U14s of Stockport/Brooklands V Heaton Mersey in 2nd Round of Cup

It is incredibly rare that I write anything other than a match report on the U12s.  However, with Cheadle Hulme unable to field a side our U12s were without a game, so a short run down the M60 saw me able to watch a game of junior lacrosse.  With injuries starting to take their toll on the joint U14 team, we played 4 of our U12s up, giving them a squad of 13 against a strong team from Mersey.
With the coaching being offered by Brooklands and the excellent facilities available at Brooklands, the U14s play their home games in Sale.  This morning was a rare outing on the Astroturf, and a slightly earlier face, and upon arrival our opponents were all ready with warm ups and drills taking place way before face off.
Perhaps it paid off, and despite some sterling efforts in goal, the first quarter went 1-4 in Merseys favour, and with Brooklands/Stockport unable to contain the strength and direct approach of Mersey, who were running through using two very powerful midfield runners, it was clear to see the different approach of the teams.
Q2 followed a very similar pattern, strong bursts from Midfield by Mersey, exposing our inexperienced (and young) defence giving them another 1-5 quarter.
With a slight change in tactics/personnel, Q3 was the only even quarter of the morning, with both teams tactics seeing rewards a both ends of the field, with a 3-3 quarter.
In Q4, we received penalties for not wearing gum shields (Not a new rule), and we were getting frustrated with each other, which gave Mersey a final flourish of 0-4, leaving us on the wrong end of a 5-16 defeat. 
Good to use their facilities, but excellent to see Stockport providing 10 of the team, and the experience will become useful for the younger team members.  Well done boys!