Men’s 1st’s (1) vs (2) Huddersfield 1st’s
A depleted Slaz 1s travelled to Huddersfield Dragons away with hopes of building a bit of momentum into what was always going to be a tricky part of the season for them with absentees. Unfortunately, Slaz started slowly and failed to take advantage of a number of good chances in front of goal. Before long, opposition pressure took a hold and Slaz fell 1-0 down from a penalty corner.
Slaz struggled to make good use of the ball for the rest of the half and went into the break 1-0 down. Then, things went from bad to worse as Slaz once again conceded – only minutes after the break – to make it 2-0. Despite their situation, Slaz rallied and built good pressure, finally stringing some good counter-attacks together, and Asad Baig converted a penalty corner to make it 2-1.
Unfortunately, it proved too little, too late and Slaz were unable to make the comeback. This was a tough day out for Slaz, who will be bitterly disappointed to lose to a local rival. However, with important players missing for a number of weeks to come, there will be plenty of chances to avenge this loss.
Men’s 2nd’s (5) vs (0) Doncaster 4th’s
Slazenger men’s 2nds hosted Doncaster under foreboding skies at Addingford. The away leg had been a cagey affair, with only a goal separating the sides. Slaz started on the front foot and moved the ball around. Doncaster had a font line of young lads who harried the slaz back line. However as the minutes rolled on, Slazenger became more composed and worked their way into a stronger attacking threat. Doncaster had a couple of experienced players at the back who made it hard to convert the chances into goal scoring.
However, the first breaks in the dam came from a couple of mis-hit short corners and before long, Slazenger had gone ahead from a single Richard Tuddenham penalty corner. After the break, the creams continued to grow. Tuddenham netted two more to open up a lead. Further goals came from Jack lee and James Swinden. Slazenger travels to Chesterfield next week.
Men’s 3rd’s (0) vs. (8) Leeds
Under the wide Yorkshire skies of Addingford, Horbury, the dusty frontier town played host to a high-noon showdown: Slazenger vs Leeds, sticks holstered and gum shields clenched. Unfortunately for the home side, Leeds rode into town like a gang of well-fed outlaws and started shooting before Slazenger had finished tying their spurs. Inside the first 10 minutes, Leeds had slapped three goals on the board, quicker than you can say “This town ain’t big enough for both of us.” The Slazenger defence looked like saloon doors in a strong wind.
Sensing the shootout was getting ugly, Slazenger captain Scott Carruthers tipped his hat, squinted into the sun, and boldly changed the formation, rearranging his posse in the hope of restoring some law and order. To be fair, there were flashes of promise before the break. Will Carr and Seth Hoole charged down the wings like stagecoach drivers late for payday, putting in some excellent running and causing Leeds a few nervous glances over their shoulders.
Still, when the half-time whistle blew, Slazenger trudged off 3–0 down, boots heavy, pride slightly dented, but spirits not entirely shot.
The second half plan was simple and very Western:
1. Try to score.
2. Try to stop Leeds from scoring any more.
Dan Bailey and Simon Taylor rolled up their sleeves and went to work, battling in midfield like ranch hands fencing off hostile territory. Behind them, goalkeeper Sammy turned into the sheriff of Addingford, throwing himself in front of shots and making some truly fantastic saves, the kind that had the crowd reaching for their imaginary six-shooters in approval.
But as the minutes dragged on, the desert took its toll. Slazenger picked up injuries, bodies hit the dust, and then came the moment that’ll be retold in the saloon for years: striker Tim Carr, seeing red like a cowboy who’d had one whiskey too many, flew into a tackle on a Leeds midfielder and was promptly sin-binned, sent off to cool his heels and reflect on his life choices.
Outnumbered, outgunned, and running on grit alone, Slazenger kept fighting — but Leeds were ruthless, piling on the goals like bounties on a wanted poster. When the final whistle echoed across the plains, the scoreboard read a stark 8–0 to Leeds. It wasn’t Slazenger’s day in the Wild West. But they stayed in the fight, showed heart, and lived to ride again — because in hockey, like the frontier, tomorrow’s another town and revenge is always just one match away.
Men’s 4th’s (1) vs. Chapeltown 3rds
Slazenger 4s faced a tough away fixture against a strong Chapeltown 3s side, ultimately falling to a 6–1 defeat despite a determined performance throughout. The opening exchanges were competitive, with Slazenger working hard to keep their shape and frustrate the hosts. However, Chapeltown struck twice in quick succession around the half-hour mark, scoring in the 30th and 31st minutes to take control of the game heading into the break.
Slazenger came out with renewed intent in the second half, but Chapeltown extended their lead with a goal in the 49th minute. As Slazenger pushed higher up the pitch in search of a way back into the contest, gaps began to appear, and Chapeltown capitalised with further goals in the 56th and 60th minutes.
Slazenger’s’ persistence was rewarded in the 62nd minute when a well-worked move resulted in a deserved consolation goal, briefly lifting the side and giving them something to build on. Unfortunately, Chapeltown responded quickly and added a final goal in the 67th minute to seal the result.
Despite the score line, Slazenger showed moments of resilience and commitment, particularly in spells where they battled hard against sustained pressure. The focus now turns to taking the lessons from this challenging away day and regrouping for the next fixture.
Development v Doncaster
(Sponsored unofficially by Cadbury UK Mini Eggs). On a freezing cold morning (the kind that screams chocolate for warmth), we headed over to Doncaster armed with sticks, smiles, and an unspoken hope that mini eggs would appear at some point. Frances bravely stepped in as GK and also brought along Uncle Will for a stint in defence — although he clearly misunderstood the pre-match briefing and went to the wrong venue, possibly in search of mini eggs elsewhere 🤣
Slaz started brightly, creating early chances with some great balls into the circle from Katie on the right and Alistair on the left. The defence dealt well with an early Doncaster short corner, clearing the ball decisively and launching an attack — clearly already running on pre-mini-egg energy.
Addy and Noah bossed the centre of the pitch, completely unfazed by the adult opposition players. Katie also stepped into centre mid during the half, working hard and linking play well. Frances made herself big when needed, confidently closing down attackers and pulling off a great save to keep things level. At the back, Harry drove the team forward from defence, while he and Georgie made several perfectly timed tackles — possibly sharpened by the anticipation of chocolate.
Ruth was absolutely buzzing in the first half, zipping around the pitch, applying pressure, winning the ball back, and driving forward relentlessly — like someone who knew mini eggs were waiting.
Half Time: 0–0. And then… IT HAPPENED. The family bag of mini eggs appeared. Mini eggs everywhere. Mini eggs being shared. Mini eggs being negotiated over. Mini eggs providing tactical clarity. Mini eggs providing emotional support. Mini eggs being discussed more than the opposition’s press.
Team talk? ✔
Energy levels restored? ✔✔
Mini eggs consumed? ✔✔✔ ABSOLUTELY.
The second half started strongly, with Slaz playing some really lovely hockey. The two supporting adults kept the ball moving and let the kids take charge — clearly understanding that post-mini-egg hockey is elite hockey. Frances continued to make important saves when needed, proving mini eggs are, in fact, excellent for reaction time.
Alistair dropped back into defence and made some strong tackles, while Cerys and Matthew worked tirelessly, chasing down balls like there might be a bonus mini egg waiting at the end of it. The team created several good chances but just couldn’t quite convert.
Ruth worked relentlessly on the left midfield for most of the second half, covering every blade of grass and somehow still running harder than everyone else combined — clearly fuelled by superior mini-egg intake. Georgie and Harry continued to time their tackles to perfection, working brilliantly with Gemma and Uncle Will (now at the correct venue and fully locked in).
Noah and Adelaide made some excellent driving runs with the ball, linking up well with teammates including Katie, Ruth, and Alistair in midfield. Despite not getting a goal, the team should be hugely proud of their performance against a strong Doncaster side that included three adults — and none of them had mini eggs!
Player of the Match: Ruth – For her unstoppable work rate, relentless pressure, constant support all over the pitch, and for playing like she had a secret stash of mini eggs powering her performance from start to finish.
Donut of the Day: Uncle Will – For turning up at the wrong venue — proving that even in a mini-egg-fuelled world, navigation remains important
Fantastic teamwork, great attitudes, brilliant hockey… and an outstanding contribution from mini eggs, the true heroes of the day.
Ladies 1st’s (0) vs. (1) Wakefield 3rd’s
Right from the start, Slazengers looked to dominate possession, spending plenty of time in Wakefield’s half. Ami was solid in goal, commanding her area calmly as Matilda and Emma formed a reliable defensive line alongside Eliz and Bella. The midfield trio of Amelia, Zoe, and Frankie worked hard to recycle possession, with Imo dropping back regularly to support the middle. Becca’s pressing and movement combined well with Coops, while up front, Alys and Millie looked to create openings and keep the pressure on.
Around the 5-minute mark, Frankie tested the keeper with a powerful shot that was well blocked. Matilda and Emma’s accurate passing helped transition play swiftly to the forward line, with Coops driving decisively into the D to win the first short corner of the match at 15 minutes. Though the corner was missed, Slaz kept up the intensity.
A high ball from Wakefield struck Alys in the leg but led to another short corner for Slaz shortly after, showing the team’s persistence. Emma’s quick interceptions and strong defensive work caused problems for Wakefield, leading to a slick build-up involving Matilda, Amelia, and Millie, who earned a short corner. Emma’s strike on that set piece was blocked but demonstrated the team’s attacking threat.
Ami continued to make important saves as the half ended with the teams locked in a tight battle.
The second half continued with hard tackling and midfield scrambles. Millie sent several strong balls forward, while Becca and Alys combined well near the D, though they couldn’t quite break through Wakefield’s defence. Eliz’s strong tackling helped stem some of Wakefield’s attacks, and Imo’s energetic runs down the line kept Slaz pushing.
About eight minutes in, Wakefield broke through after a fierce battle in the Slaz D, managing to score the only goal of the match. Despite this setback, Slazengers kept their heads up. Frankie and Amelia linked well in attack, and a sharp pass from Frankie set Amelia up for some dangerous play. Becca’s tough work was interrupted when she was tripped by a Wakefield player, briefly halting momentum.
Slazengers earned several short corners in succession later on, with Emma’s exceptional drag-flick narrowly missing the top corner. Ami made some crucial saves to keep the scoreline close, demonstrating her composure. Despite Slaz’s best efforts, the game ended 0-1.
Player of the Match: Eliz, for playing a brilliant game with smooth tackles
Tart of the Match: Hannah, for starting a riot with a grumpy parent in the car park
Ladies 2nd’s (0) vs. (0) Harrogate 4th’s
Slazenger Hold Firm Against Harrogate in Goalless Draw
Slazenger came out fighting against a strong Harrogate side in a tightly contested encounter that ended 0–0 at full time. The first half saw both teams create multiple attacking chances, with the game played at a high tempo from the opening whistle. Slazenger earned two short corners but were unable to convert, while Harrogate also threatened going forward. Despite the pressure at both ends, neither side could find the breakthrough before the break, and the teams went into half-time level at 0–0.
Harrogate stepped up the intensity in the second half, dominating possession and creating several clear chances on goal. However, Slazenger’s defence stood resolute under sustained pressure. Player of the Match Erin delivered an outstanding performance in goal, producing a series of cracking saves across both halves to keep Harrogate at bay. Thanks to disciplined defending and Erin’s heroics between the posts, Slazenger held on to secure a hard-earned 0–0 draw.
Ladies 3rds (4) vs. (0) Harrogate 5 (0)
Slazenger Ladies 3s travelled to Harrogate to take on Harrogate 5’s putting in a confident, cohesive performance that perfectly showcased how well this side works as a unit. From the very first push-back, Slazenger pressed forward and the attacking pressure earned a short corner, although the initial strike was well saved, Evie Mollart was alert to the rebound. Showing great composure, she slipped the ball neatly past the keeper to give Slazenger an early lead.
Centre midfielder Stacey Drake unfortunately aggravated an injury and was forced to retire early, but the team adapted seamlessly. Sian Glover stepped into the role, immediately making her presence felt with her speed, work rate and resilience. Right wing back Beth Buckley had an outstanding game. Growing in confidence week by week, she made crucial tackles at the back while also driving forward down the line to create chances. She linked particularly well with right midfielder Justine Birkett, combining defensive discipline with attacking intent.
The second goal came from the right-hand side, where a well-timed cross from forward Ellie Page found Caro Schofield, who swept the ball calmly into the goal to double Slazenger’s advantage. Slazengers went into half-time with a deserved 2–0 lead.
The second half continued much the same way, with Slazengers controlling play. Glover drove forward from midfield and fired a shot from just inside the D. After a scramble involving a couple of Harrogate defenders, Schofield reacted quickest, striking the ball from the right-hand side into the left corner to make it 3–0. Harrogate did enjoy spells of attacking play, but the Slazengers defence were commanding and impenetrable throughout, working tirelessly as a unit to shut down any threats.
The final goal was a wonderful example of classic, no-nonsense hockey. Defender Nicole Knox intercepted the ball and fed it to fellow defender Sarah Ritchey, who delivered a perfectly timed and weighted pass to Page. Page and Schofield then exchanged one-twos all the way up the attacking half, before Schofield calmly finished to complete her hat-trick — proving that experience, game intelligence and maybe a few extra years of wisdom can be just as dangerous as youthful legs! The match finished 4–0, with another well-earned clean sheet for goalkeeper Lauren Hattesley.
Player of the match was deservedly awarded to Beth Buckley for her all-round performance. Next week, Slazengers face York, who currently sit second in the table.
U16 Boys vs Hampton-in-Arden
After the previous round’s success against Doncaster, the lads were drawn an early 10:15 start in Birmingham. Despite this, Slaz started well. An evenly poised beginning showed that this could be a lively game, with an end to end feel. Good pressure from the get go led to a great ball by James into Ollie T, who was unlucky not to find the back of the net. Minutes later, Hampton go 1-0 up off a short, the result of some momentum. The Slaz attack and midfield worked hard, winning some shorts of their own, but unfortunately conceded again. Good work by the likes of Evan, Seth and Owen W in the middle as Slaz looked to reduce the deficit. Goalkeeper George made some great saves, keeping the team in the game. Just before the close of the half, Hampton got two quick goals, leading to a 4-0 Hampton lead by HT.
After an inspired team talk, the boys were out on the pitch early, ready to turn it around. However, despite a strong start, with Ally, Aleks and James working well on the right, trying to link up the play, and Will, Harry and Ollie S along the left, Hampton scored another scrappy short, making it 5. Slazenger continued to push, trying to get anything from the match, work by Alfie, Jack and Isaac in the middle of the park was encouraging, but Slaz were simply second best, often making the wrong decision or minor error. As the game came to a close, Hampton scored another two, both from shorts. Unfortunately, the Slazenger perseverance wasn’t enough, and the game ended 7-0.
Well done to the lads for reaching this far in the competition
U14 Girls vs. Stokesley
England Hockey Championship – Tier 2 Plate.
A thrilling end to end match resulted in a 2-1 win for Slaz to see the team through to the next round of the Championships – final 9! Slaz started the match at full pace, with Addy bursting forward in the opening minute to set the tone. Early pressure followed, with Amelia and Jess working hard in the D and Lorna making the first of many important interceptions. Tilda carried the ball confidently out of defence as Slaz settled quickly into their rhythm.
The press intensified as Jess pushed high up the line and Ruth threaded a clever pass into Addy in the D. Moments later, Addy intercepted brilliantly, leading to a shot from Amelia and a rebound effort from Ruth, both narrowly missing the target. Slaz continued to build patiently, with a slick passing move involving Lorna, Amelia, Ruth and Jess showing real composure. Amelia and Tilda controlled the top half well, while Edie came on and immediately joined the action. Ruth sprinted up the line, though the final pass just failed to connect.
The midfield battle grew fierce. Katie and Tilda worked tirelessly under pressure, and when Stokesley broke through, Beth stood strong to halt the attack and drive the ball clear. Tilda battled again, Ami was called into action with a key save, and Slaz regained momentum. Tilda fought through challenges, and Ruth released Edie for a shot, only to be denied by the Stokesley goalkeeper, who would later be deservedly named their player of the match.
Pressure continued as Amelia and Lauren drove the ball down the line, Lauren’s determination creating another chance for Ruth, who battled into the D before Stokesley cleared. Jess won the ball back and fed Edie, but the breakthrough still would not come.
Stokesley responded with sustained pressure, but Beth remained immovable at the back. Katie and Addy worked hard in the D to clear danger, and Addy released Jess down the line. Tilda again stole possession and fed Amelia as Slaz pressed high, with Tilda, Katie and Adelaide forcing play back into the Stokesley half.
Izzy and Katie dropped deep to help as Stokesley drove into the D, but Tilda made an excellent save and Amelia cleared. Stokesley enjoyed a spell of dominance, but Slaz defended bravely. Eventually, Tilda won the ball and released Edie, who drove forward and calmly slotted home the opening goal. Slaz 1–0 Stokesley.
Georgie entered the match and linked well with Amelia to move the ball out of danger. A short corner was awarded and then overturned, but Slaz stayed focused. Jess and Ruth combined well up the line before Stokesley regained possession. Addy refused to let them settle, winning a short corner. Her strong injection found Amelia at the top of the D, but the resulting shot was well saved.
Stokesley countered strongly, forcing some scrappy defending, but Ami slid out bravely to clear. Lauren and Jess supported Georgie up the pitch, Katie blocked any counter-attack, and Ruth once again surged down the line, linking with Lauren before Lorna cleared another dangerous ball.
Stokesley continued to press and earned a series of short corners. Tilda, Amelia, Ami and Lorna defended superbly, blocking repeatedly, with Tilda — still masked — sweeping the ball clear. Eventually, Stokesley broke through with a strong strike from the top of the D to level the score. Slaz 1–1 Stokesley. Slaz responded positively. Georgie, Lauren and Beth battled to move the ball forward, and Amelia threaded a pass to Edie. Just as Edie broke through, a Stokesley player went down and the whistle blew for half-time.
After sweets and a team talk, Slaz came out firing. Darcie stepped into left midfield and, despite her young age and smaller stature, fought fiercely for every ball, showing great determination and bravery.
Lauren pressured the opposition into the corner, Izzy intercepted and fed Amelia, who earned a short corner. Adelaide injected well, with both Amelia and Izzy firing shots, but the ball refused to cross the line.
Tilda drove forward into the D, while Lauren and Ruth maintained relentless pressure. Amelia forced another save before Jess rejoined the action as Slaz continued to push. Beth and Tilda battled hard as Stokesley countered, but Slaz held firm.
End-to-end play followed. Adelaide linked with Ruth and Edie, whose shot went just wide. Katie fed Tilda, who found Ruth to win another short corner. Adelaide delivered again, Amelia struck, Tilda followed up, but Stokesley survived once more. Lauren fought through challenges to feed Ruth and Edie, with chances hitting the post and flying narrowly wide. Slaz finally found their reward when Edie struck again to put Slaz back in front, though the intensity of the game showed no signs of easing.
Stokesley surged forward, but Ami produced a brilliant save, Beth cleared well, and Katie defended superbly in the D. Amelia sprinted down the line after a great ball from Adelaide, and Tilda powered forward again. Lorna produced another excellent defensive moment as Amelia switched play wide to Katie and Slaz pressed on. In the closing moments, Stokesley won a final short corner. The strike came in high, but Tilda stood tall — quite literally — blocking it with her arm as the final whistle blew to seal a dramatic and hard-fought finish.
Player(s) of the Match: Ami (as voted by the opposition) for her outstanding saves at crucial moments to keep Slaz in the game. Amelia for her tireless work rate, composure in possession and constant influence in both attack and defence throughout the match.
U12 Boys Tournament Report
Slazenger (3) vs. (0) City of York – York had the first attack, but some excellent channelling by Alistair and a well-timed interception by Harry set Noah away. A nice through ball to Matthew followed, but his shot was saved. Alistair then broke down the right and found Noah, who calmly slotted the ball home to give Slaz the lead. York responded immediately, but Slaz defended well to keep them out. Trysten, Harry and Zach blocked shots effectively and cleared the danger. Slaz then broke down the left, with Trysten beating the defenders and finding Alistair, who entered the D and slipped the ball past the York goalkeeper.
More strong attacking play followed, with Alistair linking up well with Noah. A good cross found Matthew, whose touch deflected the ball into the goal to make it 3–0. York found some space and attacked well, calling Nikolai into action, who made a good save down to his right. Caleb came on at left back and made some strong tackles and neat passes to keep Slaz on the front foot. Noah ran the midfield well, supported strongly by Alistair and Matthew. York won a short corner, but a great save from Nikolai kept the ball out, followed by good defensive clearing from Harry and Noah. York continued to press and won another corner, but Slaz stayed organised, with excellent tackling from Trysten and Caleb to see out a strong 3–0 win.
Slazenger (1) vs. (2) Ben Rhydding – Slaz started well, with a good run from Noah and Alistair down the right leading to a shot from Matthew that was saved. Noah and Alistair combined well again soon after, with Alistair shooting early from the top of the D, forcing another good save from the Ben Rhydding goalkeeper. Ben Rhydding broke quickly and won a short corner despite strong tackles from Harry and Zach. Nikolai produced a great save to keep it out, and Harry cleared well to Trysten, who found Matthew with an excellent long pass. Matthew won a short corner for Slaz. From the corner, Alistair deflected Noah’s strike, which was saved, but he reacted quickly to put Slaz 1–0 ahead.
Ben Rhydding attacked straight from the restart and worked the ball well around the defence, eventually finding a free player in the D to level the score, despite the best efforts of Zach, Harry and Caleb. Ben Rhydding won another short corner and scored with a well-struck shot, with Nikolai unlucky despite getting a stick to it. Slaz dug deep and began to pass the ball better, led by Noah in midfield. Caleb and Alistair worked hard on the wings, while Harry and Zach stayed strong at the back. Matthew continued to make good runs up front, and Nikolai made further important saves to keep Slaz in the game. Ewan made a great interception and clearance from defence to launch another attack. Slaz finished the game strongly but were unable to convert their chances, and Ben Rhydding held on for the win.
Slazenger (0) vs, Adel (1) – Adel started quickly and put Slaz under pressure, but good defensive work from Zach and Alistair helped clear the danger and find Noah in midfield. Adel came back immediately, moving the ball well before finishing clinically, with an unfortunate deflection taking the ball past Nikolai.
Harry cleared well with a good pass up to Matthew, while Noah worked tirelessly in midfield, trying to find space for Alistair and Trysten. Adel, however, were well organised and structured, making it difficult for Slaz to break through. Slaz applied some good pressure through Noah, Alistair and Matthew and won a short corner, but Noah was unlucky to see his well-struck shot saved.
Adel broke quickly again, but Nikolai made a good save, with Zach and Harry clearing well. Noah and Trysten tracked back effectively, making important tackles, and Nikolai continued to save and clear confidently. Alistair made a quick run down the right and delivered a lovely cross to Matthew, but the Adel defence blocked the shot. Harry played some nice passes from the back to set Noah and Alistair on the attack, but Slaz could not convert their chances against a strong Adel defence. Ewan and Caleb came on and defended well, making some excellent tackles and clearances to keep Adel out. Slaz worked hard until the final whistle, but Adel stayed strong and held on to their 1–0 lead.
Slazenger (1) vs. (1) Harrogate – Harrogate started strongly, but Harry, Alistair and Noah made several well-timed tackles to settle Slaz. Alistair made a great run into the Harrogate D and won a short corner, with Noah’s strike going narrowly wide. Harrogate broke quickly and finished a well-worked goal, with Nikolai unlucky not to keep it out. Alistair then found Matthew in the D with a good forward pass, and Matthew laid the ball back to Noah, whose shot again went just wide. Trysten and Zach defended well together, regaining possession and setting Slaz back on the attack. Matthew and Alistair both had chances, but Harrogate defended well. Harrogate continued to press, but Nikolai produced an outstanding stick save to deflect a shot wide.
Another period of pressure led to a short corner, which was saved onto the post by Nikolai, with Harry clearing the rebound. Matthew worked tirelessly up front and was rewarded when a great cross across the D from Alistair gave him a tap-in at the back post to equalise. Slaz took confidence from the goal and pushed on, with Alistair making another strong run and shot that was well saved by the Harrogate goalkeeper. Slaz won a late short corner, with Noah creating space for himself and attempting a reverse flick that was saved on the line. Ewan came on in defence and did well tracking his player and making strong tackles to launch further attacks. Nikolai made another important save at the end to secure a well-earned 1–1 draw.
Player of the Tournament: Alistair; Outstanding throughout — skillful, hardworking, and a constant attacking and defensive threat. Huge effort from all the boys — a real team performance to be proud of with a special mention to Ewan for stepping up to play for this team today. 💚
U12 Girls A Tournament Report (Division 1)
The girls kicked off their first U12 tournament of the year facing three York teams and Thirsk. It was a fantastic start to the season with great teamwork, determination, and development across the squad.
Slazenger (2) vs. (0) City of York C – Scorers: Darcie (1), Edie (1) – Darcie put Slaz ahead within the first minute with a sharp early goal. The girls were still finding their rhythm initially, and York 3 crowded the ball well in defence, making it difficult to use the width and build play up the pitch. York 3 managed a few strong clearances and breaks, leaving Frances one-on-one in goal at times. However, her quick and confident decisions to come out and clear ensured a clean sheet. As the game progressed, Slaz found their structure and attacking shape, earning a short corner which Edie converted to secure a 2–0 win.
Slazenger (5) vs. (1) City of York B – Scorers: Edie (4), Darcie (1) – After a team talk, the girls returned focused on using width and passing to move around players – and they delivered. The opening goal came within minutes from a well-worked move up the pitch, finished by Edie striking from the top of the D. Darcie followed with a superb goal from a tight angle, squeezing the ball into the narrow gap between post and keeper. York 2 managed a fortunate break to pull one back, but Slaz responded strongly. Edie added three more goals: one from a well-worked quick free hit initiated by Etta and crossed in by Darcie, another from a great duo run with Darcie, and a final strike set up by Cerys.
Slazenger (1) vs. (2) City of York A – Scorer: Edie – A closely contested game where Slaz worked well as a unit. Edie opened the scoring after driving to the back line and finishing from a tricky angle. The match remained end-to-end with strong defensive efforts from both teams. York eventually edged ahead by converting two short corners.
Slazenger (0) vs. (2) Thirsk – A tough match against a well-drilled Thirsk side. The girls battled hard with tighter marking and created some opportunities in the attacking D. However, Thirsk showed their quality with a powerful top-corner finish. Despite the result, the girls worked tirelessly and kept the score line respectable.
After the first match, the girls warmed into the tournament and showed great progress throughout the day. It was brilliant to see how well they listened to feedback and worked together as a team.
- Frances was reliable as ever, growing in confidence and making crucial saves throughout.
- Etta and Georgie were strong in defence, putting in important tackles.
- Katie, Amelie, and Cerys worked tirelessly, supporting defence and driving play forward.
- Darcie and Edie led attacking efforts, tracked back to defend, and created excellent scoring opportunities.
Player of the Tournament: Darcie — for her determination across all games. She was hungry for the ball, supported both attack and defence, and made a big impact with goals and work rate. A big thank you to our parents for their continued support, to Gemma, Will and Mark for coaching, and to Mark for umpiring.
U12 Girls B Tournament Report (Division 4)
Slazenger U12 B team were able to enjoy the short trip to their home pitch for the most recent Tournament. With a strong lineup, there was hopes for some convincing results, however, the oppositions has other ideas…
Slazenger (1) vs (0) Leeds B – Slaz started the game well. Hollie pressed well in the middle, and Penny was a superstar on the right. The team looked on the front foot, and it was a well engineered run from Penny, who squared the ball to Grace for her to calmly beat the keeper and go 1-0 ahead. Leeds didn’t let their heads go down and continued to fight, unfortunately stopping Hollie from scoring to keep it at 1-0 at the final whistle.
Slazengers (0) vs (1) Halifax – Slazenger caried the momentum into the second match, but maybe there was a hint of complacency as Halifax looked the more aggressive from the outset. Izzy and Florence’s energy and effort was standout in this game. Penny’s attacking on the right continued to impress, and the team put in a creditable defensive performance. Unfortunately it was Halifax who converted after Lydia was caught unprotected in goal and was unable stop the ball from going in.
Slazengers (0) vs (0) Adel 2 – Some good passing in mid field, but Slaz were unable to benefit from it. Adel pressed high and moved the ball around well. Slazenger attacked more direct, which was closed down snuffed out by the Adel defence. Izzy and Matilda worked hard at the back, and Lydia pulled some good saves out to keep the score level. With minutes left of on the clock, Penny came to life – unfortunately her shot going wide, but seconds later earning a short corner. It maybe summed up the game that the goal was scored, but disallowed as it hadn’t left the circle.
Slazenger (1) vs (1) Huddersfield – Huddersfield were a strong contender and started on the front foot. They attacked, and Slazenger had to work hard to keep them at bay. Bridget and Matilda worked well at the back, but Huddersfield found a way through to take the lead. Slazenger worked hard and pulled themselves back into the game. Again, it was Penny on the right of midfield who took the ball wide, crossing into the D for Maddison to put it away for the equaliser. Slaz continued to press, with Hollie, Florence and Penny looking for the winner, but time ran out.
Player of the tournament went to Penny, whos workrate and tactical thinking was top notch. Taking the ball wide on the right opened up the pitch and created most of the scoring chances. Well done Penny!!
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