Use UTUBE

Use the U Tube link, and in the search section type Field Hockey.  It gives good clips from games and specific skills that you can see demonstrated.  Happy days

AJM

1st XI Pics against Neston

I realise that this may seem like the Bush show but they are his pictures, that show a good impression on what was happening on Wednesday.

Wirral 1st XI v Neston

Everyone knew their jobs and the importance of the game and raised their game to the level needed.  A good start was needed and composure was the key.  We started tentatively with strong passing and good movement of the ball.  The attitude seemed their and the opening goal game from a well worked corner.  Chances in the first half then came and went with Harvey and Walker just not having their sticks close to the ground for tip ins!

We kept battling away looking for the second goal, but with it not coming, a misplaced pass by Walker started a Neston break away down the left, only for Bush to softly lean on their left forward and for the umpire to give a harsh stroke.  It was put away well and 1-1 was the score.  This was the score at half time.

With ever dependable performances from Taylor and Frank at the back and constant efforts from Gawith, Lyness and Steadman we still needed two goals.  Half time was about working together and tackling with two hands.  This improved our second half.  We went two one ahead through Bush with a straight strike, but again Neston struck back!  I was not sure we could do it with many a chance going begging.

But with the Ginger Warrior returning to the fray with ten minutes left it fell to Gawith to finish with aplomb in the bottom left corner, 3-2.  With no more than 3 minutes to go Harvey picked off a Neston clearance and attacked down the right putting a ball in for Steadman to finish.  To the delight of all 4-2.  We kept it strong at the back and maintained our composure to win the game and a place in the Wirral U18 final.

Well done lads

AJM

2nd Team game against St Anselms

Sorry about this fellas but due to me having the operation on Tues afternoon then the 2nd team game can not be played at the Oval.  The big game on Wednesday is against Neston can you look at the board on Tuesday to see what is happening.  If you are not on the team sheet for the 1st team then it would be great to see you support the team at the Rec.

See you after half term.

AJM

Last week before half term

Alright fellas, this week is massive for the 1st team with the big game against Neston on Wednesday night!!  This being said we have a training session for the 1st team and 2nd team players at the Oval from 4-5pm with CCC.

The main reason for that i due to the fact that I have a knee operation tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday 21st Oct.  Therefore i am not going to be able to make training and will be making every effort to be there on Wed aft at Neston Rec.

On Thursday, the U14's are playing at the Oval against St Anselms with a 4.15 start playing 25 mins each way.  Mr Thomason will be looking after you guys.  Good luck fellas!

AJM

Wirral U16's v St Anselms

A game of two halves one would say!  This was a case if not turning up in the first half apart from a couple of corners and a goal pulled back by Clark and three of the worse goals i have ever seen conceded.  The problems were sill errors, not passing to each other, poor ball pace, lack of vision and confidence. 

At half time we spoke about things, increased our energy levels changed a few things about and got at St Anselms.  They didn't like it and it made for a better second half.  A second goal came as Wilkinson attacked down the right wing cutting in and beating 5 maybe 6 players at once and then squaring the ball for Farrington to guide home.  We were back in the game and further chances fell but didn't materialise.  A miles better effort in the second half.

Still some positives, but lots still to work on!!  Keep things up lads. 

Final score Wirral 2 - 3 St Anselms

AJM

Pics against Merchant Taylor's

Pictures from the game on Wenesday 15th Oct against Merchant Taylors. 

Wirral 3 - 4 Merchant Taylors

Wirral v Merchant Taylors

On a cool, cloudy afternoon the Wirral 1st and 2nd XI teams went over the water to Liverpool and up to Crosby to play Merchant Taylor's School.  On arriving there young Lyness showed his true colours with some funny smells!!  This probably didn't help our start as we went behind to an early Merchants goal.  This down to sloppy play and us not playing to our usual high tempo.

Without this pace and good passing we can at time make simple mistakes!  Those mistakes often cost us.  As the half developed the Merchants passing game and decisiveness told as they put together a second good move to go 2-0 up.  We the started to battle and play some good hockey often illustrated by Bush and Harvey.  A driving run by Bush saw him pick out Evans who finished with aplomb.  Silly mistakes by Eastwood and Walker saw us behind 3-1 at half time.

Just reinforcement of what we are good at and to raise the intensity was Metcalf's words at half time, with a few changes.  A goal for Cropper from close range and then an equaliser from Plimley saw us back in the game!  But sustained pressure down our left his side saw the Merchants team grab a late winner to win the game 4-3.  The man of the match performance was given by Hankie who was strong resilient and committed throughout.  Nullifying the Merchants attacks and popping up in the opposing dee on numerous occasions only to find that the ball did not arrive to him.  Well played!!

Had we taken the chances at short corners and played like we did in the second half throughout, I'm sure the second half would have been different.  Still very encouraging and lets take that second half into the game against Neston next week!!

AJM

U15 V U14's Game!

In front of a bumper crowd in the end on a rain swept evening the junior teams fought out a well deserved 1-1 draw.  Goals both coming in the first half through the impressing Quereshi and Edwards for the U14's.  In a well balanced game the U15's came out strongly and moved the ball quickly applying a lot of pressure on the Year 9 goal only to find Cartwright up to his very best.  He was also assisted by some very good defending and when the Year 9 goal came through a driving Wilkinson run, and Edward's finishing with aplomb, there was a sense of belief in their own ability.

The game was played in horrible conditions and every credit to all players that they made use of rolling substitutes throughout both half's.  This both ensured that they gained a rest and also rotated positions!  The second half saw both teams play with more confidence and look to hit the ball more and move the ball quickly from left to right.  In the end resilient defending by the Year 9 team ensured that the Year 10 team didn't go home with the bragging rights!

Thank you fellas, I look forward to both teams making good progress this season.

AJM

Wed 15th v Mercant Taylors School

Alright guys.

The game on Wednesday requires us to leave school at 12.45 for both games as it is away.  The 1stXI are playing first at 2pm and the 2nd/U16's are playing at 3.20.  All players will require a £1 for the bus and your correct kit.

1st XI V Merchant Taylors

• Smith
  
• Walker
  
• Frank
  
• Taylor
  
• Harvey
  
• Bush
  
• Eastwood
  
• Riddiough
  
• Lyness
  
• Gawith
  
• Evans
  
• Plimley
  
• Cropper
  

2nd / U16's v Merchant Taylors

• Gawith
  
• Tidy
  
• Eaton
• Lawson
  
• Davies
  
• Fletcher
  
• Spink
  
• Oldham
  
• Clegg
  
• Dennis
  
• Byrne
  

Please tick your availability on the teamsheet.

AJM

Week beginning Oct 15th.

The 1st XI and 2nd team along with some of the U16 boys have a game on Wednesday afternoon against Merchant Taylors School from Crosby. We are playing away and so will have to leave at 12.45 so that we are there for a 2pm start for the 1st team. The 2nd team to follow, the team will be posted tomorrow and placed on the Hockey board in the morning. We should be back at school for about half five on Wednesday. Watch out later in the week for the report from both games.

On Tuesday is the coaching game between the U14's (new breed) against the U15's (elder statesmen) starting at the Oval at 4.15.
On Thursday the U16's play their Cup fixture against St Anselms College at the Oval, 4.15 start.

AJM

Big Game - Tues 14th Oct.

The big games this week see our own young guns pit it against each other.

Wirral U14's v Wirral U15's 4.00pm Oval - Tuesday 14th October.

Can any 1st or 2nd team players who would like to umpire offer their services so that AJM and CCC can use the evening as a coaching exercise on the pitch.

AJM

Calday

The Calday week can always prove to be hard but the u16s put in a sterling effort going down 2-0. There is real progress being made by the group of lads and the influx of some u15 boys has helped to develop this group of players. Strong performances by Hayat, Eastwood and so nearly goals for Clegg and McCann may have seen a different score line!!

On the Wednesday afternoon, a young and inexperienced 2nd XI side played their heart out against a strong Calday 2nds that included about 5 players from the 1st team. We learnt some hard lessons that day and the mistakes made really showed. We lost by alot, 12-0!! This possibly only helped the 1st XI players to go out there and prove a point! We wiped the floor with Calday only to not score although Evans will tell you differently!! The 0-0 showed great character, commitment and effort and sets us p for a pulsating game against Neston on the 22nd Oct.

AJM

Sept matches

The first outing of the season saw the whole 1st and 2nd team squad play the St Anselm boys at the Oval. We made a promising start and played good hockey throughout, taking two good chances in a long 55 minute half. We were worthy winners winning
2-0.

AJM

The following week the boys were to play a 1stXI fixture against Neston at the Rec. Under the stewardship of CCC the boys put on a solid performance running out 4-1 winners with goals from Steadman, Evans, Bush and Riddiough. A great positive start to the season and lets holpe we can put the same kind of performance in against Neston in the Cup.

AJM

October 9th Training

A good session at the Oval with over 35 down at training. We looked at hitting and receiving the ball from different positions and then in different ways. We then added some pressure and then looked to apply it into our post up drill and attacking the 25 and then scoring past our two goalkeepers O'Connell and Cartwright. Things improved and as we moved things into a game their were signs of it working and us linking play together. Well Done!!

Thank you to Mr Thomason, Matthew Walker and Ben Plimley for their help and well done fellas, keep it up!

AJM

October 6th Week

We played Neston HS on Tuesday night at the Rec. The U16 team started brightly as usual stringing passes together and working hard both off the ball and then trying to win it back. Their efforts we rewarded when Jordan Edge deflected in a Max Eastwood cross from a short corner in the first 15 mins. Wirral then continued to keep possession and create opportunities.

But as the half developed Neston began to have a few fast breaks and seized their goalscoring chances with two short corners. One which the defenders just didn't deal with and the second that ricochet off Johnstone leg and into an empty net. All in all probably not deserved but tiredness had crept in and silly mistakes and constant shouts from AJM on don't run into trouble and pass to blue echoed around the Rec.

The second half started brightly and their were noticeable improvements with strong performances and good patterns of play, just no end product. The score remained 2-1 and we live to dream another dream in search of this win.

AJM

Fixtures and Results from September

There will be a summary soon

AJM

Training AFTER HALF TERM!

All training sessions will take place during the week if there is no game training will be on a Tuesday 4-5.25 at the Oval with AJM and CCC.

On a Thursday training will be at the Oval from 4 - 5.25 with AJM and IPT.

Open to all 1stXI and 2nd XI and promising U16 players there is the indoor session in the Sports Hall on a Friday lunchtime from 12.35 - 1.20.

I look forward to seeing you there.

AJM

Welcome back to the WGS 2008/09 season

Sorry about this but this is the 3rd launch of the blog, keeping it updated is the real issue. The matches and match reports will go on the blog for all players to see and linked to the school website.

The new season has started well and major progress is being made!! Lots of players playing and training as part of year group squads or after school at the Oval on a Tues and Thurs evening.

I wish you all the best for the season and improvements in your own game.

AJM