Wirral U15's v U16's

In the match of the teams of the future an Thurs evening at the Oval the two teams were well represented and set up.  Both teams played a positive attacking style of hockey, moving the ball on quickly, defending well and created opportunities for their respective forwards.  If felt that both Evans and Broom for the Year 10s had great games getting the ball and distributing it and that with the power and tenacity of Dutton, Cheung, Partington and Hayat looking to feel the likes of Spink and Quareshi.  We had a game on our hands the combined skills of Oldham, Eastwood, Dennis, Ollerhead and the link play between Edge and Farrington meant chances and opportunities would always come about!!

The good hockey played saw a dubious corner given to the Year 11's toward the end of the first half that was duly dispatched by the clinical McCann!  And at half time there were little things to work on.  The 10's started well and equaliser through the forward thinking and close finish by Cheung, 1-1.  As the half progressed both sides could have scored, but with four minutes to go Eastwood dispatched a corner past O'Connell, 2-1.  Despite other opportunities for both sides, especially Edge the scores remained the same!!

Well done guys, some excellent stuff!!

AJM

Wirral XI v Reaseheath College

On a bitterly cold afternoon down at the Oval, the first team squad all got back into action following the Xmas brea, exams, interviews, injuries and illness.  It was the first time for about 6 weeks they had played together.  Reaseheath arrived ready to play with ten players and with their new addition Jay Elias and Phil Taylor in the second half we had a good game.  The Reaseheath side possessed considerable pace and skill at times.

It was good to see though that a patient build up and good passing opened up their defense for Lyness to score the opening goal past a hapless goalkeeper.  That lead was doubled just before half time. It was not until their start player who roamed from centre back with pace out shone past our defense and slotted past Smith, 2-1 at half time.

As we started the second half chance after chance fell to the forwards especially Spink, Evans and Plimley all missing from close range.  It was down to Davies who scored two and another from Spink to complete the victory of 5-2.  Although I am sure Mr Shum will be wearing shin pads after the shot that hit the post from the short corner in the second half!!

Well done fellas, St Anselms at home next week for the 1st and 2nd teams. 2.00 and 3.15 starts.

AJM

Tues 20th Training

On Tues we saw both the First team and the U14 teams down training.  They worked on different forms of passing and then application to a shooting drill.  This was then developed into forms of posting up and developed for the first team into support play from the right and left.  The players worked hard and finished on both halves of the pitch with small sided games.

Thank you to all who attended.

On Wed we play Reaseheath College at the Oval 2.15 start.

AJM

U14 North West Semi Final v Lakes School

On Monday 19th Jan the Year 9 team set out on there long journey up to Cumbria.  The 2 hour journey was the first milestone to get over.  The boys were all looking forward to the game against the Cumbrian champions and the away trip.  On arrival we saw their good looking pitch which would be great to have ourselves and warmed up and prepared for the game.

As the game started it was clear that the Lakes School had some strong, quick players who had played plenty of hockey.  They took an early lead and in the first 15 minutes dominated the play as we struggled to make simple passes.  We were 3-0 down as half time came around and with only one chance for Robert's to score from.  A real eye opener!!  

But determination was the key and the work ethic that has got us so far appeared in the second half and with that plenty of chances.  What if's as Sutton, Gouldson, Wilkinson, Lewin and Robert's all had great chances to get us back in the game.  With us on the offensive it left this strong Lakes School side with opportunities at the other end and they took two further chances in the second half to take the score to 5-0.

A real shame overall, but a great experience and achievement from the lads!!

Well done fellas

AJM

Wednesday v Kings Macc

A very inexperienced side headed to Kings Macc due to the number of lads having exams, illness or injury.  This lead us to only having 4 sixth formers!!  This was always going to be difficult against a strong Kings side.  In the main the team competed well and played some tidy hockey but it was in both final thirds that we struggled.  There were first team debuts for Farrington, Edge, Dutton and Wilkinson.  They did themselves proud with Dutton probably man of the match.  The 7-0 score line was not all negative.  This team is the future and that future looks positive.

AJM

Training

After a staff training session on Tuesday we had a coached game between two closely matched teams the Year 9 and 10 teams.  The game was played at a good pace with the Year 10 team passing the ball around effectively thus leading to scoring opportunities.  They opened the scoring through Qureshi from close range following some ping pong with Cartwright.  In reply the Year 9 team attacked on the break with purpose and created their own opportunities only to be thwarted by O'Connell.  As the game drew to a close the Year 9 team won a corner which Wilkinson dispatched to leave the score at 1-1.

A good game and one that saw some new faces playing the game.

AJM

The Winning Team

And a very happy Mr Cooper!!

Cup Final Pictures

Wirral U14 Cup Winners!!

Well Done and congratulations to the Wirral Year 9 team in their final played at Calday Grange.  On a windy cold morning at Calday, the Wirral boys turned up in changing room 4 in anticipation of the game ahead, except Parso. But the vice captain arrived well in time for the warm up!  We had a good warm up with everyone prepared for the big occasion.  A good crowd had come to support the boys and were vocal from the side hoping we could do this business.

We started superbly and within this first two minutes we were passing the ball to each other and attacking the Calday Dee.  As we progressed down the right with Crane and Lamen the ball was played across the Dee for Roberts to finish smartly from about 6 yards out.  The perfect start!!  We continued to press and we were beginning to dominate the first half, some solid work from McGilloway saw us continue to attack the circle.  We won a couple of corners that really just needed touches from close range.  But another short corner came about and Wilkinson shot on his reverse stick and the ball made it's way into the far corner, amazingly 2-0.  This was definitely going to be our day as Calday had a break away chance which saw them have a reverse stick shot that came off the underside of the bar, with Parsons clearing with Dobson to the side of the pitch.  The next attack saw the ball played from Wilkinson up to a battling Gouldson who turned and fed Roberts, who then had a Thierry Henry like chance and finished the one on one with the goalkeeper with aplomb!  We were in dream land but as the half progressed we just kept going at the Calday team and further chances, especially for Lewin and opportunities from corners for Wilkinson and Crane.  It was quite possibly the best half of hockey I have ever seen at Wirral Grammar School.

What to say at half time was the question, but more of the same was in order.  Cartwright made way for Graham after not having much to do, but Graham didn't touch the ball in the second half as we worked hard in defence.  There were other opportunities for Gouldson as we maintained our dominance of the game.  The effort levels were fantastic and with every player playing their part it showed what hard work over the last four weeks can do!  We were deserved of our 3-0 win and we will now have the semi final of the north west region against a Cumbrian school for a place in the final against the Lancashire or Cheshire winners.

There is plenty more to come from these fellas, well done to everyone involved,  Mr Cooper, Mr Thomason and all of the parents and supporters.  I will keep you informed of the next game and of our progress.

AJM

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all Hockey players and beyond.  I hope that 2009 is a successful year starting with the U14 Wirral Cup Final on Sunday 11th January at Calday Grange, 10.00 am.

I hope you have enjoyed your two weeks off and are raring to go for the second half of the season.

AJM