 Three GHC teams participated in the Canterbury Spring Invitational: GU10, BU12 and GU12. A very enjoyable event at a top facilitya dn with some of the best teams from across the South, here's how the Under 10 Girls fared in a super end to the season for them...
Game 1 v Blue Hornets (4-0 win)
Early pressure and lots of possession with Rosie scoring a short corner after good build up. We had masses of possession and looked to pass with good ball pace and worked hard off the ball to move into space.
Martha C then reacted to a rebound and scored to make it 2-0 and still we looked very solid. Emma wasn’t troubled in goal and Holly and Rosie let no attacker any space or time. Jemima also played well when she was on and has improved as the season has gone on.
Isla then did well down the left to finish and make it 3-0. Finally we kept on pushing and I think Freya made it 4-0 for a very strong start. Lots of passing down the right to Martha R and bags of running and passing from Ottalie in the middle.
Game 2 v Sevenoaks (0-0 draw)
Sevenoaks were a very large and strong team and the standard was a lot better in this game. The Guildford girls responded well and worked very hard and passed well. Lots of chances coming down both the right and left flanks with Martha R’s pace causing the defenders problems and Isla and Freya going down the left hand side. A closely fought contest but Emma had fewer saves to make of the 2 goalkeepers and in the last 10 seconds we almost scored the winner. So another unbeaten game and a real sense of urgency and great tempo from the girls.
Game 3 v Ashford 1-0 win
A scrappy game but girls did well to score and win the game after dominating possession. We were a bit tired and the basics fell away but the girls worked at the game plan and amanged to win 1-0.
Martha C scored after a rebound. Always a sign of a good team to play below par but still get a result.
Game 4 v Tunbridge Wells (2-0 win)
Another strong team to play against but after a sharp start Rosie finished strong from a short corner to settle us down. Then we scored a second goal from a well worked short corner to make it 2-0 from Ottalie to secure the win. Again we looked solid at the back with no goals conceded (again).
Game 5 v Surbiton (0-0 draw)
And so the whole Group depended on this final game. The girls were super stoked for this game and went out against a massive Surbiton team with real intensity. Their marking and defending needed to be very good with all of them being very strong in the tackle against some large/older girls. Emma did well to save a few shots but we also created a load of chances down the other end. After a lot of hockey the girls raised their standards and didso well to draw the game.
A very good game with a lot of skill against a very good Surbiton side. End to end stuff and a lot of brace tackling. As it turned out this was key for the squad and meant we won the whole Group due to better goal difference. A massive achievement with Sevenoaks and Surbiton in the group. Super pleased with all the girls and a real sense of team spirit.
Final v Wimbledon (3-1 loss)
The final game saw us play another large/athletic team who managed to win the 2017 Surrey Cup beating Surbiton in the final. After a slow start and conceding and early goal we managed to get a goal back and looked to get our passing game going and also defended like dervishes. Unfortunately the Wimbledon midfield dominated us due to size and speed and we lost 3-1 but we had several chances and the game was pretty close. A great effort to top our group and make the final of 12 very good teams.
Overall I was super, super pleased with a number of things over the day. The girls are a real team and play for their mates and have a great time. It’s been lovely to coach them this season and an already excited how strong the u10s can be next year if they keep training and working hard. Best of luck to all the u10s off to the u12s next year and I am sure they will all flourish as players if they keep the same level of intensity shown yesterday!!
Have a great summer break and thanks to all the parents for their support yesterday and for Robert in organizing the age group so well this season.
Squad - Emma (GK), Holly, Isla, Rosie, Martha R, Ottalie, Freya, Jemima, Martha C
Coach – James Relph
Umpire – Libby Leadbetter
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