Wednesday 26th March - Oval

There were 16 goals and flicks that helped to decide the game between the upper and lower sixth mixed sides on a nice day down at the Oval on Wednesday afternoon.  Starting at 2.15 the 7 a-side game started and was played on the full pitch bringing to the end the WGS careers of Harvey, Taylor and Frank at the Oval.  The game was played very open with chances at both end and lead to an 8-8 draw and therefore a penalty flick competition.

Well done to all players and thank you to Mr Cooper for umpiring.

AJM

2nd XI v Denstone College

In the 2nd team game we prepared well and looked confident and the part with an overall fairly young and inexperienced side captained by Gawith.

We started well and with the confidence of Dennis, Wilkinson and attacking play by Ollerhead looked like we cold cause them trouble. A great chance fell to Farrington from Oldham's through ball who amazingly shot wide. We were just a little too nice first half and needed to keep our position and shape. It was a hot day and players were getting tired and so with the use of rolling subs everyone got a good game.

A little bit against the run of play in our attempt to clear from a 16yd hit we presented Denstone with the ball leaving Burgess little chance 1-0. We then had a few chances ourselves and at half time the score was close. As the second half got under way a great chance fell to Spink who has his shot saved and within 30 seconds Denstone had scored on the break. A third suicidal goal was conceded leaving use 3-0 down without doing much wrong. As we pushed for a goal with further chances falling to Farrington, Wilkinson, Dennis and Spink the Denstone boys scored two more making it 5-0.

I would say thou if we had taken our chances and cut out the needless mistakes the game would have been much closer. It was a good day and excellent experience for the boys and overall a good display. There has been a lot of progress made by many of their boys from their basic skills, their confidence and ability within the game.

Well done

AJM

Wirral v Denstone College 1st

After the usual 1hr 45minute journey down towards Stoke way, we arrived at Denstone College 30strong for the 1st and 2nd team games. After splitting to play on two pitches the 1st team with Mr Cooper started well in a fast open game. Thy took the lead through Lyness and then continued to dominate the game for 15 mins. We then had a further chance that fell to Evans who had his shot amazingly saved by the keeper when it was destined to go in.

The Denstone side came back strongly and missed tackles and corners conceded lead to them scoring 1-1 and then taking the lead 2-1. At that stage we missed more useful opportunities. In the second half it was again very open and could have gone either way but the German short corner specialist scored four to leave the score 5-1.

An overall conclusion they converted we didn't!!

AJM / CCC

Tuesday 17th March - Training

Well done for the excellent attendance and turn out from all players who attended training on Tuesday. An excellent skills circuit was attempted and achieved well by many of the players. I hope that you can employ the use of those skills within the games that you play.

Well done

AJM

Wed 18th March v Denstone

We will be leaving at 11.15 to go to Denstone College playing both teams at the same time 2.30.

AJM

Training Tuesday 17th March

There is training on Tuesday 17th March at the Oval with a Skills circuit. There will be no training on Thursday 19th March due to the Year 7 Parents evening.

AJM

Wirral GS Year 10 Hockey House matches

Year 10 Hockey House Matches - Thurs 12th March

The Year 10 House matches were well attended on a mild evening down at the Oval. The four houses were well represented with a 8 a-side tournament raring to go. The four goalkeepers got kitted up to represent their house, Teanby (Barber) O'Connell (Dodd's) Wise (Lever) and Miller (Hodgson).

We were all set ready to go with Bush and Eastwood umpiring with AJM and the goals set up. We were able to start on time playing the three matches of 20mins, there was a good atmosphere and the first game between Barber and Dodd's saw a battling start from Barber but mistake ridden which saw Josh Simpson latch onto two early chances and scored from close range! The drive and skills of Anderson, Partington and Dutton lead to further chances for Simpson who scored his hatrick. The Barber boys struggled to make meaningful attacks at O'Connell's goal, but a chances for Black and Querashi were squandered and Dutton finished off another chance for Dodd's who won 4-0.

In the game on the opposite pitch Lever played host to Hodgson in a tight game in which both teams attacked well, this game was full of chances and it was a good close finish from Hodgson that got this game going. A good shot that Wise could not do much about from Evans brought the scores level, but Charters won the game for Lever in the last five minutes of the game 2-1.

In the second round of match's there was a tight game between an improving Barber and Hodgson which saw Barber score through Black with a firm strike but a brace from Spink saw Hodgson win 2-1, different from the 8-1 win from Hodgson in the house matches before Christmas. On the other pitch the two strong sides of the evening held out for a 0-0 draw, even though their were plenty of chances for both teams. But the passing movement and chances shown from both sides shown that this group of players have a lot of potential.

The final match of the evening saw Lever play an open expansive game leading to opportunities at both ends, Barber had played the best hockey of their evening with good performances on their debut from Hatter and Bowman. But Lever scored through Jadeja with five minutes to spare. That goal meant that Dodds had to win in their last game against Hodgson. But an early goal through Simpson the top goalscorer saw Dodds take the momentum and further chances fell fro both teams but it was a good finish from Spink that meant there game was a draw and that Lever won the title.

It is a testament to the players that the hockey has improved massively. I would like to congratulate the winners Lever, lead by captain Walker, Hodgson, Gray, Jadeja, Smith, Wise, Ellis and Charters. Well done to their team and to all players, umpires and Mr Thomason for helping out setting up and running the house matches.
1st Lever
2nd Dodds
3rd Hodgson
4th Barber
Top Goalscorers - Simpson (4) Spink (3) Dutton, Hodgson, Jadeja, Black, Evans & Charters (1)

1st XI v Bolton School

On a nice afternoon down at the Bebington Oval we were well prepared getting down to the pitch for 1.45. With an extended squad this week it meant that we could make changes and give all members of the squad a game. It can be a tricky against Bolton we started well but found a solid well organised Bolton side and we found it difficult to break them down. It took a change of formation moving Bush up as a right forward with Lyness and Evans. It was the attacking instinct of Bush and Lyness down the right and left that began to create openings. This lead to the first goal that saw Plimley pounce onto a Bush pull back, 1-0. We were playing some good stuff but we couldn't take our opportunities and chances, but short corners are an issue and decision making around the dee is poor and needs working on. Lyness doubled the lead before half time, 2-0. I then explained the new tactics on numerous occasions but it was beginning to work the only floor again in the second half was our overall fitness! A quick burst saw Lyness score his second and Evans score two close range goals. A mess of a short corner saw Bush score and then the introduction of Byrne saw him finish smartly and Lyness linked together with Evans to complete his hatrick. The Bolton side didn't give up but their players just played on the break and scored two goals past debut goalkeeper Burgess. Bush finished off proceeding in an interesting game that saw us again play some good hockey and score amazingly nine goals. The progress made by all players is very good, but some aspects of the game need developing for us to maintain the success we have had over the last few weeks.

Well done, 9-2 win!

AJM

1st XI v Bolton School

The game on Wednesday 11th March is at home against Bolton School. All players fro the full squad should be at the pitch for 1.45. The game is just for the 1st team but will involve a large squad so that we are all fit and ready for our penultimate game of the season at Denstone College.

AJM

Wirral U14's v St Anselms

On a cold Thursday night a very large squad of budding, enthusiastic players descended on the Bebington Oval. It was great to see the lads raring to go and with some players starting their first game it was going to be interesting to see how we got on. After a sleepy start we began to move the ball to each other but too often we played the ball down the middle into contact or played the ball into their hands.

As the half progressed the likes of McGilloway, Lewin and Wilkinson began to link things together. Creating opportunities and getting a couple of short corners. The first that saw Wilkinson move to the right to change his angle and shoot low and hard past the St Anselms keeper, 1-0. With changes taking place left right and centre and with debuts for Knott, Portbury and Bolderson and returns for Lawton, Clegg, Lee and Jardine. It was impressive to see us get further chances and a solid performance from Graham kept the score down at the Wirral end.

Once Crane scored from close range from a Wilkinson short corner we started to play better hockey. We were just lacking width and the use of Lamen and Edwards. As we approached half time a St Anselms shot hit Lee on the foot only for St Anselms to react quickest and score from close range, 2-1. At half time we saw another debut for Cotcher Riley in goal. He was able to keep a clean sheet as further changes saw all of the boys get a good 15/20 mins each.

I have been really impressed with the approach and attitude of the boys throughout the season both to training and to the matches. This is a team that can only improve and with weekly sessions I am sure that this tea with have future success.

I feel that if more of the boys can begin to play club hockey the better the squad and team can become. It has been good working with you guys this season. Well done

AJM

Wirral 1st / 2nd's v St Anselms (Oval)

In our final duel of the season against our local rivals, both teams were down at the Oval ready to go, warming up well and up for the game!! Following on from the last two weeks performances the key thing against St Anselms is competing and taking our chances.

We started brightly and both teams looked to play hockey. The first chance fell to Wirral who saw Evans in the dee, with a little composure he could have finished from five yards out. But his touch deserted him. This seemed to be the case, but we kept plugging away. There were solid excellent performances from Taylor who looked to build and dominate midfield, the ever improving Lyness and Rid in midfield were looking to create further opportunities for the pacey Wright and poacher Evans. The opportunities were just squandered and I felt we would end up paying for our mistakes!!

As the half developed Saints created a couple of opportunities and scored two goals in quick succession! How I don't know because on the balance of play and short corners we should have at least scored! It maybe was going to be one of those days. 2-0 at half time was harsh, but we needed to alter things having a go at half court that worked and put St Anselms under pressure. We pulled a goal back through Evans but further missed opportunities and corners from Bush came to nothing and St Anselms scored a third again against the run of play! 3-1. Unreal but thats how it works when you don't take your chances.

In the 2nd game we started well and with a new side and re-apperances from Crosby and Shum we had a good shape. A disallowed goal from Evans seemed harsh from a corner but a couple of poor goals conceded in the second half was our downfall, but as the first team game we missed plenty of chances and this again against a side that is not any better than us was the reason for the defeat!

AJM