PUBLISHED 25 November 2019
AKS hockey teams enjoyed another great morning of hockey with 4 wins and 2 draws against Kings School, Chester.
It was an unusual challenge for the senior side as they took to the field for a 7-a-side match against Kings School, Chester but it was back to winning ways with a 3-0 victory. We started on the front foot attacking at pace and after great work by Captain Alex on the right she played a perfect pass to Millie but her shot went just wide. The skilful Kings side then enjoyed some good possession of their own but some great saves by Beth and good defending from Ellie and Alicia kept us in the lead. We raised
our game passing the ball well and deservedly took the lead in the 9th minute when Mille found the net to make it 1-0. Minutes later we nearly went further ahead when a superb reverse stick shot from Prisha was heading for the top corner but a flying Kings keeper got up to deflect it over the crossbar. Poppy was dominant in the centre of the pitch working hard to always be available for a pass and at half time we had a narrow 1-0 lead. We started the second half as we did the first and Mille was on the scoresheet again in the 4th minute to make it 2-0 with a superb early strike, after good work by Ziv. Kings were always dangerous and only more good defending
from Imogen, Mille and Ellie together with good saves from Eva in goal maintained our lead. Poppy went close to scoring with a great reverse stick shot but we also had to defend several corners to keep out two goal cushion. We started to dominate down the right with Sally putting the Kings defence under pressure with great driving runs and we deservedly went further ahead in the 11th minute when Mille got her hat-trick goal from a corner to make it 3-0. Before the final whistle we came close again after a superb Prisha run down the right saw her cross pass infront of goal but it just eluded an AKS stick and we had to settle for a great 3-0 win. Players of the match were Sally and Poppy.
The U14 game started superbly with a goal in the first few minutes. After a great driving run on the right Olivia delivered a fantastic cross to Katie in the middle of the circle and she coolly slotted the ball into the corner net to make it 1 – 0. We continued to dominate possession but some good Kings defending thwarted our best efforts. Laura, Lucy and Olivia dominated midfield but often our final ball failed to find an AKS player or shots went wide. We won several attacking corners but the usually slick routines just failed and the score remained at 1 – 0 . Kings enjoyed possession of their own and started to attack down our left. Good defending by Anna, Beth and Esme kept the Kings forwards at bay for much of the half but a great early shot caught us off guard and found the net to draw Kings level and we went into the break all square at 1 -1. AKS started the second half on the front foot and again dominated possession. Good passing hockey saw us create a number of chances and unlike the first half we were more clinical infront of goal and were soon in the lead. A superb second half performance saw us net three times with Katie on target again and Amelie S scoring twice to make the final score 4 – 1. Player of the match was Katie for her driving runs on the left and two goals.
The AKS U13 A team were certainly fired up and focused for their match against Kings Chester. As soon as the whistle blew the girls found themselves in the circle within a minute where Jessie connected well with the ball to score the first goal. AKS dominated the majority of play, creating and using the space well. The girls linked many great passes together and pleasing teamwork resulted in other goals been scored with Hollie scoring a hat-trick, Charlotte (2), Carley Wilde, Jessica and Evie to make the final score 9 - 0. Although the A team won their match comfortably, what was most heartening was the girls' conduct and how they applied themselves to the game. They should be proud of their attitude and once again, their adaptability on the pitch. Kings Chester's voted the player of the match to be Charlotte and AKS POM was Carley.
Following on from last week’s pleasing win, the AKS U13 B team needed to up the intensity as they were playing Kings Chester U13 A team. Two excellent passes from Katie and Holly set up the first goal, for Sophie to calmly sweep the ball into the back of the goal to take AKS into the early lead, but after a scramble in front of our goal, Kings' scored from a deflection off an AKS foot, making it 1-1 at half time. GK Daniella was kept busy as Kings Chester had many attacks and shots at goal but she made some excellent saves and clearances from goal to keep the scores level. Kings Chester however got their noses infonrt with a goal in the second half with time running out were set to win the match. However, within the last minute of the game AKS earned themselves a well deserved short corner. The final whistle was blown to end the match but the short corner had to be played. A very determined team approached the circle to execute their short corner, the first strike at goal was deflected off the GK, but the AKS team battled to keep the ball in the circle, so play continued. Another scramble and the goal was scored for AKS by Emma. Great team work and hard work by the U13B resulted in a deserved and fair 2-2 draw. Kings Chester's POM was Daniella with AKS POM Katie.
AKS U12 A team took the lead in the first minute when a pass from Lisa found an unmarked Laura who slotted the ball past the keeper. Two minutes later, Laura scored again with an almost identical goal this time from a Layla pass. AKS dominated the first half, Kirtika and Ruby setting up attacks on the right which led to two further AKS goals. The first from Laura to give her a well deserved hat-trick., Kings then grabbed one back before a jubilant Lucy scored the final goal of the half for AKS to give them a 5 - 1 lead at half time.
A more even second half saw AKS make some positional changes and both teams have chances. The only goal of the half was scored by AKS when a cross from Ruby led to a well deserved goal for Lisa who had worked so hard throughout the game. Despite the 6-1 score line, AKS keeper Niamh made a number of fine reaction saves while Esther was the steadying influence at the back that allowed the rest of her team-mates to attack so effectively. Player of the match was Layla whose superb passing set up numerous attacks that led to goalscoring opportunities.
The U12 B team played in an even game that saw both teams work hard in defence but struggle to score with the goalkeepers at either end making good saves and AKS keeper Carrara being named as player of the match by the opposition. In what was one of their toughest games yet, AKS had to battle hard to close the opposition down. A good defensive display saw players tackling well with Freya, Eleanor, Lucy and Sophia stopping most of what came at them as well as distributing the ball effectively. In the second half AKS began to make better use of the width and came close to scoring with Lola, and Lucy both looking dangerous on the forward line but at the final whistle the score was 0 - 0. Freya and Carrara who were instrumental in stopping the opposition from scoring were both named as players of the match.