| Team | Girls U14 |
| Opponent | Cirencester |
| Date | 2024-11-03 |
| Result | Loss |
| Score | 4 – 5 |
This Sunday saw our U14 girls take on Cirencester in a 60minute thriller!!
The Gloucester girls came out of the blocks on fire, a lovely flowing move that started with a full transfer round the back from left to right, a run up the right hand side, an early ball across, and a clinical finish into the bottom corner from Molly saw them take an early lead inside the first five minutes (1-0).
A closely contested first 3rd ensued with a couple chances for each team that neither could convert until close to the end when tired legs proved costly and Gloucester (who were playing with only 10players) conceded (1-1). A final flurry of shots from Cirencester saw our fantastic GK make back-to-back saves only for the third shot to squeeze through and give the visitors the lead at the first break (1-2).
The second period saw Gloucester again take control early and put major pressure on the Cirencester defence who held strong on a couple of occasions, that was until Molly pounced yet again to hit a cracking shot past the Cirencester goalie to level things up (2-2). Gloucester then allowed Cirencester to press forward but were able to win the ball back on numerous occasions, some quick transfers from our midfield out to our tireless wide attackers Amira and Grace gave Gloucester a couple chances on the break to stun Cirencester, Molly again getting onto the end of a great move to score her hat-trick goal and give them back the lead (3-2). More Gloucester pressure followed, and from a long corner our superstar midfielder Amelie, dribbled past a couple opponents to get herself into the D, then giving the ball a firm strike, hit the back board to extend Gloucester’ lead (4-2). The second period ended with a clinical move from the opponent, a couple substitutions gave them some extra energy and a bit of hope as they reduced the gap going into the final period (4-3).
None of the spectators knew how this thrilling match was going to end heading into the final 20minutes. Some more end-to-end hockey saw chances for both teams, but both goal keepers refused to concede again, both with some fantastic saves. Midway through however, a short corner awarded to Gloucester looked as though it would be the chance to finish Cirencester off, especially after one of their defenders was sent to the halfway line for leaving the line early. A clean, on target shot from Grace seemed to be heading in only for the Cirencester keeper to just get an outstretched foot in the way and they were able to clear their lines. Fatigue had really started to set in now for the Gloucester girls, who after playing for 50mins with a player down began to slow down. A couple of moves well executed by the Cirencester team first saw them draw level (4-4) and then take the lead (5-4).
Going into the final minute, from somewhere Gloucester found just enough energy to mount a final comeback, they made their way up the left, managed to squeeze through a cross for a tap-in equaliser, agonisingly however the ball took a last second deflection only evade the outstretched stick of Amira. The final whistle followed seconds later to give the visitors the win, in a wonderfully entertaining game of hockey!