PUBLISHED 18 December 2023
AKS 1st XI Hockey team travelled across the country to play Bradford Grammar School in the last 16 of the Independent schools cup and it was a close fought match.
We started well attacking with pace down the right thanks to great link play between Lucy W, Kirtika S and Beth R and were the first to get a shot on target and bring a save from the Bradford keeper. We continued to dominate the opening exchanges and put Bradford under pressure but good defending thwarted our efforts and the scores remained level.
Bradford then enjoyed a period of pressure which saw them pass well and attack at pace and we needed a couple of great saves from Danni H to keep us on level terms. In an end to end game both sides created chances with our best being from a counter attack saw Katie T and Beth R break away only for the pass to be intercepted by the last Bradford defender. Bradford had a chance of their own when a great reverse shot deflected off the post but at the break the scores were still level at 0-0.
The second half went the way of the first with both teams creating chances and both GK’ s making some good saves. Bradford stretched the game and passed with pace and only more great defending from Olivia M, Maddi R, Lucy W and Jessica A and the goalpost kept the scores level. Half way through the half it was Bradford that finally broke the deadlock when a breakaway saw the lively Bradford midfielder drive into the circle and a well placed shot found the corner o9f the goal to take Bradford in to the lead. Lifted by the goal Bradford raise their game again and only two superb diving saves from Danni H kept the score at just one.
With time running out AKS raised their game and threw everything at Bradford and started to dominate the ball again. Lisa P in midfield dominated and linked well with Beth R on the right, she out ran the Bradford defence and set up several chances but more solid Bradford tackling thwarted our best efforts. We dominated play and Laura K had a superb effort with a fantastic reverse shot but only a superb save from the Bradford keeper kept the ball out of the net. Beth R also came close when her jinking run saw her beat several defenders and get a shot away only to see it luckily deflect off the keepers back pad. We continued to attack with pace and win a couple of corners but just could not find the net and at the final whistle the score remained at 0-1.
A close, hard fought match which could have gone either way but the girls can take great credit from their performances to reach the last 16 of this National Competition.