U14 Hockey team crowned Lancashire Champions

U14 Hockey team crowned Lancashire Champions

U14 Hockey team crowned Lancashire Champions

PUBLISHED 14 October 2019

The AKS U14 hockey team finished a superb 10 days of sport at AKS as, following the success of the Yr 11 and Yr 9 Netball teams they made it a hat-trick of tournament wins when they came out on top at the Lancashire U14National Schools Hockey Tournament ahead of Kirkham Grammar, Lytham and Stonyhurst.

Our first game saw us up against rivals Kirkham in what we 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 Kirkham defence under pressure, however their defence  coped well and with great saves from their goalkeeper prevented AKS scoring. Kirkham were always dangerous on the counter attack but the AKS’s back four of Charlotte, Beth, Maddie and Lisa confidently won back possession and released the ball accurately to the midfield and forward lines. Half way through the first half AKS were rewarded for their attacking play with what proved to be the only goal of the match with a cleverly played reverse stick pass from Layla to Patsy on the left post who without hesitation placed the ball past the goalkeeper. Driving runs from the midfield line of Olivia , Lucy and Laura ensured that AKS finished the game on top and at the final whistle the score was 1 – 0 and we had our first points on the board.

The next game was against Lytham HS. 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 match. Katie was clinical on the left post scoring two goals while Lucy’s superb play saw her also bagging a brace of goals to make the final score 4 – 0 to AKS..

AKS went into their last match against Stonyhurst College knowing they had qualified to play in the Regional Finals but wanted the win to be crowned Lancashire Champions. In the first half AKS couldn’t capitalise on the possession they had as the final pass into the circle was being cut out by the Stonyhurst defence. Towards the end of the first half Laura placed a perfectly weighted pass into the circle to the unmarked Carly who fired the ball into the back of the net to take us into a 1 – 0 half time lead.

We continued to attack in the second half and came close to adding to our score when the ball was fired towards goal only to hit the post and stop just in front of the goal line but we were unable to tap it over the line with great scramble defending from Stonyhurst. Stonyhurst started to put us under pressure but our defence worked hard to regain possession.  Charlotte’s and Jessica's tackles in defence won back possession on a number of occasions for AKS to counter attack. With two minutes to go AKS were caught over attacking and Stonyhurst took full advantage of this and were awarded a penalty corner but once again the AKS team defended well, won back possession and released the ball effectively from defence to attack. Anna ran at the defender and weighted a perfect pass to sister Lisa in the circle who didn’t hesitate in placing the ball into the corner of the goal passed the oncoming goalkeeper to secure another win, 2 – 0 and with it the  team were crowned Lancashire U14 Champions. AKS now progress through to the North West Finals after half term.

Player of the tournament was Lucy for her tireless running in attack and defence in the midfield, but most of all for her attacking runs towards the circle placing the oppositions defence under pressure.

 

 

 

AUTHOR: AKS Lytham
CATEGORIES: Sport
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