Yesterday, the U18 Indoor Hockey Team competed at the U18 Indoor Hockey County Tournament and came away victorious. They now progress to the regional round which will be played before Christmas.
writes Nikhil W (U6th)
In spite of short notice, months of hard work saw the boys well-prepared and raring to go for a competitive tournament.
We wasted no time, getting off the mark quickly in our first game against Watford Grammar. An early goal from Jenson I, followed by a flurry of clinical finishing set the lads 3-0 up only ten minutes into the game. However, a lack of concentration resulted in the match finishing 4-1, providing us with a clear focus to improve in our next game.
We reacted by doing just that. Once again, the lads started off quickly against Hitchin Boys. A hunger to win from the very first minute, supplemented by a well-executed game plan, put us ahead early on. Effective pressing helped us to win the ball high up the pitch, as forward, Toby W, rifled three consecutive finishes into the back of the next. Individual ability was definitely on show in this game, as a series of stellar individual performances led us to a convincing 6-0 win. But we knew the last and decisive game against Haileybury would demand a greater level of team play to secure the top spot.
Certainly, Haileybury proved to be a formidable opposition, providing us with our fiercest challenge yet. Caught off guard by a change in their system to a back three, our game plan was disrupted. In spite of goalkeeping heroics by Louis R, this resulted in the opposition converting a short corner early on in the game, putting us 1-0 down. Nonetheless, the lads showed admirable adaptability, organising an improvised press which contained the opposition. While Haileybury’s disciplined defensive setup meant that chances were rare to come by, the boys remained calm and disciplined in attack, waiting patiently to capitalise on an inevitable opportunity. Late on, quick thinking exploited a lapse in the opposition’s concentration, as Dylan M characteristically produced a moment of much-needed magic, winning a crucial short corner. The man of the hour was Jack G, who ruthlessly converted his chance, slotting a near post finish to draw us the game in the dying seconds. This crucial moment saw us win the tournament on goal difference.
Celebrations were plentiful – there’s definitely a lot to be proud of coming away from that. Whilst we took delight in the taste of victory (and doughnuts), the lads are well aware of the work that needs to be done going into the next tournament, as we look to go one step further than last season and reach the national finals.
