The final hockey matches of the season saw the AKS teams up against the very large and traditionally strong
Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) who provided the perfect challenge at the end of another great season for
all teams.
AKS U13A faced GSAL U13 in what was expected to be a tightly contested game, as has been the case in previous years, however, with GSAL unable to field their usual team due to other commitments, the match took on a different dynamic and AKS U13’s finished the year in style with a great 9 – 0 win! From the start, AKS demonstrated their quality with well-constructed passages of play, showcasing their cohesion as a team. Their fast, skilful attacks put the opposition under pressure, and their ability to move the ball with confidence and control. Despite AKS’s dominance in possession, GSAL did not make things easy. The opposition fought hard, forcing the AKS goalkeeper into crucial saves. Defensively, AKS had to work just as hard, chasing back to make solid tackles and ensure their lead remained intact. The match was a fitting finale to the season, reflecting AKS’s progress and teamwork and Sadie A led with another hardworking performance to earn her the Player of the Match accolade
The U14 squad had a great last game of the season against GSAL. We started superbly going ahead in the first
minute with an individual goal from prolific striker Camilla W. This put GSAL on the back foot and we attacked
with purpose and created more chances. GSAL regained their composure and started to pass the ball and
attack at pace and they scored twice to go into the lead before the break. The second half saw GSAL continue
to dominate possession but good team defence kept them at bay but despite our best efforts GSAL went
further ahead. We were always dangerous on the break and we scored again to cut the lead to one, after a
superb passing move from the back saw Gabby H-S use her pace to out run the defence and make the perfect
pass for Camilla to put away but we couldn’t get on terms before the final whistle. Although not a final win
the competitive match showed how much progress the team has made since the start of the season. Lauren M
was the Player of the Match for her calm controlled defending.
The U12A team had a strong start in their match against GSAL, creating several early chances and showing their intent from the first whistle. The team demonstrated excellent teamwork and communication throughout the game, always supporting each other on and off the ball. The passing was sharp and precise, with both individual brilliance and impressive link-up play. Although they showed great resilience and never stopped pushing forward, they were unfortunately unlucky with the final result, losing 0-2 to GSAL. This could have been a greater score however some fantastic saves were made by our goalkeeper, Harriet B particularity one brilliant save in the last seconds of the game. Despite the result, the players should be proud of their performance and the way they represented their team with skill, determination, and sportsmanship. Arabella C was voted as the POM.
The U15 season ended with a tough 6-0 defeat, marking a challenging conclusion to what has been a season of growth and learning. The first half saw GSAL dominate possession and control the pace of the game. They quickly established a 3-0 lead, taking advantage of a few defensive mistakes and creating several dangerous scoring opportunities. Our defenders worked hard to block shots and clear the ball, and Emily B made some great saves in goal but the pressure was relentless, and AKS struggled to maintain possession for long periods. In the second half, AKS tried to regroup and adjust our strategy, pushing forward to create attacking opportunities. However, GSAL were well-organised and didn't give AKS much room to manoeuvre in their defensive twenty-five. A couple of counter-attacks resulted in more goals, bringing the score to 5-0 with just a few minutes remaining. We continued to fight for every ball, and there were moments of promise, especially from our midfielders, who worked hard to transition the play and keep the pressure on. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find the back of the net, and the final whistle blew with the score at 6-0.While it wasn’t the ending, AKS had hoped for, there were still positive moments to take from the match. Emily made some excellent saves to prevent the score from growing even further, and earn her the Player of the match award and the effort and spirit from every player on the field never wavered, even in the face of adversity.