u16 girls lose Semi-Final 4:1 to Belper

I'm not going to dwell on the game too much, other than to say that Belper were a very good side and deserved to win the game. Our girls put in a phenomenal effort to keep the score down (and in the process become Belper's narrowest win of the season). From back to front everyone worked incredibly hard, and were rewarded with a well deserved and exquisitely fashioned goal midway through the second half.

Maddie was amazing in goal - to the extent that when I substituted her for Emma with a minute to go, she was clapped all the way off the pitch by the home support - a very generous display of sportsmanship which Maddie completely deserved.

The goal came when Rachel created enough space on the left near the half way line to find Iola in the centre. Iola hit a brilliant through ball for Tilly who ran into the D, drew the keeper and then slipped the ball across to an unmarked Mia who had the simple task of rolling the ball into the net to set off a very excited response both on and off the pitch. A classic goal built on the team's ability to work together which has been their strength all season.

No one should be disappointed by the result, or their performances. Everyone did their best, but sometimes you play a better team.

Nothing should detract from the magnitude of the achievement of getting to the semi-finals in the first place. This incredible squad (including Amelia Stevens, Millie Gates and Grace Wilkinson who appeared in earlier rounds - but who for a variety of reasons we were unable to take with us) have the potential to go a long way in hockey, and I have no doubt that many of them will be playing National League in a few years time.

It is also an incredible achievement for a club of our size to even be competing against Belper at all, not to mention beating Bournemouth and Guildford teams and being alongside Surbiton and Reading in the semi-finals.

Thanks to all the parents (and John Thompson!) for travelling to the game and providing such brilliant support. Thanks to Nathan Butler for umpiring so well (and once again giving every impression of being the senior umpire aged 17! - another destined for National League I think).