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Sun 10 Nov 2019
U16 Girls Dev MaroonESM Gold
3
2
From Haribos to Heroes!
George Thornton11 Nov 2019 - 13:16
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Maroons make superb come-back to earn first win
Report by Derek Brien (Manager)
Immediately following on from the rescheduled Whites game at 2.15, a number of the girls had kindly agreed to play for the Maroons against ESM at 3.30, so after a quick change into white shorts and socks so as not to clash with ESM's red kit, we were under way. Coaches Andy and Dave, having also overseen the previous game, threw the dice and switched some girls into new positions, the most notable being Ellie Simpson into the centre of defence and Neve Barkai and Emelia Henry rotating in a very advanced position at the head of the attack. Once again, play was fairly even in the first half, but one of ESM's players was taking control in midfield and passing the ball around nicely. This led to the first goal of the match and we conceded another shortly after. The half time whistle came and the girls were gathered in for yet more Haribos and words of wisdom from the coaches. We didn't feel that a two goal deficit was a fair reflection on the game and convinced the girls that they were every bit as good as the ESM girls.
Whatever we said, it worked. My God how it worked! A better half of hockey I have not seen in a long time. At any level. Neve Jardine, Ella Rubenstein, Ellie Hall and Ellen Robertson chased everything and must have covered every blade of (artificial) grass on the pitch. Anna Cockerill was like a girl possessed and ESM's play-maker from the first half threw her stick down in frustration at one point after having been robbed of the ball when she just could not get past her, despite numerous turns and feints. Ellie Simpson roamed forward when play allowed and struck a beauty to bring it back to 2-1. The girls continued to press every ball and Neve Jardine skipped down the right hand side before sending a lovely ball in to Ella Rubenstein to gratefully dispatch into the goal. 2-2!
With only five minutes remaining the girls smelled blood and went in search of a winner. That winner came off the stick of Ellie Hall and scarcely has a goal been more deserved. Another slick passing move and cross saw her slap the ball against the back-board and the assembled fans went wild, or was that just me? The next few minutes passed ever so slowly as we willed the final whistle to go! Eventually it did and the look on the girls faces when they realised they'd won was just priceless. What a way to get the first win of the season - 2-0 down at half-time and won it 3-2. I'm sure that will give everyone the confidence to kick on from here and do it again.
Any one of the fourteen heroes could have been voted player of the match, but Neve Jardine and Ellen Robertson got the nod, also taking into account that both had played in the earlier match too.
Thanks to all the girls for an amazing effort and to the coaches and umpires for braving the cold to witness that effort.
Immediately following on from the rescheduled Whites game at 2.15, a number of the girls had kindly agreed to play for the Maroons against ESM at 3.30, so after a quick change into white shorts and socks so as not to clash with ESM's red kit, we were under way. Coaches Andy and Dave, having also overseen the previous game, threw the dice and switched some girls into new positions, the most notable being Ellie Simpson into the centre of defence and Neve Barkai and Emelia Henry rotating in a very advanced position at the head of the attack. Once again, play was fairly even in the first half, but one of ESM's players was taking control in midfield and passing the ball around nicely. This led to the first goal of the match and we conceded another shortly after. The half time whistle came and the girls were gathered in for yet more Haribos and words of wisdom from the coaches. We didn't feel that a two goal deficit was a fair reflection on the game and convinced the girls that they were every bit as good as the ESM girls.
Whatever we said, it worked. My God how it worked! A better half of hockey I have not seen in a long time. At any level. Neve Jardine, Ella Rubenstein, Ellie Hall and Ellen Robertson chased everything and must have covered every blade of (artificial) grass on the pitch. Anna Cockerill was like a girl possessed and ESM's play-maker from the first half threw her stick down in frustration at one point after having been robbed of the ball when she just could not get past her, despite numerous turns and feints. Ellie Simpson roamed forward when play allowed and struck a beauty to bring it back to 2-1. The girls continued to press every ball and Neve Jardine skipped down the right hand side before sending a lovely ball in to Ella Rubenstein to gratefully dispatch into the goal. 2-2!
With only five minutes remaining the girls smelled blood and went in search of a winner. That winner came off the stick of Ellie Hall and scarcely has a goal been more deserved. Another slick passing move and cross saw her slap the ball against the back-board and the assembled fans went wild, or was that just me? The next few minutes passed ever so slowly as we willed the final whistle to go! Eventually it did and the look on the girls faces when they realised they'd won was just priceless. What a way to get the first win of the season - 2-0 down at half-time and won it 3-2. I'm sure that will give everyone the confidence to kick on from here and do it again.
Any one of the fourteen heroes could have been voted player of the match, but Neve Jardine and Ellen Robertson got the nod, also taking into account that both had played in the earlier match too.
Thanks to all the girls for an amazing effort and to the coaches and umpires for braving the cold to witness that effort.
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