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U18B - Old Loughtonians U18 (EH U18 Cup) - L 1-2 - Halloween tragedy
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COLTS XI - 31/10/2021 VS OLD LOUGHTONIANS U18 (H)
TEAM: Colts XI
DATE: 31/10/2021
FIXTURE: Colts XI VS 31/10/2021
HEADLINE: Halloween tragedy
EHA U18 cup
VENUE: Taverham
RESULT: Norwich City 1 - 2 Old Loughtonians
REPORT:
The morning’s howling wind and driving rain cleared just in time to provide an evenly contested entertaining U18 cup match in autumnal sunshine.
City nearly opened the scoring inside the first 5 minutes when some wizardry skills down the right led to a half chance for Ethan Rushton to the left of the penalty spot. Sadly the forces of evil conspired to make him lose his footing at the critical moment and set the scene for a game of misfortune.
As the half progressed both teams created half chances which the defences and keepers thwarted with calm assurance. After 30 minutes the visitors took the lead in unusual circumstances when, with both teams unsure whether the ball had been hit from outside the D, a goal was awarded.
The second half continued to provide end to end entertainment with excellent spells of play failing to add to the score. With 15 minutes left Bobby Rash pulled off a truly world class save high and to his right from a penalty corner. Unfortunatly moments later City conceded a second after some creative magic on the base line somehow resulted in a goal.
Undeterred City drove forward and forced a series of penalty corners. With 3 minutes left a neat variation allowed Rafe Lochore to reduce the arrears and set up a tense finale. With Old Loughtonians trying to run down the clock there was still time for late drama. City were awarded a penalty corner on the stroke of full time, could this be their moment? Injection, clean. Stop, clean. Shot…stopped by a lunging defender…the whistle goes…a penalty stroke awarded. The home crowd jubilant. Was this late drama to turn into home found joy? But wait…the second umpire enters this tragedy stage left and overrules the decision…penalty cancelled. Penalty corner awarded…and saved.
When the dust had settled and the emotions calmed, all agreed they had seen and taken part in an excellent, some might say, “spell binding” (well it is Halloween) contest.
Jonty Black was named player of the match.
RESULT: L 1-2
SCORERS: Rafe Lochore
POTM: Jonty Black
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U18B - Cambridge City U18 (EH U18B) - L 2-5 - Magnificent 11
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COLTS XI - 13/06/2021 VS CAMBRIDGE CITY U18 (A)
TEAM: Colts XI
DATE: 13/06/2021
FIXTURE: Colts XI VS 13/06/2021
HEADLINE: Magnificent 11
Venue: Cambridge University
EHA U18 Cup
Result: Norwich City 2 - 5 Cambridge City
With the air temperate 27 degrees and the pitch temperature well north of 30 this was always going to be a tough task for the bare 11 hero’s that made up the City team. It would be unfair on those that battled in the heat to overplay those that either called off on the day or were unable to play due to other commitments but as you’ll see in the report below an extra player or two would have have made such a difference.
City started really brightly with excellent work down the left from Kit Scott, Monty Platt and Ethan Rushton putting the hosts under early pressure. Jonty Black, Monty, Freddie Paterson and James Cross linked intelligently in midfield and it was great to see City retain possession with calmness and control against a side boasting numerous performance centre players and and England international. Whilst the first 15 minutes was largely dominated by City, it was notable how often Cambridge were able to roll substitutes to stay fresh and hence maintain intensity throughout the game. A good open play move saw Cambridge take the lead on 15 minutes which added focus to the brief team talk at the quarter break (due to the heat).
City levelled the score after 22 minutes thanks to a tremendous move down the left - a precision pass from Monty found Kit whose skilful drive and pass found Ethan who crossed for younger brother Corey to slide in. Game on. On a day where City needed the rub of the green to go their way given the lack of subs it was a little harsh when a good interception by Cameron Husband bounced to the opposition and resulted in a goal just before half time.
With City looking to conserve energy they moved the ball very well around the back with Joseph Roy and Elliot Fox mixing slow build up and insightful play in equal measure. As the game wore on the hosts bigger squad saw them create more pressure and allowed Bobby Rash to demonstrate what a fine keeper he is with a string of fine saves. Before you start thinking this resulted in a backs to the wall type performance you’d be wrong, the home keeper and defence were called into action on numerous occasions. Cambridge extended their lead in the 46th minute with one of those badly struck but very lucky penalty corners and again on 54 minutes with a well worked open play goal. This fourth goal was a real ‘wind out of the sails’ moment as until then City had looked really dangerous with Freddie Paterson marauding down the right and linking up really well with the midfield of James, Jonty and Monty and ever-willing front line of Corey, Ethan and Kit. Undeterred City, then scored an excellent goal with Jonty driving the ball out of defence down the left, followed by a lovely pass on the run to Kit whose turn and pass enabled Ethan to turn the keeper and make it 4-2. Seeds of doubt started creeping into the Cambridge team who then “managed” the game well from side line and free hits. Perhaps as if to rub salt in the wound a tired pass from the back was intercepted and resulted in a goal with just 3 minutes to go. As if to epitomise City’s never say die attitude Corey Rushton was millimetres away from making it 5-3 in the dying seconds, and Jonty played the final quarter with a split shoe (upper came away from the sole)!!
In a match where every player fought for every ball, consistently made the right decision and quite simply never gave up despite the odds being stacked against them it seems odd to single out one player but through his dynamic leadership, fantastic communication (particularly with his defensive partner Elliot and the midfield) and his calmness under pressure, Joseph Roy was named man of the match.
So with that ends a season we’ll remember for some excellent hockey and one we hope never to repeat (global pandemic). As ever, a massive thank you to the hard work put in by all the players and our fantastic group of parents without whom, in this season of all seasons, we simply would not have been able to train or play. For those having a break from hockey, enjoy the rest and I look forward to seeing you later in the summer for pre-season trading and, of course, good luck, to those moving away for the next chapter in their educational or work development.
RESULT: L 2-5
SCORERS: Corey Rushton,Ethan Rushton
POTM: Joseph Roy
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U18B - Bury St Edmunds (EH U18 Cup) - W 10-0 - City slickers progress
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COLTS XI - 23/05/2021 VS BURY ST EDMUNDS (A)
TEAM: Colts XI
DATE: 23/05/2021
FIXTURE: Colts XI VS 23/05/2021
HEADLINE: City slickers progress
EHA U18 Boys Cup
Venue: Culford School
Result: City 10 - 0 Bury
Report:
After an even first few minutes City took the lead in the 5th minute following a dynamic run down the left by Ed Taylor who slipped the ball to Ethan Rushton on the base line who then laid it back to Rafe Lochore who hammered it into the roof of the net. Just 3 minutes later a James Cross flick from a penalty corner made it 2-0. Rafe then made it 3-0 following excellent hassling by Freddie Paterson leading to Rafe intercepting the ball, beating a defender and hammering a reverse shot into the net. James Cross then repeated his penalty corner prowess to make it 4-0 after 18 minutes. A penalty corner variation allowed Jonty Black to make it 5-0 after 24 minutes immediately followed by a delightful cross field aerial from James Cross to Rafe who then crossed for Ethan Rushton to deflect it in to make it 6-0.
Whilst the above makes it sound like the first half was total forward domination, City actually played some excellent high percentage hockey with the ball moving through defence and midfield with to slice open the heart of their valiant opposition.
As you would expect, City continued to dominate the second half but were indebted to Elliot Fox, Joy Roy, Alex Tomkinson, Rocco Iaccarino and Bobby Rash to ensure we maintained a clean sheet. After 52 minutes Rafe completed his hat trick with a ‘dribbler’ past the hapless keeper. Ethan then made is 8-0 following some fantastic determination from Rob McCall, who won the ball in midfield, rode a couple of challenges then found the killer pass to Ethan who calmly slotted his second. Just 6 minutes later Ethan had his own hat trick following a slick pass from Jonty to Joe whose surgeon like injection into the D allowed Ethan to reverse into the bottom corner. And finally with 2 minutes left on the clock, Joe Roy completed the rout with a simple tap in thanks to a perfect pass from Elliot Fox following tremendous run by Rocco down the left.
The only downside to an excellent day was Freddie Paterson’s early departure as a result of back spasms - fingers crossed he’ll be OK for the next round.
On a day of excellent performances, Ethan Rushton was named player of the match.
RESULT: W 10-0
SCORERS: Rafe Lochore,Jonty Black,Ethan Rushton,Rafe Lochore,Ethan Rushton,Joseph Roy,Rafe Lochore,Ethan Rushton,James Cross,James Cross
POTM: Ethan Rushton
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