Fjordhus Reivers U16B 3-3 Grange U16B

Fjordhus Reivers U16 Development squad travelled to Fettes, Edinburgh yesterday to face Grange U16B.

This was an introduction to many of the squad into playing tactical hockey focusing on positional shape both in attack and defence.

Pre-match the girls were asked to focus on work rate and doing the simple things well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In the first half both teams showed great commitment but all too often the ball was given away too easily, tackles were mis-timed and the girls struggled to connect on the pitch.

Grange took the lead from a strong attacking run up the right hand side of the pitch were a pass across the circle found an unmarked player at the back post to strike in the goal past Reivers keeper Hollie Grieve.

When Reivers did link passes together the movement up the pitch was very good and the score was soon levelled by Rachel Shiel who scored from a tight angle on reverse. Sophie Laurie and Jodie Sinclair worked well together and created overloads on the Grange defence. Sinclair scored Reivers’ second goal from an unstoppable strike at the top of the circle.

Coach Pippa Bell asked the girls to think about possession in the second half using footwork to get themselves in the right positions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Grange started strongly after the restart and forced the Reivers defence off the ball on a number of occasions. The hosts levelled the score following a goal mouth scramble which was well deserved from a good passage of passing play that kept Reivers chasing. And, with momentum on their side, Grange took the lead from a well worked penalty corner routine.

Reivers did create goal scoring opportunities with Abbie Forster working hard in defence to outlet the ball through channels created by Ellen Keefe, Laurie and Shiel but all too often the finishing play was not there. Shiel won a penalty corner in the last minute of the match and Forster converted from the rebound from Emma Suddons initial strike.

This game was a learning curve for many of the players where footwork and hard work are going to be key to their development. Notable performances from Rachel Shiel, Sophie Laurie, Abbie Forster, Jodie Sinclair and Ellen Keefe should be used as motivation for the rest of the squad.

Related topics: