A good mix of under 18 players from the 4s, 3s, 2s and 1s met up for the first time this season in the knockout England Hockey u18 Plate at Oaklands College, St Albans.
With intros over and a 20 min warm up, the girls spent the best part of the first half forming. In the meantime, St Albans were storming and were two up inside 20 minutes. First goal trickled over the line on the spin after a full blooded aerial shot and stop from Catherine and the second was a full blooded reaction volley after the ball bobbled up in the D giving the keeper no chance. Play wasn't all one way through with attacks coming from Magpies from both wings and down the middle and shots going wide of both posts. Introductions well and truly over, we won our first penalty corner and in the subsequent melee and after several attempts the ball popped out to the top left edge of the D and Beth hit through a crowd to slot home our well deserved first.
2-1 down at half time is a much better psychological position at half time than 2-0 and momentum was with Magpies. We came out of the blocks quickly and 2 min into the second a counter-attack with Anna at the heart of it resulted in a fabulous individual goal. End to end stuff followed with both sides looking to get the next goal and, after some great expansive team play from Magpies, Anastasia received a cross in front of the keeper and from a deflected attempted lob over the grounded keeper the ball fell to Dulcie on the left post who astounded herself by deftly placing the bobbly ball home. 15 minutes of tense play followed with Jess filling in for Anna, who'd more than done her shift, and some mighty defending from many, but most notably Siena for whom none would be passing.
From 2-0 down to 3-2 up and a new team formed. Job done.
Thanks to everyone who made the trip and thanks especially from all the girls who truly followed the team mantra of getting the best out of one another.
Team: Anastasia, Anna, Beth, Catherine, Dulcie, Evie, Flossie, Fran, Grace, Harriet, Jess, Siena, Tilly
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