U16 Boys - Tier 2 London South League 2023 Winners!

Unbeaten in the league this season, the U16 boys performance team needed to get the better of Blackheath & Elthamians (BEHC) to ensure they would finish in top position. Despite BEHC only having one win so far this year, the boys approached the game with the same mentality as all the others, taking nothing for granted. Quite a late start and a light drizzle was the backdrop for this final league match of 2023.

The match started well with BromBeck having most of the possession, leaving home side slightly bewildered. When they did find themselves with the ball it was quickly taken back. The new mantra for forwards to get shots away if in the D, was paying off and within the first few minutes there had been several attempts on goal and the first of the match's nine short corners being won in the 5th minute. The set piece was executed perfectly and Noah (with the help of one the defenders) found the backboard opening the account for the visitors. Not long after, with the play pretty much contained in the BEHC half, Fynn bagged his first goal in a lovely run of individual skill, gently lifting the ball over the keeper. 0 - 2 in the first quarter. Over the course of the rest of the half, BromBeck won another four short corners but a mixture of good goalkeeping and not so efficient execution, meant the score remained unchanged at the end of the first 30 minutes.

If it could have got any better in the second half, it did. After a tactical team talk during the break, the passes seemed to be coming together better and there was a real hunger to ramp up the scoreline. Callum was first to extend the lead with a tap in behind the keeper, followed only minutes later by Fynn taking advantage of a cross from Teo right into the D, to notch up his second. BromBeck kept up the pressure on the home team winning another short corner in the 39th minute. The keeper blocked Jake's shot, sending the ball high in the air only for Teo to take it under control, slip it left to Toby who was perfectly positioned and made no mistake in burying the ball in the BEHC goal. As much as the home side tried to get the ball out of their half, BromBeck did not let them get far , with every player putting a shift in. Jamie's quick reactions in the 42nd minute, got him on the end of a loose ball in the D from a Fynn cross to take the score to 6 without reply. Fynn got his hat trick in the 55th minute in a textbook move, being exactly in the right place to receive the cross from Toby and take the game well beyond reach. The home side did not give up and battled for the last quarter but BromBeck were too strong and they could not find a way through.

A decisive victory to win the league is perfect preparation for the T2 Cup Final next week - confidence but not complacency. Ashby will be far tougher opposition but if the boys play the way they played today, they are in an excellent place to face a Cup final. For a number of the boys, it will be the last match they play in junior hockey - what a way to finish! Congratulations to all the boys - winning the league, undefeated is a fantastic achievement. You can enjoy all the goals on the Overview tab.

Thanks to Ben for his commitment, his coaching and his game management - much of the success today was straight off the training ground. Thanks too, to Ed Warner for coming to umpire. With BEHC unable to find a second umpire, this match may not have taken place.

MJ