New Season, New Kit - Batley HC Returns!

We’re back! We’ve got a great new kit and we look ace! Now all we had to do was back that up with a win.

We met for our first friendly of the season at Adel. With a team of 13 and 4 whole actual defenders, things are looking good for the 15/16 season. This also meant that I was back in midfield, I always struggle to remember what happened in the game when I play here!

While we were off for the summer, the Hockey Associated decided to change all the rules. So we decided to play four 15 minutes quarters – although this particular change hasn’t made it down to normal league hockey it would mean that we could stop and take stock frequently of how the game was going and we had time to go over any new rules that we didn’t understand. (It was also handy because we’re all a bit fat and unfit after a summer off!!)

The game started quickly, Adel looked to have a strategy that made it feel like there was about 15 of them on the pitch at once. They were pulling us out of position and making good use of the space.

We were really good on the break though, and managed to get the ball out of our half and push some great attacks. The first GOAL came from a great cross into the D, Jo was there to make the most of it and Batley were 1-0 up!

Play continued to be quite even, Adel were still pulling us out of position and draw our left and right midfielders in to the middle of the pitch. Somehow still having enough players free to sneak round behind us. I’m still not sure how this was happening – magic maybe.

Our second GOAL came from Rach who left the Adel defence behind in a great run putting Batley 2-0 up before half time.

Helen and the defence made some great saves, and definitely kept us in the game. We found ourselves in trouble a few times throughout the game. We gave away a few shorts, but dealt with them all really well.

In the quarter following half time, we had a really difficult 15 minutes, we panicked and allowed Adel to play their game too well. We struggled in this period to keep a clean sheet, but managed thanks to Helen and the defence.

In the final quarter, there was some confusion when Newby went on the pitch while she should have been substituted, giving us a minute or so of 12 players. Oops.

One of the last few breaks for Batley saw Vicky in centre forwards position, a great run on to a ball in space put her on a one on one with the keeper, Vicky kept her head and scored the third Batley GOAL of the game!

A great first match of the season for Batley and hopefully a good omen for the season to come!

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