U11 Craigclowan Tournament

The Belhaven Hill U11 squad played some impressive hockey today at the Craigclowan seven-a-side tournament and exceeded all expectation to win their way through to the final.

 

The first match for Belhaven Hill was against Riley House and with each match lasting just 10 minutes; the action was fast and furious. Riley was a better team than we had anticipated with one boy in particular leading all their play. They scored the first goal and we couldn’t break throug to equalise. The boys realised that in such a small group, they couldn’t afford to lose a match. With twenty seconds left on the clock, Belhaven were awarded a penalty corner; it would be the final play of the match. The ball was fired out to Jamie F. and then taken back into the D before being hammered home into the back of the net. The final whistle went and the match was drawn. Phew!

 

The second match was against Ardvreck who had beaten us earlier in the season. It was a close game with both teams having chances to score. Neither team took those chances so the match ended in a nil all draw. Two draws out of two then which meant that we had to win the next match.

 

Lathallan. Lath. played hard but we had the better of them and managed to score two goals: one from a penalty corner (Hughie) and one from open play (Sam). This win ensured that we ended up second in our group which meant that we had to play the winners of the other group, in the semi-finals – Cargilfield.

 

We knew that Cargilfield had a decent team so we changed our tactics a bit. The boys were told to ensure that we kept a clean sheet – if Cargilfield couldn’t score, then we would have a decent chance of winning. With the pressure on, the boys delivered. Our tackling was patient and excellent. The marking was solid and we used the ball when we had it, running at the opposition. Jamie F. in particular was very strong in defence. Jamie W did his job of marking very well and Alexander was solid at the back. With no goals scored, it had to go to a running penalty shootout.

 

Three boys from each team were chosen and they would each, in turn, have ten seconds to dribble the ball from the 16 yard line, into the D in order to have a shot at goal. The opposition keeper would try to prevent them doing so - a rather nerve-wracking experience for all. Hewie went first for us and scored. They then scored. Jamie W. was next up for Belhaven and he too scored his. Christian then made a tremendously brave save, diving onto the ground and taking the ball squarely on his knee-cap. All we needed was for Jamei F. to score his. He did and we had beaten Cargilfield and sealed a place in the final!

 

That final was to be played against Ardvreck. This was another very close game but Belhaven definitely had the better of it. We dominated the first ten minutes and had at least five shots at goal with one or two decisions in their D not going our way. On shot went flying past the top corner of the goals while another hit the post. A goal was disallowed after the ball was adjudged to have come off the wheel and a good shooting opportunity was stopped by a nasty tackle. Ardvreck came back strongly in the final few minutes and would have scored but for some dogged defence. In the end it was another draw which meant another shoot-out. This one didn’t go our way with both our first two boys missing their shots and both of theirs scoring theirs.

 

It was an excellent afternoon of hockey and the boys showed what a bit of determination can do. I am impressed with how much the players have improved and am delighted that they returned with second place medals.

 

 

 

 

M.O.T.T. Jamie F. And Christian T.