Ladies U19 Final ReportThe Ladies team made history by finishing on the podium in 3rd place in the Ladies Under 19 European Championships, which was held in Mealhada, Portugal from 3rd - 5th September.
I am very pleased with the achievement of our team in this competition beating Germany 3-2 for 3rd places, considering we lost 6-3 in the group stages earlier, this result was an excellent reaction from our team.
On Saturday morning we played Spain, the eventual winners for 4th time in the row, and we lost 8-0.I decided to use a rotation system in this game to ensure the players would not be too tired for our evening game. Spain scored 2 goals in the first 5 minutes and although we defended well, we couldn't make many counter attacks. Our main problem was the lack of actual ball possession as well as a lot of inexperience from some of the newer players.
After the game against Spain we returned to the hotel to eat and then for a rest. We left for the sports centre so that we had a time for tactical meeting on how to play Germany and assessing the mistakes that cost us the 6 goals against Spain. The girls were well motivated for this game as they knew this would be a fantastic opportunity to make history for our sport.The team started on the rink very confidently with individual restricted pressure on the player with the ball, mainly the German captain, and this worked very well with our team scoring 3 goals before Germany then scored 1 goal just before half time (3-1).
The second half was a brilliant performance from the girls, showing a lot of passion to keep the score line in their favour and to combat a lot pressure that German team put upon us.
The final 3-2 result was well deserved by the team, as we prepared for this game very well after discussing what went wrong in our first encounter.
I am very proud of the girls regarding this 3rd place which I hope can motivate English roller hockey more to improve, even more specially the girls. Also, I would like to say that this team were excellent off the rink. We have made the right decision to take the team 3 days earlier to Feira for preparation having 5 sessions and 2 friendly games which helped to put the tactics in place and to build up team spirit off the rink.
Goal Scorers: Emma Gillett (2 goals) and Beth Cook
Ladies U19 Create History
A historical result for the England U19 Ladies team tonight (Saturday), in winning bronze at the Under 19's 2009 European Championships in Portugal.In their last match of the championships England beat Germany 3-2 (3-1 at half time), in the 3rd/4th playoff match.
Congratulations to all the girls and very well done.
Full report to follow.
Ladies U19 European Championship in Mealhada - Portugal
I am very pleased with the improvement since last year's European Championships.
The team have been very consistent on individual restricted defence although the counter attack is not working as well we would like, due to the other teams pressuring very well as soon we get the ball.
England 1 Spain 6 (Half-Time 0-4)
A very nervous start by the team in the very first game of the competition. We didn't have too much ball possession and although we defended well and concentrated hard, Spain still scored 4 goals in the first half. At half time I calmed the players down and asked them to enjoy the game as well as to carry on defending as well as we had done in the first half. We needed to have more ball possession as well as needing to skate off the ball more to create 2 passing lines. A great second half against last year champions saw us score our only goal and we had few goal opportunities.
Goal Scorer: Chloe Stevenson
England 1 Portugal 6 (Half Time 1-3)Another good performance against one the top teams in the world. In the first half we had Portugal under control. The result reflects the lack of concentration in certain moments of the game which cost us the goals. The second half was very similar to first half, with Portugal finding it hard to break down our defence system although they had a lot of ball possession.
Goal Scorer: Beth Cook
England 3 Germany 6 (Half time 2-3)
The second game of the day and a great response from the team regarding fitness. After the Portugal game I was expecting a team showing tiredness but after being 3-0 down to Germany, we came back strongly to 2-3 and we were the best team. This game was very strange because 2 of the 6 goals conceded were own goals, one scored with the skates and one from a deflection. Just one goal from Germany was scored from a set move. Of our 3 goals, one was our number 3 move and the other 2 were from moves that I asked the players to create from our time out team talk.
Goal Scorer: Beth Cook (3 goals)
Other Results:
Portugal 6-0 Germany
Spain 10-0 Germany
Spain 5-0 Portugal
Ladies U19's in PortugalFinal Squad:
- 1. Rachel Milne (Gk) - Cambridge
- 2. Jodi Patton - Middlesbrough
- 3. Anna Russell (Vice-Capt) - Plymouth
- 4. Beth Cook (Capt) - Middlesbrough
- 5. Emily Rawlinson - Bury
- 6. Chloe Stevenson - Middlesbrough
- 7. Louise Holland - Middlesbrough
- 8. Francesca Baker - Bury
- 9. Emma Gillett - Ely
- 10. Kasia Parfitt (Gk) - Kings Lynn
Manager - Dave Fothergill
Assistant Manager - Mandy Stevenson
The team will leave for Portugal this Sunday evening and will stay in Feira until Wednesday morning for final preparations. There will be four training sessions and two friendly games, against Gulpilhares Ladies Teams Seniors and their U19's. Then on Wednesday 2nd September we will depart for Mealhada to participate in the European Ladies U19's Championship on 3rd, 4th and 5th September.
The objectives for the stay in Feira are to train on a rink 40x20 metres, as well as to improve tactics and team spirit. Also we will have two competitive games which will give the team a very good warm up for the competition.
The team will return to England on Sunday morning 6th September.
Final Preparation Dates
We will fly to Portugal on Sunday 30th August to have 2 days preparation in Portugal before travelling from Feira to Mealhada.We will have 2 sessions each day on Monday and Tuesday with one game against Gulpilhares Ladies Seniors and the other against Gulpilhares U19 team. Then Wednesday morning will have one more session.
- Sunday 26th July - National Training Weekend
- Sunday 16th August - National Training Weekend
- Monday 31st August - Feira (2 sessions and one game)
- Tuesday 1st September - Feira (2 sessions and one game)
- Wednesday 2nd September - Feira (1 session) & Departure to Mealhada
- Thursday 3rd to Saturday 5th September - EURO U19 LADIES in Mealhada
- Sunday 6th September - Return to England