PUBLISHED 03 May 2021
AKS U15 hockey team took on the challenge of facing a Rossall senior side containing several regional players and certainly rose to this putting in a superb team performance in a thrilling game.
We knew the older and more experienced Rossall team would provide a stiff test and so it proved to be with all the team having to work hard for each other against the fast and skilful opposition. The exciting game saw AKS come from behind at the break to take the lead but Rossall scored in the last minute of the game to secure a deserved draw in an end to end game.
We started the game well attacking with pace and creating a number of scoring opportunities early on but could not find the back of the net. Rossall had chances of their own and only a great save from Anya J, making her debut in goal for AKS, kept the scores level. Rachel W came close to scoring only to see her effort saved by the keeper but we got reward for our attacking play in the 10th minute when Laura K drove through from midfield and played the perfect pass to Rachel W on the right post and she calmly played the ball into an empty net to take us into a well deserved 1-0 lead. Katie T had a golden opportunity to increase our lead after Patsy C found her free in the circle but her shot was saved by the GK. Rossall were always dangerous with their Senior players posing questions with their driving runs forward and Rossall did have the ball in the net in the 20th minute only for it to be disallowed due to hitting a foot. Lifted by this Rossall continued to attack at pace and they drew level with a well struck shot in the 25th minute and then went ahead on the stoke of half time with a great reverse stick shot to go in to the break 2-1 ahead.
After the break Rossall went further ahead with a goal early on but undeterred and buoyed by our great first half performance we continued to pass the ball well and scored the best goal of the game in the 10th minute of the half. Starting at the back a great pass from Esme B-E out right set Beth R off and a superb driving run saw her beat several players and link with Olivia M. Olivia found Rachel W on the right and a great pass found Lucy B in the centre and a great strike into the corner ended a superb passage of play and made it 2-3. Gaining in confidence all the time and with some great link play we started to dominate possession and Laura K had two great shots in quick succession well saved by the Rossall keeper. Rossall were made to work hard for possession with great marking by Maddie B , Anna P and Amelie S and when they did get through excellent last minute tackling by Esme B - E frequently won back possession. After more great play we deservedly drew level with another well worked move which saw Katie T link well and Patsy C put the perfect pass to Kate S on the post to ensure the ball crossed the line to make it 3-3. More attacking play saw us win several corners and a well worked routine saw Lucy B find the net to take us into a 4-3 lead with 5 minutes to play.
Rossall then threw everything at us and in the dying seconds of the game drew level with virtually the last shot of the game to make the final score a fitting 4-4 draw at the end of an exciting end to end game.
Every AKS player raised their game in this match and pleasingly the team played the best hockey they have ever played. There were a number of outstanding performance especially from Maddie B whose dogged marking made life difficult for Rossall’s powerful forward, Lucy B for her driving runs from midfield and superb work rate to chase back, Patsy C for her excellent play as the high CF but Player of the Match was Beth R for her superb attacking play on the right and organisation as FB.
Overall a fantastic game of hockey and exciting times are definitely ahead for this superb group of players.