U11 A & B v Loretto

The U11s played two matches against Loretto today, at Loretto. The B team match was six-a-side with no goalies and the A team was seven-a-side, with goalies.

            The B team got off to the worst possible start with Loretto scoring the opening goal within the first minute. Fortunately things soon got better. Once the boys grew accustomed to their new positions and realised what they needed to do, they began putting together some good passes. Freddie Y. made some confident runs up the left wing but struggled to get it into the D. Sam did likewise on the right wing and did get a couple of crosses in. One of these was slotted home by Mungo to level the scores.

            The rest of the half (and indeed match) saw the ball moving from one side of the pitch to the other and the teams were evenly matched. Loretto scored another goal, but then so did Mungo to tie the scores once again. At half time I had to leave the boys to ref the A team but the second half was also a close affair. Each team scored another goal and it seemed that the match would end in a draw until, in the final minute of play, Loretto snuck in a fourth goal to win the match. It was a shame for the B team as they played some good hockey. Some of these boys have certainly staked their claim on an A team position.

            The A team was a different story. I joined them at half time when they were two goals down. Within seconds of the second half starting, that was three down. And then four. And then five... and so on.

Loretto have a good team and their boys knew their positions and roles. We didn’t. Marking was poor. Passing was poor. Positional play was poor. Concentration was poor.

In the boys’ defence, I can say that they have not yet played any seven-a-side hockey this term. Also, they have only had a couple of proper practices. What can we take from this game? Perhaps only a lesson in how hard we are going to have to work if we wish to get our skills and play up to scratch. Hopefully a nine nil drubbing will be something that the boys will never want to happen to them again. Let’s make sure it doesn’t.

Belhaven Hill A     0    -    9    Loretto

Belhaven Hill B     3    -    4     Loretto