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Bubbles' Blog
Hi! I'm Bubbles, mascot of the Under 9's team. The team is brand new for the 07/08 season and will give our youngest players the chance to play in some proper competitive matches. There isn't a league for this age group so we are going to be playing some friendly matches against the under 9's team from Herne Bay.
My first important job is to introduce you to the team. They are: Tom Barton, Connor Botting, Luca Commentucci, Jocie Greenwood, Jamie McVey and Callum Upton. Tom, Connor and Jocie all played for the Adders or Vipers in the ECRHA league last season so have plenty of match experience. Callum played one tournament as an outfield player but has now taken on the role of goalkeeper, while Luca and Jamie haven't played any proper tournaments but are full of enthusiasm!
Throughout the season I'll be reporting from all of our matches to let you know how the team get on.
My paws are crossed for a fun and enjoyable season.
My under 9's were among the eighteen players who went to St Omer. On the Saturday we played two games. In the first one Tom was captain and he began the game with some nice passes to and from Connor. We scored the first goal through Connor and soon got another when Jamie scored from Tom's rebounded shot. Callum did some good saves when our defence didn't get back in time and then Tom scored again. St Omer shot wide but then managed to score after winning two sticks. We got another goal straight from the restart thanks to Tom and he scored another not long after. St Omer got a couple of shots on goal but they didn't go in and we finished the half 5-1 up.
Unfortunately our defence gave out at the start of the second half and St Omer got two quick goals so it was great that Tim scored again. Both sides were having chances to score with Luca and Connor trying really hard. Despite the team's efforts St Omer were the only ones to find the net again although right at the end we thought Connor would score from Tom's rebound. Sadly he didn't but we won the game 6-4.
The kids were provided with some food and drink between their games and they all said the cake was very nice! Jamie was captain for the second game and we started well. Tom won the two sticks and flicked the ball over the 'keeper to score. St Omer scored the next two goals, the first because we had no defence and the second deflected in off the post. Tom soon had the scores evened up with another nice flick over the goalie. We had to play in defence for a while with Connor and Jamie tackling well and Callum doing a number of good saves. Tom then got two goals in the space of about thirty seconds and Luca tried to add another which gave us a half time lead of 4-2.
St Omer began the second half with a shot at goal. It bounced off Callum's helmet and unfortunately went in. Jocie then got hit on the chin when a ball bounced off a stick so she had to go off. Tom scored his final goal of the day before St Omer struck the post several times. Despite some good saves, and shots from Jamie and Tom, it was St Omer who scored the only other goal but we defended well to win again 5-4.
After the matches the team went to McDonalds or Buffalo Grill on the outskirts of St Omer for something to eat and then went to the hotel to watch the end of the rugby. England were losing when we got back but snatched victory at the end. We weren't sure how the French would react but they were very good about it! With eighteen kids plus all the parents it was very crowded at breakfast but after something to eat we went back to the rink for a training session. The under 9's and the girls trained together first and finished with a short game. The teams were made up of a mixutre of French and English players. Then they had some more of that nice cake and watched the older players train.
It was a great weekend and everyone enjoyed it. I saw Jon taking notes at the training session so I'm sure some of the exercises will appear at Sunday training!
I went to watch my under 9's play Herne Bay again at their Wednesday evening training session. We played one match this time and Jocie was able to join the team, although we had Joe as our goalkeeper as Callum wasn't able to be at the match. Connor was captain for the match. Herne Bay's goalkeeper was playing for the first time which was very brave of him.
We started very stongly with Jamie scoring almost straight away. When Herne Bay attacked our defence was not very good but thankfully Tom got back to prevent them getting a chance to score. Most of the rest of the half was spent in attack. Tom scored the second after a good passing move when he was ready for the rebound. Jocie got a shot on goal but Tom scored again next with a lovely flick over the 'keeper. Some good passing followed with all of the team working well together. Tom scored his hat-trick with a repeat of his second goal - another great flick. Luca had a good shot on goal but the half ended at 4-0.
For the second half we swapped over the goalkeepers but that was all that changed. We were still in attack most of the time and began with several shots on goal from Tom and Connor. Tom then scored when his shot went in off the inside of the post. The game continued with more shots from Tom, Jocie and Connor and some good passing, especially between Jocie and Luca, but we were unable to add any more goals and the game ended at 5-0.
Herne Bay have been working on their defence since our first matches and they were a stonger side in this game. We still need to work on our defending as when Herne Bay did attack we had no-one back to cover. Perhaps we can work on this in France at the weekend! It was an enjoyable game though with some good hockey to watch and well done to Herne Bay's new goalkeeper!
My next report will be after our French trip this weekend.
The Under 9's played their first matches at the Pier and I was there to cheer them on. We played two matches against Herne Bay. Unfortunately their goalkeeper broke his arm two days ago so we loaned them Joe Upton so that the matches could take place. We were missing Jocie so Charley from the Adders joined us for these matches. Luca was our captain for the day.
In the first match we started wtih Tom, Connor, Jamie and Charley on the rink. The game started very well with a shot on goal from Connor and one from Tom. The team were passing well and Tom got another shot on goal but it was Connor who scored the first ever under 9 goal with just under three minutes gone. Luca then defended well with Charley clearing out of the box. A great pass from Luca to Tom gave Tom a chance for a shot but Charley scored next just under halfway through the first half. At the whistle for the restart Tom tackled the ball from Herne Bay, skated for goal and scored. Tom and Connor did some good passing with Tom getting another shot before Luca and Jamie had to defend well. Luca and Tom both had shots on goal before Charley scored her second with a minute to go until half time. Jamie's tackle allowed Tom to go for goal but his shot was deflected off Joe's head so the half ended 4 - 0.
The second half began with Luca, Jamie, Connor and Charley playing. Jamie had a good run up the rink and Luca had a shot at goal. Jamie and Charley both tried to score but couldn't. We had a good spell of possession but Herne Bay were defending better and nobody could make any attempt on goal. As the game freed up a bit the team were able to get some good passing moves in with Connor and Tom both trying for goals. Jamie and Connor defended well and Connor then passed to Tom who scored again. Lots more shots from Connor and Tom followed but none went in, thanks on one occasion to Joe's head again! The game ended at 5 - 0.
The second game followed straight on from the first so the team had to work really hard today! We started with Tom, Luca, Charley and Jamie on the rink. Straight away Tom had two shots on goal. Unluckily Luca couldn't quite make the rebound but he soon tried a shot of his own, as did Charley. Charley tried again and scored with three minutes gone. At the restart Connor got the ball but his shot missed. Charley got the rebound but hit the post. Tom and Connor had several shots each before Connor tackled the ball off Herne Bay and passed to Tom, who scored with just less than half of the first half remaining. Luca and Jamie tackled well as did Connor who got a pass to Charley. She skated up the rink but couldn't get her shot in. Herne Bay then had a shot as our defence failed to get back but it went wide and didn't trouble Callum. Connor and Charley both tried shots on goal. Luca defended well allowing Jamie to try a shot which just missed the goal. Luca passed well to Connor but he couln't quite get to it. Then, with just five seconds left in the half, Tom made it 3 - 0.
Tom, Charley, Jamie and Connor started the second half. Jamie had a shot and then Herne Bay tried to score. The team had a bit of defence to do but Tom and Jamie were soon back in attack again. Tom managed to get another shot saved by Joe's head before Jamie did a great run up the whole rink. There was a good passing move from Tom to Connor and then Jamie who tried to score followed by Charley and Connor. Joe came out of his goal to defend another attack and Connor made the most of the empty net to score again with three and a half minutes left to play. Tom and Jamie again shot on goal, Jamie mananging to connect with his rebound. Callum then had his only action of the two games having to make a stop which Connor then cleared allowing Charley a shot on goal. It didn't go in but her next shot did. There were just under two minutes left to go so Tom and Connor again tried to add to our total but the game ended at 5 - 0.
Everybody watching was very impressed with the team's performance. They played some excellent hockey, passed well and nearly always remembered to have someone covering at the back. Well done team, a great start!!
Herne Bay are hoping to organise our next matches for one of their Wednesday evening training sessions so I'll be reporting from that. We are also travelling to St Omer in France next month for some training and matches and my next report will follow that weekend.
Herne Bay United took part in the Herne Bay Carnival this year and three of my under 9's team were there along with the under 11's and some of the older players. We also had a number of the club's adult helpers with us.
It was a lovely sunny evening and as you can see from my picture I was carried around on one of the buckets, although I look like I'm about to fall out! It was fun although I had to watch out for the money being thrown in.
There were lots of people all round the route and as well as collecting money we gave out loads of leaflets. Maybe my next under 9's team will be some of those kids who will decide to try roller hockey having seen how much fun our entry were having!
It was a great evening and we are looking forward to next year's carnival.
There are some move pictures on the
carnival page.
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