Airedale Hockey Club

Airedale Hockey Club’s under 12 team capped an impressive season with a 5^th placed finish in the national finals last Saturday in Cannock, winning three of their five matches.

Sporting new jerseys adorned with logos from major sponsors Skipton-based  Oldfield Group and Keighley-based Mitchell Farrar, the Keighley-based outfit secured 5^th place with a cool penalty-shoot out victory against Leicester after a tense 3-3 draw. Airedale players George Bell, Matthew Ramshaw and Oscar Schofield made no mistake from the spot with keeper Edward Stewart saving one, sending the 50-strong Airedale supporters – easily the largest and noisiest contingent at the tournament – into a frenzy.

Earlier, Airedale came third in a strong group which comprised teams from Beeston (National league runners up) , National league clubs Old Loughtonians and Oxford Hawks. The other opponents Avalon has no senior teams but is based at the world famous sports school Millfield, who this year have provided  nine international hockey players at various age groups. Airedale were clearly the underdogs in terms of resources, having only a handful of players .  With one game to play in the pool Airedale still had a chance to make the Bronze medal final but Avalon only managing a draw with Oxford Hawks meant we had to play for a very respectable 5^th place finish.

Airedale started strongly against their first opponents Oxford, with Alex Blake and Ramshaw showcasing their impressive array of dribbling, tackling and passing talents. However, after Oxford took the lead at the end of the first half, Airedale could not break down their opponents despite substitute Waseem Qureshi’s hard work up-front in the second half.

In their second game, the young team, including eight players from Bradley near Skipton, responded with a solid 1-0 win against Nottinghamshire giants Beeston.  After Ramshaw scored a well executed penalty corner, some well-timed interceptions from defender Robbie Campbell and a heroic goal-line clearance from Connor Harrison kept Beeston at bay. Tireless work from striker Edward Washington kept the pressure up and Airedale came out 1-0 victors.

Buoyed by this win, Airedale were quick off the blocks in their third game against Bristol-based Avalon but after conceding a first goal against the run of play, Airedale conceded another three  to lose 4-0 against the eventual losing finalists.

Airedale did not let the defeat against Avalon weigh on their minds, and showed great maturity against an improving Old Loughtonians team to secure a 1-0 win. Keeper Stewart made a series of crucial saves including a point-blank effort from the opposition’s striker. Airedale oozed confidence with Schofield and Washington both coming close and Harrison starring in defence. Harry Conn capped a lung-busting performance by robbing a Loughtonians defender and slipping the ball to Blake, who finished a trademark mazy dribble with a cool finish to score.

In a ding-dong final play-off game against Leicester, Airedale quickly conceded two goals and were saved from conceding a third by a Qureshi goal-line clearance and some athletic saves from Stewart. However, Airedale settled into their rhythm and forwards Bell and Conn both came close. The large crowd were further rewarded with some pulsating action and two characteristically stylish goals from Ramshaw. After Leicester scored a third, Ramshaw scored the goal of the tournament – a breathtaking lofted flick which sailed over the defence and two inches under the bar – to take the game to penalties.

After George Bell slotted a powerful shot into the bottom corner of the net, Stewart kept a cool head to deny Leicester with a save.  Ramshaw stepped up to put a vicious shot passed a motionless Leicester keeper.  Leicester scored with their second but Oscar Schofield settled the competition putting the ball wide of the keeper and into the net.

The competition final was a west country affair with Bath Buccaneers edging Avalon 1-0 in a high quality match.  The medals and trophies were presented by GB squad member Laura Unsworth who herself had been playing in this competition only a few years ago.  There is no doubt that with the talent on show at this tournament, there will be many future internationals who will know who Airedale are.

Airedale would like to thank all the sponsors who helped to make this a fantastic experience for the boys. Mitchell Farrer, Oldfield Lighting, AutoSpot, C3, Paul Waite Associates and the Turkey Inn at Goose Eye.