Crostyx Girls U14s vs Old Loughtonians – October 8, 2023

For anyone questioning the value of a junior academy, this match should have been required viewing. Crostyx U14s offered a masterclass of game control from the get-go: with fast, clean and clinical hockey, they were up 3-0 by the end of the first quarter, 5-1 by half time and 10-2 at the final whistle.
Right from the start the goals came thick and fast, ranging from opportunistic tap-ins to well-worked manoeuvres stemming from the breakdown of Old Loughts’ attacks in midfield followed by rapid movement of the ball to the right and upfield, culminating in the inevitable pullback and strike to the corner.
Alice Richardson opened the scoring with an assist from Maddie Smallshaw, swiftly followed by goals from Annie Duck, Roxani Delaney, Richardson again and Ornella Sandford. Although Old Loughtonians pulled one back shortly before half time, the Crostyx Crazies struck again immediately following the break, through Richardson (with two strikes in succession).
Again Old Loughtonians managed to claw another back, but it wasn’t enough to bring them into the game. The final few minutes saw a slew of Crostyx goals from Richardson, Hattrell and Richardson yet again to complete her double hat-trick.
This young team reunites the core group of juniors that has been so successful at Essex U12 level in recent years. On this, their first real outing in 11-a-side hockey as a group, the U14s girls have signalled that they mean business this season.
Surely a squad for senior captains to monitor closely.