Thank you to all the players and parents who came along today. It was a fantastic match, with brilliant performances from both our U14s and U12s players.

The Wildcats started strongly, displaying great skill and composure, with excellent passing and effective use of the full width of the pitch. The first quarter was evenly contested, with the Panthers looking dangerous in attack but repeatedly thwarted by a solid defensive line of Sephy, Kat, Delphine and Rowan.

The Wildcats responded well, with Odette, Floss and Ottie demonstrating excellent technical skills on the ball. The breakthrough finally came in the second quarter when Mia fired home a superb tomahawk from a short corner. Ruby then doubled the lead, finishing off a beautifully weighted pass from Floss to make it 2-0 at half-time.

The Wildcats came out strongly in the second half but were initially held at bay by a determined Panthers defence, with Arabella, Isla, Kate and Thea proving difficult to break down. In midfield, Georgia, Poppy and Lauren kept the ball moving well, linking play effectively and feeding Lana on the wing, who made a number of impressive runs that showcased both her pace and skill.

Ottie then broke free to score a superb goal before Ruby added a fourth. The Panthers continued to battle hard, with Molly, Darcie and Daisy showing real tenacity and skill in midfield to win possession and create opportunities. After several near misses, Vivian's persistence and skill were rewarded when she confidently swept the ball home to pull one back.

The Wildcats responded immediately, with Francesca driving forward at pace before finding Milla, whose grit and determination led the final attack. Esther then applied the finishing touch with a well-taken goal in the fourth quarter to secure a 5-1 victory.

Special mention must go to our U12 goalkeepers: Marina, Ellie, Caitlyn and Harlyn. Wow! They were all brilliant. It's no small feat standing in front of a hockey ball travelling at speed, but all four rose to the challenge with confidence and determination. Well done, girls!

What made the day even more special was that 12 of our 20 players were from the younger U12s squad, and were playing on a full-sized pitch for the first time. Despite a few pre-match nerves, they quickly settled into the game, looked completely at home, and should be incredibly proud of themselves.

A huge thank you to team captains Molly and Esther, and to all the coaches for their support and encouragement from the sidelines.
I hope all the girls enjoyed the experience.
Vicki