PUBLISHED 03 December 2023
AKS hockey teams enjoyed their first block fixture against Cowley International College , St.Helens and playing against older opposition all teams gave a good account of themselves.
The U15 B team had the challenge of not only playing against the Cowley U16 A team but also on a 3G pitch but the team rose to the challenge superbly and as the game progressed and the players grew in both confidence and the standard of their play.
Cowley started the game on the front foot as the AKS team got used to the pitch and only some great goalkeeping from Captain Sophie S kept the scores level. We slowly got to grips with the very different surface and started to enjoy more possession and attack down the right with Erin R, Lucy W and Grace P linking well. Great defending from Stevie S, Emilie B and Isla A kept the Cowley forwards at bay for a large part of the half but they went ahead before the break with a well worked corner.
The second half saw all the players grow in confidence and start to pass the ball more effectively and create chances of our own with Maisie McK going close. Georgia S, playing her first game of the season after a knee injury, dominated down the left and we won several attacking corners but could not find the back of the net and two further goals from Cowley made the final score 0-3 but with all players enjoying pitch time and gaining in confidence the team can take a great deal out of the game despite not coming out on top. Lucy W was voted the player of the match
The U14 B team faced the Cowley A team and enjoyed a close fought game. Cowley took the lead early on but AKS got back on level terms with a goal from Issy H before two more Cowley goals sealed the win. Shelby Q coped well in the wider football goals to stop a number of goals and was voted player of match alongside Isabel A.
The U13 B team faced an even bigger challenge as they played against a mix of Cowley U13 ,U15 & U 16 players but again they rose to the challenge admirably! The players struggled to cope with the very slow pitch and in the first half the game was scrappy but we went ahead with a goal from Connie F. After the break Cowley enjoyed more possession and started to create a number of scoring opportunities but some great saves from Kathryn S in goal kept us ahead. We had chances of our own but could not increase our lead and with seconds remaining Cowley snatched an equaliser. Players of the match were Claudia J & Ava D.