The U14 had an enjoyable but chilly morning of hockey. Four games in a 3 team group yielded 1 win, 2 draws and a loss. It could have have been so much more.
First up were Adel. An end to end game yielded lots of chances but with Tom making good saves and Mason, Michael, Connor and Archie standing firm at the back Josh Rowley broke free to clinically score a late goal giving Chap a 1-0 win. Next up were Huddersfield who had just beaten adel 3-0. Another end to end game but with Reece employed in a new defensive midfield role and Rowan and Max working hard out wide the teams cancelled each other out to an entertaining 0-0 draw. A quick drinks break up and then the Adel return match. With confidence from their earlier win, Chap dominated from the start. Multiple chances and short corners went begging including an inspired Luke drag flick which was heading for the roof of the net until a defender deflected it over.Alex (Rotherham) had a couple of drives into the D only to catch a foot when ready to pull the trigger. As always goals are what count. And so it was with disbelief that Adel countered and snatched a 1-0 win (with the aid of a back stick and little foot dribble along the way according to an angry Tom!!). Finally a rematch against already divisional winners Huddersfield. Again it was an enjoyable end to end battle and again Chap created more of the chances. This time though they took one. Luke picked up the ball in midfield and launched an aerial over the Hudds defense. Catching the defense flat footed Josh (Rotherham) ran onto the ball and scored with a shot that went in off the upright. The defense then held firm for most of the remainder of the game and Chap continued to look dangerous on the break. It was tears in the last minute though. Tom, who had made some important stops, was finally beaten when the Huddersfield player shot right in the corner of the net (another foot in the build-up according to the defense!)Final score 1-1.
Overall the team can be proud of themselves. Over the course of the games, regardless of the results, the performances improved. They would fully have deserved a W3 D1 record but it wasn't to be. Well done and thank-you for an enjoyable morning.