Date: Saturday 24th August 2024, 12:00
MOM: K Surendran
Goals: -
Stokesley 1s opened their pre-season with an away game to a mixed City of York 1s/2s squad. Playing four quarters and with two debutants in the squad - Kris and Dhruv - the plan was to focus on trialling dune different shapes and building fitness.
The first two quarters saw relatively few chances against the boys in yellow with the midfield and defence breaking down York attacks well. Going forward we were creative and looked remarkably well structured for the first game of the season, but multiple circle entries were not rewarded with a goal.
In the second half York's significantly larger squad size started to bear fruit, and while Stokesley continued to break into the circle, it was the opposition that opened the scoring. A crash ball through a stretched Stokesley midfield fell to the York striker (who might or might not have made controlled it with his foot) ego shot past Phil Morgan in goal from left D.
Stokesley continued to fight into the final quarter, but tiring legs opened space down the left side for a player to dribble into the D before the ball fell free for a waiting poacher to score a reverse stick shot. Stokesley win two second half penalty corners neither of which reached the intended flicker (see below).
Lots of positives from the performance overall: holding a team comprising a large number of players from YNE Premier to a tight game, two presses drilled in anger, a leg & lung stretcher in early pre season.
Man of the Match was won narrowly by Kris over fellow debutant Dhruv following a hard working, gritty performance in midfield. Donkey of the Day went to Phil Rose for enduring some major issues with the penalty corner injection spot.
Next game: Newcastle M1 - Away (Sunday 1st September 2024, 12:30 push back)
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