U12A V Mount St Marys Won 4-0

CF        Arabella H

RF        Imogen H and Isobel H

LF        Arabella A

CM at  Jessica R - S

CM D   Ella T

LM       Ella N

RM      Annie G - P

CB       Georgina H

LB       Ella R / Alice S

RB       Erin S

GK       Fran B

Player of the match –Arabella H

After a good solid warm up, the team were raring to go.  S. Anselm’s totally dominated the game as soon as the umpires whistle went and within 36 seconds there was a goal scored by Arabella H!  She showed exceptional skill and control and delivered the ball into the oppositions goal with such confidence – what a way to begin a game!  As the time ticked away, Mount St Mary’s certainly stepped up their game and it was getting competitive. The S. Anselm’s team had to hassle at all times when Mount St Mary’s had possession of the ball but it paid off with regular interruptions in play ensuring that S. Anselm’s won the ball. In the seventh minute of the game, Arabella H, Annie G-P, Imogine H and Jessica R-S pushed up into the attacking D and after a variety of shots on goal, the GK ended with an own goal.  This put S. Anselms 2 – 0 into the lead.  Within minutes there was another break in play, Ella T (def CM) and Georgina H ( CB) both defended very high in the midfield, after a superb tackle by Georgina H, she won the ball and sent a superb pass through to Ella T (def CM).  She then saw the space in the left channel and sent a super ball from the central channel onto the left post for Arabella A to finish off, however there was a quick return of ball to Jessica R –S who had a clear shot on goal of which she brilliantly scored.  S Anselm’s went 3 – 0 ahead.  At half time,  S. Anselm’s were feeling confident but there was still lots to focus on and game plans for the second half in order for the team to get full benefit out of the match. 

At half time there was a switch in team, of which Isobel H went on as left forward and Alice S went on the pitch as Left back and they got stuck right from the start.  Alice, Erin and Georgina tackled hard at the back determined to win possession and gain ground into the midfield.  Jessica, Ella T, Ella N and Annie G-P play outstandingly in midfield creating breaks in play to pressurise the oppositions defence.  What was particularly impressive in the second half was the positioning on the pitch and attacking play with plenty of balls crossed into the D for the forwards to finish off.  The final goal was scored by Ella N, She received an excellent ball across the D on the left post to deliver the ball into the oppositions goal.  She was so well positioned – it was text book hockey!  Overall the whole team played a brilliant game with a super atmosphere.  Well done to Fran B ( GK) who kept so motivated as Goal keeper in the match and was always ready for that break in play by Mount St Mary’s.  Fran certainly wins the award for best singer on the way home in the minibus (accompanied by Annie G-P)!  Thank you for a very exciting game of hockey – girls, you certainly did yourselves proud and as your coach, I cannot wait for training on Monday to deliver your next challenging skills and tactics.  Thank you to our parents once again for their support and for creating a lovely atmosphere on pitch side.  MPN