PUBLISHED 09 October 2021
It was another action packed week for AKS hockey players as seven teams took on the strong Stockport Grammar School and came away with an impressive set of results with 5 wins and two draws.
It was always going to be a challenge for our young 1st X1 side against a more experienced Stockport GS team. Slow to start Stockport put our defence under tremendous pressure with wave after wave of attacks. With the defence in disarray at times, it was only superb goalkeeeping from Anya J that frustrated the opposition and kept the half time score down at 0-1. A changed defensive formation in the second half proved more effective and the girls began to play with more confidence and proved they could step up the pace necessary to play at this level. This enabled them to counter attack and begin to exploit gaps in the Stockport defence. Beth R was outstanding at sweeper and Olivia M as an overlapping right defence. Scarlett D bravely took over the crucial role of goalkeeper for AKS in the second half and almost immediately proved her worth with a number of outstanding saves. In what was a more even end to end half AKS began to apply more and more pressure and eventually scored a well deserved equaliser from a counter attack on the right. Olivia M winning the ball in defence and using her tremendous pace to drive forward before slipping the ball into a gap for Lucy B to run onto and score with a well placed shot from just inside the circle. The game proved to be a sharp learning curve for AKS and their ability to act on the areas that they needed to improve on in the second half showed that they were able to compete at this level to get back in the game. In a game were the goalkeepers and defence played well under tremendous pressure the player of the match was Beth R who played with composure throughout the game.
The U15 team started the winning run with a superb 8 – 0 victory. Goals from Jessie A ( 2) Sophie F (2) Carly W, Hollie W, Holly B and Katie L sealed the win. Carly W was voted Player of the match by Stockport with Hollie B getting the AKS vote.
AKS U14 team had a superb match against Stockport and were rewarded with an impressive 9 – 0 win. Having worked on creating space, retaining possession and understanding the positions and roles in an 11 a-side game in the last few weeks, it was evident the girls had put this into practice which created many goal scoring opportunities. We started superbly with a goal in the first minute from Kirtika S and this set the tone for the game. A further goal from Kirtika plus four from Lisa P, one from Eleanor J and Lucy T kept the score ticking along. Goal of the game ,however, was scored by Laura A after a move which started at the back, involved a passing move with seven players touching the ball before Laura put the ball in the net on the right post. Overall a superb team performance but player of the match was Lisa P for her goals and dominant performance in the middle of the pitch.
The U13 ‘s continued the winning run with the A team victorious 1 – 0 while the b team won 3 – 0.
After an early start and journey the first five minutes of the U12A game was in our defence with keeper Shelley Q being forced to make some good saves and some goalmouth scrambles. A fine individual goal from Anna V gave AKS the lead but Stockport equalised a few minutes later. AKS began to use the width well which created space in the middle for on form striker Anna V to drive forward and score two more skilful goals to make the half time score 3-1. The second half saw AKS on top with forwards Maisie W and Lila N chasing back effectively while defenders Gracie G and Reya B marked well in defence making it difficult for Stockport to capitalise on any of their attacks. Another individual goal this time from Camilla C who broke through on the right to make the score 5-1. The goal of the match came at the end and demonstrated excellent teamwork. Amelie C , Gracie G , Camilla C linked well to get the ball forward for Anna V to score. The final score was 6-1 to AKS and players of the match were Camilla C and Anna V.
An end to end U12B team game saw AKS take the lead with Anika R intercepting the ball from an opposition hit out and quickly passing it to Olivia D who slotted it past the keeper to score her first ever hockey goal. AKS began to pass the ball well and the second goal came from a good move on the right. A superb pass from defender Maddie K found Olivia D who used her ever improving skill to beat two players before crossing the ball to Isabel A who scored on the left post. A close second half saw Stockport get a goal back but AKS defended well to earn their 2-1 win. Players of the match were defenders Sophia McG and Maddie K.