U11A Hockey v Brooke Priory 3rd February 2017
Copthill took a squad of 10 players to Oakham on a cold sunny Friday afternoon. With Brooke Priory also having a large squad it was decided to make the game 8-a side, with roll-on subs.
From the outset the Copthill team looked stronger in all departments. Gilbert and Henry were organised and patient in defence. Sam, Ruben, Oliver P, Frankie and Tom controlling the midfield and pushing forward in attack. When the first subs were rotated; Raife and Oliver M slotted into position seamlessly. The only person missing out was William, in goal, watching from afar with barely a touch of the ball...
Although we had possession of the ball, it wasn't clean possession. As the half went on, and the chances went begging, we became more and more frantic, less and less productive. When the half time break came it was a chance to take stock. Breath. Re-focus on the basics.
It worked! Suddenly we were passing, moving, looking up, calling....a lovely interchange between Oliver M and Ruben cut through the Brooke Priory defence, Ruben slotting calmly into the bottom corner. 1-0 and we all started to feel a bit better!
Copthill continued to press. So much so that Coach had a moment of compassion for a cold and lonely goalie,"take your pads off William ... move into midfield!" With Oliver P covering as a "kicking back" William finally got involved in the game, and showed some good outfield skills. Despite the odd Brooke Priory counter attack that increased the heart rate of Coach; Copthill goal wide open.... thankfully Henry and Gilbert composed as ever... we continued to press and create chances. Eventually it was a midfield foray from Oliver P, picking up a rebound in the D and smashing the ball home that took us to a deserved 2-0 result.
A great contest, and a good result for Copthill. It could have been more, but the second half showed a big improvement in temperament and tactics, and the boys thoroughly deserved their win. Well done! Thank you to Tom Mills for his captaincy, and congratulations to Oliver Perkins and Henry Clifton for their Man of the Match performances.
Nick T
From the outset the Copthill team looked stronger in all departments. Gilbert and Henry were organised and patient in defence. Sam, Ruben, Oliver P, Frankie and Tom controlling the midfield and pushing forward in attack. When the first subs were rotated; Raife and Oliver M slotted into position seamlessly. The only person missing out was William, in goal, watching from afar with barely a touch of the ball...
Although we had possession of the ball, it wasn't clean possession. As the half went on, and the chances went begging, we became more and more frantic, less and less productive. When the half time break came it was a chance to take stock. Breath. Re-focus on the basics.
It worked! Suddenly we were passing, moving, looking up, calling....a lovely interchange between Oliver M and Ruben cut through the Brooke Priory defence, Ruben slotting calmly into the bottom corner. 1-0 and we all started to feel a bit better!
Copthill continued to press. So much so that Coach had a moment of compassion for a cold and lonely goalie,"take your pads off William ... move into midfield!" With Oliver P covering as a "kicking back" William finally got involved in the game, and showed some good outfield skills. Despite the odd Brooke Priory counter attack that increased the heart rate of Coach; Copthill goal wide open.... thankfully Henry and Gilbert composed as ever... we continued to press and create chances. Eventually it was a midfield foray from Oliver P, picking up a rebound in the D and smashing the ball home that took us to a deserved 2-0 result.
A great contest, and a good result for Copthill. It could have been more, but the second half showed a big improvement in temperament and tactics, and the boys thoroughly deserved their win. Well done! Thank you to Tom Mills for his captaincy, and congratulations to Oliver Perkins and Henry Clifton for their Man of the Match performances.
Nick T
Comments
Post a Comment