U12s Stockport vs Timperley

Christmas Hangover

4th January 2020

After the over indulgence of the festive period, I think everyone was looking forward to this fixture. Who wants to sit around all day drinking, eating and playing Nintendo Switch?

It was time to put down the controllers and get back to some real sport (yes, I did win at Mario Kart against Tom)!

A slightly overcast and damp morning presented itself and Stockport had plenty of players raring to go.  As normal, the massed ranks of Stockport supporters filled the railway side of the pitch and it looked like we could really take this game to Timperley. The last fixture against them was a very competitive 13-13 draw on the AstroTurf back in October. Some of their larger players seemed to have moved on but physically the teams appeared to be relatively equal in stature and determination to play well.

I’m going to structure this blog slightly differently as the reality of the game didn’t equate to the optimism felt at the beginning of the game.

Q1

This was probably the best quarter of the whole match. There was good end-to-end action from the teams but the solid start from Stockport came to nothing unlike Timperley who took every chance that was presented to them and they soon moved into a 0-2 lead. Dan won his face-off and scored a fine individual goal to pull a goal back but Timperley converted their chances to take it to 1-4. Credit in this quarter has to be given to Henry, Dan and Ethan, as each lad played well, and earned themselves a goal to finish the quarter 4-4.

Q2/Q3

The game at this point seemed to get a bit bogged down. Very scrappy play crept in and there were periods within these two quarters when both sides were dominant. Stockport appeared to become disjointed and we sensed an air of frustration filtrate through the players and into the supporting crowd. The defence also seemed to get flustered at times and despite plenty of hard work by both sides, this period ended 7-9. It must be noted that Josh made some fine stops to prevent the gap opening up further.

Q4

Despite Stockport having a greater number of players, Timperley got control of the game and despite a lucky goal from Tom they eased to an 8-15 win.

Heads were slightly down at the final whistle and we have seen better play from the boys in the past. Maybe the ascendancy in form over the last few games lulled us into a false sense of dominance

Some of the basics were lacking but there was plenty of effort all round. The boys we spoke to echoed this and the team spirit remains strong. That is a real positive as we move towards our next fixture. Cheadle at home!

Well played Timperley who quietly went about their business and as mentioned earlier took advantage of any attacking opportunities that came their way.

School report states ‘could do better, but not a bad watch nonetheless’.

U14s Stockport vs Poynton.

U14s Stockport vs Poynton.

4th January 2020

Well It is the first games of 2020 to be played out this weekend and its A happy and healthy New Year to all of you in the Lacrosse world.

After a fairly mild Christmas holidays, this Saturday morning felt cool enough on the sidelines at Poynton sports club, where our Stockport team managed to pull 11 good players out of bed while Poynton arrived with just nine, therefore it was to be an eight a side game!

I could see some extra enthusiasm coming  from a number of players with new kit, which is definitely a good sign going forward for the rest of the season for the team and ads a bit of extra interest for the players who seem to enjoy exchanging interests and ideas in each others equipment. 

Q1 Stockport were off to a strong start with good possession from the start with Joel scoring first and putting Stockport in front and then Jacob scoring the next soon after with another goal again from each player before the end of Q1 with no reply from Poynton for 4.0 to Stockport.

Q2. Stockport worked hard in midfield with much enthusiasm and persistence and again Jacob and Joel on the score sheet with new boys to the U14s team, Freddie and Louie scoring great goals also, leaving us 8.0 up at half time.

Q3. Stockport afforded themselves a lot of possession with George and Jacob being strong at face off winning the ball well and the team capitalised well in front of goal. Some frustration though coming in from the Poynton midfield with some square checking and head checking going on at times. Two more goals from Joel taking it to 10. 0 to Stockport.

Q4. 6 more goals for the Stockport Team from Joel 2,  Finn Issac Freddie and Ted to finish the match off but what was really great about this match at the end is that the team managed to get some of the newer players involved in on the action in attack with a great positive performance with great enthusiasm all round and an excellent clean sheet for Jacob Mellow who definitely made some great saves at times.

Final Score; Stockport 16  Poynton 0

Goal Scorers; Joel 7 Jacob 3 Freddie 2 and Finn Issac Louie and Ted.

With more photos to follow...

U14s Last Game of 2019 at Home to Norbury

Without league fixtures, whilst the Junior Schools North Competitive Review takes shape, the U14s have been able to organise fixtures against a number of good teams and it was a fitting finale to the Year (and Decade) to entertain a Norbury team who always bring a competitive squad and a competitive edge to their game.
Today we got off to a roaring start, Jay doing well at face and taking control of the game right from the off.  Two quick goals on the crease by Rhys gave us the start we needed.  With the quarter finshing with goals from George, Hugo and Joel and a healthy start of 5-0.
Q2 uncharacteristically for this team, we didn't manage to increase on this lead, and drew a blank, whilst the visitors managed to get a foothold in the game with 2 for themselves.
Q3 gave the visitors something to believe in with a further 3 goals to our 1, a solo effort from face for Jay, and going in to the final quarter leading by just 1, at 6-5.
Q4 gave us the highlights of the day, with further goals from Hugo Ted, Freddie, Jacob and Rhys, and with Freddie playing in his first ever u14 game it gives him great confidence.
Surprisingly only 10 players today, with lots of illnesses floating around.  Alternated positions during the game for some, and some playing in completely new positions for them.  It was a good game, and a good ending to 2019.  For the record only lost 2 games in this calendar year, both by a single goal.  Not Bad!

8 different scorers today

Lots more photos on Flickr

https://www.flickr.com/photos/182853094@N08/albums/72157712308704338

Competitive all Morning

Played Almost Every Position Today

Bit Bigger at U14

Solid Performances in  an inexperienced D

2 Wise Men - Need a 3rd at this time of Year

Getting Stuck In

Controlled

Putting a Shift in Today

Deserved His Goal Today

U14s Away at Mellor

OMG!  What a gripping game, tension right from the start, and a gripping finale.  There was never going to be much in this game, with talented players on both sides of the park, and it was always my belief that this game could go either way, with no team running away with it, and in the end I wasn't wrong.  On this occasion the boys in blue, were pipped at the post going down in the end to 1 goal, losing the game 9-8.
It was a tense affair, and despite the talent on show, I'm unsure it could be called a classic.  Stockport moved the ball well on occasions, but potentially we didn't do it consistently enough.  Some good goals along the way, but the passing a little rushed at times, and maybe our control of the ball could have been better.  However, Stockport like to score good goals and we like to run and hit people on the fly, and this style of lacrosse is great to watch but it is risky.
On the day we only found ourselves down on two occasions, right from the off, Mellor took the lead, and then in Q4.  Q1 finished 3-3, and the second quarter was ours with a 0-2 quarter, and even with a 2 goal lead you knew that the opposition would have their time at some point in the game.  Q3 was a 2-2 quarter, and then Mellor scored 4 before Findlay used his initiative scoring our 8th goal of the day.
Excellent behaviour and gracious in defeat, the boys excel in more ways than simply winning.  Well done to all players from both teams!
Scorers today Jacob (2), Hugo, Findlay, Rhys (2), Luca (2), with 6 of our 8 goals being assisted.  Assists today Jacob (2), Hugo (2), George, and James.

More Pictures on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/182853094@N08/albums/72157712308222948

Good Competition at Face All Day

Get Well Soon!

Friends