Our U16 boys made the trip to Southgate for the return Tier 1 league fixture, facing a well-drilled Southgate squad of 16 players packed with quality and experience. With only one substitute available, we knew the afternoon would provide a stern test for the squad.

We started slowly in the opening quarter and struggled to establish any rhythm. Too many of our passes failed to find a teammate, and we were often waiting for the ball rather than moving to meet it. Instead of letting the ball do the work, we held onto it for too long, allowing Southgate to dominate possession and dictate the pace of the game.

The second quarter showed a marked improvement. The boys retained possession much better and our passing became far more direct and purposeful. While we created some promising opportunities, we were occasionally caught out when possession was lost, with our backtracking not quite quick enough to halt Southgate's attacks. Despite the improvement in performance and our own chances, we found ourselves 5-0 down at half-time.

Following a stern half-time discussion about some of the game's fundamental principles, the boys responded brilliantly. They took the messages on board, came out with renewed confidence and began playing some very good hockey. We encouraged them to forget the scoreline, enjoy their hockey and trust that good performances would bring rewards. The response was excellent. We created several outstanding chances, only to be denied by an excellent Southgate goalkeeper who produced a number of fine saves. Although no goals were scored in the third quarter, we arguably looked the better side for long periods, which represented a tremendous improvement.

The final quarter was evenly contested, with some excellent passing combinations and passages of play demonstrated by our boys. Unfortunately, Southgate managed to add two more goals, one of which came following a somewhat dubious short-corner decision. While the final score finished 7-0, it did not fully reflect the determination, resilience and quality shown by the team, particularly in the second half.

Most importantly, the boys never stopped competing, played with real heart and maintained a positive spirit throughout. They were a credit to themselves and the club.

Final Score: Southgate 7 - 0 Old Loughtonians

There were plenty of positives to take from the performance, particularly the response after half-time and the quality of hockey produced in the latter stages of the match.

Onwards and upwards as we look ahead to our next fixture at home against Chelmsford on 15th November at 2:30pm.