U18 Girls V Reading

Maidenhead Girls U18s Prem 0 – 6 Reading
Sunday 18th October 2020
By Jim Taylor
Hockey can be hard work against a physically strong, aggressively determined opposition who also possess some considerable skills to add to their powerful and pacey play.
Our girls came off a bit bruised and battered – and to be honest, second-best - this time round in our latest encounter with our Reading rivals from down the A4.
But, despite the score-line, our girls could also hold their heads up high after giving their all in a tough game where they didn’t get any of the breaks.
There was a 10 minute spell towards the end of the first half – with the score still only 1-0 - when we pressed Reading back and won a string of penalty corners following foul play from the visitors.
Each time Lucy took on the strike, but each time her clean-hit shot was either blocked by onrushing defenders, saved by their sprawling goalie or dramatically diverted over the crossbar off a stick.
We really deserved a goal then to get back into the game. But, sadly, it was Reading who broke away, drove through our midfield without a tackle coming in, and scored on the rebound after Alexis had parried the first shot. Life can be cruel.
After our defeat at home to Oxford Hawks the week before, we were looking for a good start but were soon on the backfoot. My early notes are full of good stops – sometimes a bit last-ditch - by Katie, Lucy and Lizzie in defence. Then we lost Tori in midfield to a nasty hand injury.
Shortly afterwards Reading scored and it took us time to get back into the match. Slowly we picked up the pace of the game and Maisie had a good run, Maddy a shot with Anjali close with the follow-up.
Throughout the game we matched Reading for effort, but now we built momentum and created the openings which lead to the short corners. Reading were strong to stop us anyway they could as both Annabel and Yasmin found out as they both won fouls.
Reading started determinedly again after the break. Fast advancing Amelia made one great block from a short corner and then one of their players was carded as the contest bubbled over.
We looked to be weathering the storm until, 10 minutes in, a Reading forward turned well on the right of the D to shoot and beat Alexis on her near post.
Still we battled and first Anjali had a shot and then Yasmin missed with the follow-up. But a Reading counter-attack proved conclusive…despite a desperate run back from the half-way line by Caitlin who still couldn’t stop the ball with her challenge on the goal-line from rolling in.
In a weary, final five minutes Reading scored again twice with good finishes to give them a convincing score line, that didn’t tell all the story.
Our girls battled throughout and the return of Katie in defence with so many brave tackles and Lucy’s experience in midfield made a big difference. Anna in defence was also strong
Maisie produced skill with strength while Yasmin and Havana were always dangerous with their pace but sometimes lacked support. Lola and Verity also took the eye, but everyone put in a hard shift without getting any rewards.
The Under 18’s Elite team travel to Hampstead & Westminster next Sunday plus EH Cup action to come in November.