn’t seem to affect us, a bit nervous to start with but then after 3 mins, Rhino blocked out the gk’s clearance and smacked it across for Rosie to deflect in. 3 mins later good work through their right finished off by I think Charlie slipping the ball to Rosie who flicked it in – 6 mins gone and 2 up!
The next 20 minutes were largely incident-free though we had more of the game and troubled them particularly down the right wing with The Lip, Dutchie and Rosie linking up well…though we nearly scored a fantastic goal from their short corner…Wheeler saved the flick and as the ball bounced, he launched it miles in the air, the ball bouncing on their 25-yard line and Rosie receiving it just outside the D, the keeper did well to hold Rosie off.
After 27 mins we got our first shortie, Shanie went to drag-flick and slipped and the ball squirted to Alex who flicked it past the keeper and Davo touched it a foot out to make sure…we were in heaven 3-up!…and then a stupendous goal from Shane where he ran in a pretty straight line from inside-left channel into the top of their D through 5 defenders and increasingly desperate defending and slapped it in for number 4!
Half time talk was around keeping the ball and our discipline – the first 10 mins of the second half was difficult to watch as the boys tried to implode (which is hard at 4-up but they gave it a go!). We got through this spell and Shane scored a 2nd to calm the boys down a bit and after he had a goal correctly disallowed, we gave the ball up and they got their goal with 20 mins to go.
Northampton tried but lacked the creativity to trouble us particularly and we ran out comfortable winners. Very satisfying performance, The Lip, Shanie and Rhino stood out for me but the rest of the boys played steady hockey and up. Need to work on discipline for the next game and absolutely chuffed to have a home draw against Alford and District (from Lincoln) on 29 Mar.
Please please come along and support the boys – it is likely to be a hockey treat and it will be great to see a bumper crowd there to see how good our boys are.
