Bradford U12's: Round 2 - Boar Spirit!

The Bradford U12's arrived at Slazengers with a resilient squad, brilliantly supported by our dedicated U10 players. Every game was a fight, and the team showed incredible heart and defensive strength throughout the day.

Match 1: Bradford v Halifax (0-3) - Erin’s Wall

The opening whistle saw Bradford establish a strong defensive posture against a speedy Halifax side. Goalkeeper Erin immediately set the tone, pulling off two breathtaking saves that had the crowd roaring! Halifax finally found the net at the five-minute mark from a penalty corner. When they earned a second corner shortly after, the Bradford defence, marshalled by Erin, stood absolutely firm and cleared the danger. Despite the tireless effort from the entire team, Halifax found a gap to score a second goal. Bradford responded instantly, launching a couple of rapid, strong attacks that put the Halifax defence under pressure for the first time. Halifax stole a third goal with just two minutes left, but the narrative of this match belonged to our keeper—Erin owned the D!

Final Score: Bradford 0 – 3 Halifax

Match 2: Bradford v Aire Valley (0-4) - Battling the Press

Bradford faced a highly organised Aire Valley team who came out with an intense, early press, netting a couple of quick goals. Our midfield and attack fought hard but struggled to consistently break through the compact Aire Valley press. The pressure led to a penalty corner at the seven-minute mark, which Aire Valley converted for their third. A tactical substitution saw fresh legs injected into the game as Scarlett and Finley made way for Jack and Elsie. Despite the team's relentless chase, Aire Valley caught us on the counter, with an unsighted reverse stick shot sneaking through for their fourth. The Bradford players showed outstanding stamina and resilience, never letting their heads drop against a very strong opponent.

Final Score: Bradford 0 – 4 Aire Valley

Match 3: Bradford v Ben Rhydding (0-0) - Defensive Masterclass

What a nail-biter! Bradford delivered a solid, disciplined start that led to a fiercely balanced contest. The action was electric, swinging rapidly between both ends of the pitch as the teams cancelled each other out. At the five-minute mark, Ben Rhydding won the first penalty corner of the match—but our defence was absolutely resolute! They defended the corner with power and precision, quickly winning back possession and shutting down the threat. This was a relentless, tactical clash where neither side could find a way through. A superb demonstration of defensive hockey by Bradford, culminating in a hard-earned and well-deserved point!

Final Score: Bradford 0 – 0 Ben Rhydding

Match 4: Bradford v Leeds (1-4) - The Breakthrough Goal!

The final match against Leeds saw us under immediate pressure. Goalkeeper Erin was again heroic, holding the line as best she could! A dazzling break from Charlie S briefly gave Bradford a scoring chance, but Leeds defended well and quickly countered to open the scoring. Two more goals followed in rapid succession as the Leeds attack found their rhythm, taking the score to 3-0, followed by a fourth from a clever baseline run. But Bradford responded with sheer brilliance! A fantastic move down the left wing saw Seb control the ball and feed a perfect pass to Austen, who drove a powerful cross into the D. The keeper managed to stop the initial shot, but Charlie was ready, pouncing on the rebound and smashing the ball into the net for Bradford’s first goal of the day! A magnificent moment of teamwork and determination!

Final Score: Bradford 1 – 4 Leeds