WHC Oracle Edition 74
U14 Girls
A’s vs Amersham & Chalfont - 7-2
Storm Bert wasn’t going to get in the way of the GU14s, with both A and B teams hosting matches at Kings’. With a howling gale and (at times) driving rain, the girls may have felt they were battling the weather as well as the opposition last Sunday.
First up were the A team, looking to maintain their second place spot in the South Central T1 league and secure a Supraleague place for the next half of the season. They were playing a potentially strong Amersham and Chalfont team, however from the starting whistle Winchester were controlling the game with confident passing and driving runs and within the first five minutes Winchester took the lead with a well-worked partnership between Venne and Violet, with Violet slotting the ball away. Just three minutes later Venne scored herself. Looking super strong and in complete control of the match, the Winchester girls soon found themselves with too many players in attack and limited defence leaving Ella exposed at the back when Amersham had three players in attack and only the GK to beat. They then scored again in a similar situation, bringing the score to 2-2 midway in the first half. Not to worry, the girls rallied with an awesome top left hand corner strike from Violet in the 20th minute and then two more goals before half time with Emily putting away a close-range tussle and Violet scoring her hat-trick right at the end of 35 minutes.
5-2 at half time saw the Winchester team switching playing positions and trying out new combinations which at times left Winchester slightly more exposed, however the defence (Alice EH, Poppy, Sophie and Flossy) dealt with attack and any that slipped through were saved by Ella. This meant the second half saw Winchester keeping a clean sheet. There were some great lead runs from Sophia and Alice W upfront and mid positions (Izzie, Charlli and Molly) worked hard to cover off any potential Amersham attacks. Winchester managed to score a couple more goals, Aggie putting in a short corner on the post (although maybe it was the opposition!) and Emily popping one in right at the end of the second half.
B’s vs Andover - 0-2
Next up were the B team who hosted Andover U14 A in a tightly contested T3 league match. Despite a valiant effort from the home team, Andover emerged victorious with a 2-0 win.
The game began with Andover displaying some quick and fluid attacking play, which put the Winchester defence under early pressure. However, the home team responded well, shutting down Andover’s advances with great defensive organization. Winchester’s goalkeeper, Anna H, was particularly impressive in the first half, making several key saves to keep the score level. Unfortunately, Andover’s pressure paid off, and they took the lead with a well-executed goal, ending the first half 1-0.
The second half saw a shift in momentum as Winchester started to regain more possession. The team looked more comfortable in attack, with players like Lana, Holly, Millie, Georgia, and Daisy R linking up well and creating some promising chances. Despite several attacking phases, the equalizer just wouldn't come. A series of well-worked short corners showcased Winchester's tactical ability to sustain pressure, but Andover’s defence and goalkeeper held strong, maintaining their clean sheet.
Notably, Andover’s swift defensive line and solid goalkeeping prevented Winchester from scoring. On the other hand, Winchester's defenders - Olivia C, Flo P, and Emily A - worked tirelessly to thwart Andover's attacks, while the midfield trio of Freya, Bea, and Charlie showed immense work rate and determination throughout.
In the final minutes, Andover sealed the game with a second goal, securing a 2-0 victory. Despite the result, Winchester’s performance showed growth and resilience, and the team can be proud of their effort on the day.
U14 Boys
Winchester U14B team hosted the New Forest in windy but playable conditions in a Tier 3 game which saw players who are developing or new to the game have a chance to play. Whilst there is always a desire to win, the main aim is the development of players and to encourage the right approach to hockey and learning.
The Winchester U14B team took these points to heart and showed great enthusiasm and went about playing wide, pass-and-move hockey which put Forest under sustained pressure. This resulted in many opportunities, some which were well taken. Forest did put up stiff opposition and the defence/goal keeping was up to the challenge.
The end score line was 6-1 to Winchester with four goals from Rufus but a great team performance was the stand out feature.