Back Row L – R:
Annabel Hill, Summer Marshall, Amelia Borchard, Grace Walker, Anna Roberts, Gina Garnett, Ella Durkin.
Front Row L – R:
Emilia Proctor, Charlotte Hollinrake, Louella Gill (GK), Amalia Watkins, Lucy Williams.
Missing from the photo is Megan Allen and Imani Botham who have played regularly for the team.

Last outing of the season for the U14 girls A squad Sunday 2nd March saw them playing at a new venue for the first time this season Leeds Adel Hockey Club.

With a full compliment of players for this final set of YYHL games Thirsk did not disappoint and they all played well together as a team, passing the ball around and working hard on and off the ball.

Creating many chances especially in the first game of the day against Driffield winning this 10 – 0. Thirsk kept their shape throughout the defence of Ella, Summer and GK Louella not seeing much of the ball at all throughout the 25 minutes of this game. All other players from Thirsk did not give Driffield much chance on the ball and consistently kept the pressure on them within their own half, the first goal of the game being scored within 3 minutes of the start. Emilia proving to be a goal demon in this game scoring a double hat trick with some beautiful reverse sweep hits into the top of the net on a number of occasions. Other goals scored in this game from Gina left wing running the ball into the Driffield circle and with a reverse sweep the ball from a narrow angle squeezed its way into the goal. Grace also being rewarded with a goal for her consistent harassment of the defence pushing the ball passed their keeper. Two goals being scored by Lucy playing left inner for these games who again worked so hard to keep possession of the ball as she has done throughout all the YYHL games played.

Straight on after this game against Sheffield Hallam Thirsk continued to keep up the pressure. However they did not have it all their own way and when Sheffield did make strong attacking play it was dealt with efficiently by Ella and Summer in defence clearing out wide to Anna on the right and Amelia on the left, who then played the ball up the pitch. Thirsk GK Louella only having to make a couple of saves in this game. Any balls that were loose in the midfield were ably cut out by Annabel. The scoreline in this game could have been higher as Amalia (who had taken over in the unfamiliar position as left wing in the absence of Gina) only just missed the goal with not only a one on one battle with the keeper but another hitting the post, but it just was not meant to be for her. The three goals being scored by Lucy, Charlotte who made some great passes across the face of the goal from right wing throughout all the games played and another from Emilia.

After a two match break Thirsk faced home team Leeds Adel and this game proved to be a tougher game for them with Adel taking the advantage from the off making Thirsk work hard. A two match break did not suit Thirsk and they did not settle as well into this game as they had done in their previous two. Finally loosing 2 – 1 however this scoreline did not show how hard they had worked to get the one goal back which was scored by Emilia.

These results still give Thirsk promotion back up to top division in 4th place, making the playoffs on the 30th March.

Shortly after Gina had scored her goal in the Driffield game she was injured and could not continue with any further games played, being taken off to hospital with an injury to her ankle – we wish her a speedy recovery from this and hope she will be fit and well for the Playoff games and the next round of the EHB cup games.

Thanks go to all the parents of the girls for your continued support of both the players and myself throughout the season it has been appreciated.