Match Report – Home vs Southampton (Win 7:5)
As the heat haze began to shimmer above the astro-turf of Bar End, the tension mounted as Captain Scarlett and her team shook out into yellow and purple attack formation and prepared to do battle. Yes, it is still the middle of winter, and yes, we were about to embark on an unseasonably warm U12 girls’ hockey match.
As the season has progressed, the tempo and accuracy of passing has improved steadily and today, all seemed to come together – for both Winchester and Southampton. Encouraged by the warm weather, and the warmth of the capacity crowd, the match set off at break-neck speed, and the scoring was opened by Annabelle Budd after a long cross from inside forward Miranda Dibden on the left. Play ebbed and flowed, Chloe Lewin and Scarlett Atkinson controlling the centre-field for the most part. Southampton pulled one back quickly to even the contest and then, in an uncharacteristic kerfuffle in the goal mouth, they stepped up with a well-executed short corner in which the Winchester defence seemed momentarily fixed and failed to run out.
Some beautifully flowing play continued up and down the pitch, both teams challenging, but only Winchester managing to finish at first. The score was evened when Phoebe Burdett judged a real gem of a hit from the 16 yard line, which carried to the Southampton D, allowing Kitty Watts at Centre Forward to capitalise with a cracking shot on goal. Winchester then edged ahead, first with a lovely passing move from Miranda to Annabelle Budd which was clinically finished by Alice Ridley. Another came from a short corner, well drilled, and hit by Miranda; bouncing off the keepers pads and then pushed over the line by Annabel Blandford’s stick propelled by Annabelle Budd’s hit – work that one out – half a goal each then. A series of beguiling moves from the Southampton forwards brought sustained pressure as the ball moved smoothly around the pitch and came perilously close to the Winchester goal on several occasions. Iona McColl and Millie Burdett seemed to be everywhere, running back to defend and then helping to build the counter-offensive in the mid-field. Again and again, Southampton pushed to the Winchester D only to have Annabelle Woodman and Phoebe always in place to parry the thrust.
As the game eased into its final phase, Alice scored twice more on the break, alternating with goals from Southampton to bring the score to 6:4. Annabelle Budd poached another from a scrabble in the Southampton goal mouth, and Southampton came back yet again with some superb play to get their fifth past Issy Paget, who certainly had a rigorous work out in goal, saving many more than slipped past, and those in the form of several great finishing shots.
This was probably the most entertaining and fast paced match of the season, which Winchester won on determination and finishing power. Their 7 goals were the result of a fabulous team effort from all, and the 5 conceded were testament to the skill of an excellent and worthy set of opponents.
Team: Annabelle Budd (2 ½ ), Annabelle Woodman, Annabel Blandford ( ½ ), Phoebe Burdett, Millie Burdett, Chloe Lewin, Kitty Watts (1), Iona McColl, Scarlett Atkinson, Miranda Dibden, Alice Ridley (3), Issy Paget (GK).
