Hockey Tournament

After winning the first 4 tournaments, we were hoping to make it 5 out of 5. Last year, we were pipped by Malpas, so we hoped to go one better this time and bring some silverware home. 

The Farndon stripes, coached by Mr Walker, were determined to get out of their group. First up it was Tilston. We dominated possession and Harry's quick thinking from a foul at the edge of the box led to a 1 - 0 win. Our next game was Shocklach. It was a frustrating match as chance after chance went begging and it ended 0 - 0. In the third game against Tushingham B, it all clicked. George was at the base of the diamond and ran the show with lovely passing. Harry finished the moves off with 3 and Ben added 1 in a 4 - 0 win. The crunch game was Tattenhall, but now we were flying! We cruised to a 4 - 0 win with Harry and Ben both scored 2 - the semi final awaited. 

Mr Bond had the Reds and they started their campaign against Malpas. Chances went begging and it ended 0 - 0. However, they raced into the semi-finals with two 2 - 0 wins over Tushingham and Clutton. Halit, Harry and James scoring the goals. 

The Stripes played Tushingham in their semi final. It was an accomplished performance and we took charge of the game. Harry swept in a lovely finish from the left and it ended with a 1 - 0 win. The Reds had a tight game against Tattenhall. There was some desperate goal keeping by Tattenhall, but James finally broke the deadlock and we won 1 - 0. 

So the final was both Farndon teams - who both got there without losing a game and without conceding a goal. Something had to give! The Stripes gave it everything and broke several times, but they were punished on the break when James raced into the box and scored. Then, to compound things, there was a long distance pump up field that clipped Jachym's stick in the box to make it 2 - 0 and that gave them the victory. 

Both teams did so well and all the children can be very proud to have made the final. Player of the tournament for the Stripes was George, with excellent tackling in midfield and intelligent passing. Player of the tournament for the Reds was James, with some dominant displays, nifty dribbling and clinical finishing.