U16 Boys

vs Guildford - 4-2

This was another tough assignment for Winchester in their second tier 1 supra league fixture, against Guildford. After last week’s narrow loss to Wimbledon, the boys were desperate to get the season back on track.

As last week, Winchester started the game in control but without creating too many clear-cut chances. Guildford steadily gained a foothold in the game, and started to create space, particularly on the left side, with good movement off the ball leaving defenders unsure which players to track. Guildford took good advantage, with two well worked goals midway through the first half.

Faced with this deficit, Winchester made some subtle adjustments to their formation in search of more goal threat. Players were freed up to take positions in more threatening areas, and this quickly paid dividends when Bertie dispatched a loose ball to bring Winchester back into the game. Half time was taken with the boys 2-1 down but buoyed by the goal and confident that they could continue to threaten in the second half.

As the second half started, Winchester upped the pace again and continued to dominate possession. With Rory playing in a more advanced position and Tom pushing forward into the opposition’s half, Winchester looked much more likely to threaten the Guildford goal. This pressure quickly told, and in ten minutes the game turned. Bertie scored two quick goals both from long passes and Rory clinically dispatched a short corner. Guildford had no answer, and started to lose their cool, incurring the wrath of the umpires and players to the sin bin. Winchester comfortably saw out the game to register a well-deserved victory.

Whilst the key to the turnaround in fortunes was moving Rory, Tom and Bertie higher up the pitch, this was only possible because of other players’ covering the more defensive areas so calmly and confidently. Beans, Matt and Freddy have become rocks in the backline, and Philipp is quietly developing into a very reliable defender. In front of the back four, Vinny has a calm, steady influence which provides comfort that no threat can come through our middle and allows Tom to rove and create attacking opportunities.

With the first points in the bag, Winchester will now look to build on the momentum with a trip to Surbiton, knowing that victory there will leave them well placed to progress to the next stage of the supra league competition.

U14 Boys

vs Trojans - 5-4

Winchester hosted Trojans at Kings’ School for the second league game of the season. Traditional rivals Trojans field a team full of high quality players and from the start Winchester knew this was going to be a tough game.

Both teams started well with high ball pace and accurate passing, stretching the play and causing opportunities at both ends. Winchester were first to capitalise with Will D striking well from the top to put it past the outstretched leg of the goalie. This was followed up by two more from Chris who dispatched his with cool composure. Trojans were not going to take this laying down and rallied towards the end of the second half. Winchester defence struggled to man-mark their overlapping players and resulted in them clawing two back.

With the score 3-2 at half-time, there were a lot of positives to focus on especially as this was the first Winchester appearance for a number of players. As the game restarted, Will D got a fortunate bounce which he finished off to move Winchester two goals clear, only to see Trojans’ sustained pressure result in a short corner which, due to an early break, Winchester had to defend with only two players. The inevitable goal brought Trojans to within one but Winchester refused to buckle and - digging deep - upgraded some sloppy defending into a short corner which Natt slung into the Trojans net to again give some head room.

The last quarter of the game saw prolonged pressure and a few lapses in composure from the Winchester backs resulting in easy turnovers and Trojans getting another back making the score 5-4. With time slipping away the Winchester U14s dug deep and held on to win the game and take their unbeaten form to the next game which is their first cup game against Guildford!

U12 Girls

purples vs Guildford - 5-2

It was the toughest contest yet for the Purples this weekend. Overall Guildford were well organised and particularly strong at short corners. Winchester were quick to convert opportunities to goals, but the score line could have been a lot closer if it wasn’t for an excellent performance from our defence.

Guildford had the edge in the first half and so were the first to score, but Winchester battled back to level to 1-1 just before half time. Winchester came out the more goal hungry team in the second half scoring a further four goals, but Guildford scored from a very efficient short corner and looked dangerous from several others. However our defence were strong and quick to drive the ball up the wing, making it very difficult for Guildford to catch us. We created lots of space and other opportunities that we were very close to converting.

A key learning to ensure we repeat the win against them next time out will be to be better organised and confident in both attacking and defending shorts and improve the accuracy of our passing. A good win against a well matched opposition.

Blacks vs Guildford A’s - 2-4

Winchester Blacks welcomed Guildford’s A team to Bar End on Sunday. Bringing an athletic group of girls who had pace and energy gave the unbeaten Blacks their stiffest test of the season so far and letting a soft goal in early made for an especially hard game. The Blacks broke lines well but poor decision making around the circle was their downfall - 20 circle penetrations leading to only one penalty corner is something to think about.

The match was spinning out of control in Q3 at 3-1 to Guildford, whose base line spins to the back post were a lesson for Winchester who kept shooting from narrow angles at the near post. Guildford also looked fitter in Q4 and despite Winchester pulling a goal back, they ran out worthy winners when breaking on a Winchester forced pass down the middle of the pitch.

All in all a learning day for the Blacks, let’s see what happens at the return fixture later this season. The home team created a lot but more guile in building up through midfield and being clinical in front of goal are key takeaways.