EUROHOCKEY YOUTH NATIONS TROPHY - U18 GIRLS
Madrid (ESP), 7-12 July 2009
Pool A
Spain
Czech Republic
Poland
Switzerland
Pool B
Scotland
Ukraine
Wales
DAY 1: Tuesday 7 July 2009
Disappointing defeat for U18 Girls
Wales 0 (0), Scotland 4 (1)
The late withdrawal of the Belarus team (fine £1,500 and automatic relegation) has meant that Pool B has been reduced to 3 teams and Wales have therefore only two games in the pool. Ankle injuries to Sophie Clayton and Ceri Jenkins just prior to and during the holding camp meant that Ceri was unable to travel and she was replaced by Rebecca Treharne (Swansea) at 24 hours notice. Sophie traveled with the medical opinion that the injury should clear up during the tournament.
Having narrowed the gap to Scotland over the past year - the last two results at Easter being a 1-1 draw and a 2-1 loss, having led 1-0 for 40' - gave the squad the belief that, if they performed at their best, then a win was within their abilities. Alas, key midfielder Sian French, was struck down by a sickness bug the night before the game and also during the morning and although having recovered enough to get onto the pitch and bravely compete, she was at 50% effectiveness.
Scotland enjoyed the majority of the early possession but Wales were dealing competently with all the questions that were being posed. The only penalty corner of the half on 10' was effectively dealt with. The first real lapse of concentration in Wales back four occurred on 23' and this was ruthlessly punished by Danielle Johnstone who, having escaped the attention of her marker, then neatly rounded the advancing keeper to place the ball in the goal.
At half-time Wales knew that the next goal would be crucial and felt that they were capable of scoring that goal and keeping the Scots out. Alas, within two minutes of the restart, Johnstone was again left free behind the defence and a second 1v1 with the keeper had the same result as previously. Wales continued to work industriously but conceded penalty corner no.2 on 54'. A slip to the left and a hard strike meant that Wales were now 3-0 down. One minute from the end Wales conceded only their 3rd corner of the game but a deflection in front of the keeper meant that a 4-0 scoreline was the final result. Scotland deserved their win but Wales were bitterly disappointed in the margin of victory.
| 10.00 | B | Scotland | 4 | Wales | 0 |
| 17.00 | A | Czech Republic | 3 | Poland | 0 |
| 19.00 | A | Spain | 7 | Switzerland | 0 |
DAY 2: Wednesday 8 July 2009
| 10.00 | B | Scotland | 5 | Ukraine | 0 |
| 17.00 | A | Czech Republic | 4 | Switzerland | 0 |
| 19.00 | A | Spain | 8 | Poland | 0 |
DAY 3: Thursday 9 July 2009
Narrow defeat for U18 Girls
Wales 0 (0), Ukraine 1 (1)
With no game on the Wednesday because of the withdrawal of Belarus, Wales had a productive two hour training session to address the shortcomings of the day before. Having seen Scotland beat Ukraine 5-0, which meant that Wales had only to draw to qualify for the semi-finals, the belief was strong and that everything was possible. Alas, sickness struck both Rhiannon Rogers and Sophie Clough before the game but both were declared fit to play. Sian French had almost recovered from her illness of Tuesday but was still not yet 100%.
For the first 20' the game was even with few chances being created but Wales playing the more constructive hockey. Then on 23', a Ukrainian shot/centre from a narrow angle close to the back line and edge of the circle, inexplicably ended up in the goal. This was a real blow as Ukraine had not really created any previous chances.
Again at half-time confidence was high in the Welsh camp that a draw at least was well within their capabilities. The second half was characterised by Wales inability to regularly open up a Ukrainian defence that had not only a back four but a sweeper behind that to protect their 1-0 lead. Poor decision making by the Wales strikers plus naive and weak umpiring, meant that unbelievably no penalty corners were awarded to Wales and no Ukrainian was sent off for persistent physicality, fouling and breaking down of play. The last 10' was virtually all Wales with, having taken their keeper off leaving 11 outfield players, the Ukrainian circle was in siege but no way through could be found.
Desperate disappointment at the final whistle of the disappearance of a semi-final place on Saturday afternoon vs Spain with packed grandstands, drums, horns and a voluble and passionate Spanish crowd creating a cauldron of noise and atmosphere.
Friday is a rest day. On Saturday at 10am local time, Wales play Poland in the initial game of the 5-8 place play-off matches. On Sunday they play Switzerland. Two wins will see Wales in 5th place, two places better that Prague in 2007, so this is now the target.
| 10.00 | B | Ukraine | 1 | Wales | 0 |
| 17.00 | A | Poland | 2 | Switzerland | 2 |
| 19.00 | A | Spain | 4 | Czech Republic | 0 |
DAY 4: Friday 10 July 2009
Rest Day
DAY 5: Saturday 11 July 2009
Wales 1 (0) - Poland (0) 2
Wales U18 Girls slipped to another narrow defeat, this time 2-1 against Poland and must beat Switzerland tomorrow to stay off the bottom.
The previous games' nightmare of failed scoring chances proved to a recurring one. With the statistic of penetrating the 23 metre area 45 times leading to 36 circle entries but only 6 shots at goal and 3 penalty corners to show for it, plus a Welsh player getting a foot in the way of the ball crossing the line with the keeper beaten, Wales will look back at this game for a long time with despondency and frustration. Wales outclassed Poland in all areas of the game apart from one - that of being able to put the ball in the goal. With few chances in the game, Poland were able to magic up two quality shots that sped into the net, giving Wales an object lesson in finishing, decision making and taking chances and possessing a keeper who had the game of her life.
On the positive side to take into the next match, Wales were able to score their first goal of the tournament through Emily James - albeit two minutes from the end to reduce the deficit - and also gain their first penalty corners of the tournament - 3 in total. The last two games have been a steep learning curve for all of the players in dealing with wily Eastern European opponents, well schooled in the arts of play breakdown and delaying of free hits and alas, the annoyance of having umpires inexperienced at this level and not able to exact the appropriate sanctions. A steep learning curve for them also albeit at our expense.
In this game, Wales' penalty corner defending was as outstanding as it had been in the previous one. After conceding 2 out of 3 to Scotland in the opening game, the courage and discipline has been an object lesson to the other areas of the players' game as to how to improve over a tournament. The midfield play also has shown match by match progress as has the reading of opponents intentions and implementing a variety of presses to curtail their game plans.
Wales arrived at the break for the first time with the score at 0-0 and with the greater number of scoring chances. Therefore, once more, the belief was clear that this game could be won. Within 30 seconds of the restart a penalty corner had been won - the execution was precise - but the keeper made two excellent saves in rapid succession to underline how Wales' composure, awareness and technical execution have been lacking under pressure in front of goal.
Six minutes into the second half a series of defensive lapses allowed Poland's first goal as again happened on 27' for their second. Crucial failures in concentration at key moments and regression to previous habits have been the reasons for most of the 7 goals conceded. Tomorrow against Switzerland for the 6/7th classification spot - and with no relegation worries as Belarus have already gone and only one team is to be promoted from the division below - it is hoped that everything will come together to produce a result commensurate with the effort, passion and determination that has been exhibited here.
| 10.00 | 4A v 3B | Poland | 2 | Wales | 1 |
| 16.30 | 2A v 1B | Czech Rep | 3 | Scotland | 4 |
| 19.00 | 1A v 2B | Spain | 4 | Ukraine | 0 |
DAY 6: Sunday 12 July 2009
Wales 2 (2) v Switzerland 1 (0)
Wales U18 Girls roll over Switzerland
Wales Under 18 Girls were finally able to produce a result commensurate with their industry and determination and be rewarded for their steady improvement and focus on their development over the tournament. Lauren Hutchings gave Wales the best of starts with a goal on 4 minutes. Weaving her way into the left hand side of the circle, she then spun out and caught the Swiss keeper unawares with a firm shot inside the near post. There had already been two near misses prior to the goal and early thoughts of déjà vu were already starting to manifest themselves.
To make the goal begin to be effective on the Swiss mental state, Wales were then solid in allowing their opponents no oxygen of encouragement until the 15' when their first penalty corner was successfully defended. Wales continually threatened to add to their score but it was not until the 27' that Sophie Oliver dived to slide the ball over the line at the near post after Stef Williams had calmly held the ball up inside the circle waiting for her to arrive and picked out the correct pass.
Another successful corner defence just before half-time ensured that Wales entered the break two goals to the good. The question then to be asked was if the team could now defend that lead until the end or increase it, as this was now unchartered territory. A total of 18 circle entries as opposed to 8 in the first half indicated that they put the Swiss under severe pressure in the second half and added a further 5 penalty corner attempts to their single effort in the first half. This domination was not rewarded with a goal and when the Swiss scored from their only second half corner with 15' to go, the Welsh team knew that they were going to come under sustained pressure as their opponents strove for the equaliser. One more piece of the learning jigsaw was slotted into space as Wales successfully survived the renewed Swiss enthusiasm and ran the clock down in the final two minutes by keeping the ball deep in the Swiss corners of the pitch until the final hooter.
Delight was unconfined as the substantial supporting contingent of friends and families were able to celebrate success at last after the heartaches of the week, when miniscule measurements have been the difference between a semi-final game and last place. That, however, in the nature of the game at this level, where a second's lack of concentration costs you grievously. It is to be hoped that the painful lessons learnt here will stand the players in good stead as they progress up the ladder of Welsh Hockey or return at Under 18 level next season.
| 10.00 | 3A v 3B | Switzerland | 1 | Wales | 2 |
| 14.30 | 3rd/4th | Czech Rep | 3 | Ukraine | 2 |
| 17.00 | Final | Scotland | 2 | Spain | 4 |
Final Positions
1st Spain (promoted)
2nd Scotland (promoted)
3rd Czech Republic
4th Ukraine
5th Poland
6th Wales
7th Switzerland (relegated)
