GU14 Eagles Entertain in Sevenoaks Draw

GU14 Eagles 2 - 2 Sevenoaks GU14 (H)

The Eagles have been the unexpected success of the season and so it was no surprise that teams were queueing up to visit Sugden Road to test themselves against the best that Long Ditton could offer. Sevenoaks had hit the jackpot and their prize came with glorious sunny weather, making a game for the ages all the more promising as, for this week at least, there was the chance that the players could hold their sticks for the full 70 minutes.

Indeed, the mild climes brought a carnival atmosphere and the crowds were not disappointed as both teams, perhaps freed from the pressures of the Supra League, put on a display of festival hockey from the whistle. Home and away supporters revelled in the occasion with a series of rhythmic "olé's" as Saffron, Leia, Cesca and Boo transferred the ball across the back as the opposing team in purple chased hard. Despite the efforts, breakthroughs were hard to come by and the midfield trio of Seren, Becca and Sofia worked tirelessly to keep the ball moving and release wingers Sylvie and Gemma to ignite the attack. Charlie, fronting the forwards with Ebba, used some spell-binding skills from the football pitch to nutmeg defenders and to lead to the goal that broke the deadlock.

The visitors - retaining the core of last season's U12 National Finalists - were not for sitting back and launched fearsome of attacks of their own. Taylor and Lyla - making a welcome return to the team - and Emily between the posts kept their attackers at bay, before a well-executed and well-deserved equaliser kept the game on a knife-edge going into half-time. 

The second half was just as exciting, with Violet and Maya upping the tempo with aggressive sorties. The Eagles looked to steal the match with another well taken goal - attackers seemingly hand-cuffed to the goal posts - before Sevenoaks equalised once more as the game hit the final stages. An exciting finish was on the cards as the home team stole a penalty corner in the dying seconds. The strike was clean but the seemingly never-ending game of lacrosse, as the ball looped off a stick and high into the air above the penalty spot, was won by the defenders as the final whistle blew to the delight of the satiated spectators.