U11 Hockey v Craigclowan
Phew!
The U11 team took on Craigclowan here at the Dunbar Astro today and I am delighted to say that both the hockey played, and the final result, was very different to Monday’s.
For Craigclowan this was the first match of the season and they didn’t look as threatening as Loretto did on Monday. That said, the Belhaven boys played some very pleasing hockey today. I bemoaned the marking, passing, positional play and concentration. I am pleased to report that we were better in all of these areas today.
Right from the start, most boys held their positions well and wherever Craigclowan sent the ball, they were met by a determined Belhaven boy. We worked hard on tackling yesterday and on ensuring that only one man was on the ball at any time. The boys put that into practice today and this meant that if we did win the ball, there were people to pass to.
Jamie F. played the only way that he knows how – with 100% commitment and controlled much of the game from the middle of the field. He also pressed forward in attack and scored the only goal of the first half. Hewie and Jock worked well together up front and George seemed more at ease as a half. Duncan showed that he deserved his place in the team, as did Freddie Y on the left wing.
I asked the wings to stay wide in the second half and they, mostly, managed to do so. Our best hockey was when the ball went from Jamie in the middle to one of the halves and then to the wing. If we can make this style of play the norm, then we should do just fine this season.
Another star performance was that of Alexander – a boy who had never held a hockey stick prior to this term. He made a number of strong tackles and showed some composure at the back. Christian, obviously still smarting from having to fetch the ball out of the back of his net nine times on Monday, made some cracking saves when called upon. Jamie F. scored the second goal of the match when he follwed up with his usual determination, and this left us the comfortable victors.
All in all, this was a good, encouraging performance. Now to Saturday and back to the seven-a-side format; can we draw on today’s play and so quell the demons unleashed on Monday?
Belhaven Hill 2 - 0 Craigclowan
M.O.T.M. Jamie F.
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