PUBLISHED 10 February 2020
After a superb hockey season so far the AKS U13 hockey team competed in the first round of the U13 National Schools IN2 Hockey Tournament 2020 and proved a force to be reckoned with being crowned Lancashire A and B team Champions with both teams remaining undefeated and scoring a total of 26 goals without conceding one!!
The first A team game saw us against local rivals Lytham High School. The teamwork of all the players in this match was exceptional. The running off the ball into space and the passing between players was the key to success in this. Carly’s skilful play on the right enabled her to score 3 goals while Jessie was clinical on the left post scoring a further 2 goals. Layla and Sophie bagged a goal each to make the final score 7 – 0 to AKS and our first points on the board.
The second match was against St Mary’s Hall in what AKS knew would be the crucial match of the tournament. We started the stronger of the two sides making numerous attacks down the right putting the St Mary’s Hall defence under pressure, however they coped well and with great saves from their goalkeeper prevented AKS scoring. St Mary’s Hall were always dangerous on the counterattack but the AKS’s back four of Charlotte, Jessica, Layla and Lisa confidently won back possession and released the ball accurately to the forwards. The driving runs from both the defence and attack ensured that AKS finished the game on top and at the final whistle the score was 3 – 0 with goals scored from Jessie (2) and Charlotte from a great penalty corner strike.
AKS went into their last match against Ripley St Thomas knowing they had qualified to play in the Regional Finals, but AKS wanted to win to be crowned Lancashire Champions. With increased confidence AKS capitalised on their possession, Jessica passed an intelligent pass into the circle for Jessie to score her first goal of the match from the left post. Jessie went on to score a further 2 goals. Towards the end of the first half Sophie placed a perfectly weighted pass into the circle to the unmarked Carley who fired the ball into the back of the net to take her second goal of this match. In the second half Kirtika scored 2 well worked goals from the left side and Charlotte added another running strongly down the centre of the pitch to score with a powerful shot from the top of the circle. A great team effort resulted in AKS winning the match 9-0. Throughout the tournament AKS Goalkeeper Dani made intelligent decisions and many great saves to help maintain a tournament clean scoresheet.
AKS were crowned Lancashire U13 Champions and picked up winners medals and now progress through to the North West Finals after half term.
With a large squad AKS also entered the Lancashire U13 B team tournament and they too were crowned County Champions beating both St Mary's Hall and Lytham St.Annes. AKS started with a strong attacking performance against LSA, with Hollie W scoring a hat trick within the first five minutes putting the ball in on the left post after great attacking play down the right. Emma brought the tally up to 4 and AKS kept up the pressure taking their score up to 5 by half time. LSA improved in the second half and made some crucial tackles in defence and managed to keep AKS to the 5 goals scored in the first half. A 5 – 0 victory and first points on the board.
AKS knew they needed to work hard in order to beat a tough St Mary's Hall side. The first half of the game was end to end and very evenly matched. AKS were able to score a goal before half time putting themselves into a narrow 1 – 0 lead at the break. It was a tough second half with Maisy Ray making some excellent saves in goal to keep us ahead and great defending keeping the opposition out of our circle. AKS sealed the win with another goal and secured the top spot and were crowned Lancashire U13 B team Champions and collected winners medals.