U10 Boys - County Runners Up

Hot off the success from the Foxcubs Tournament the U10’s headed for the County Tournament, for the first time playing as single sex teams.

The boys had shaky start against Oxford conceding the first goal,. Bicester found their team spirit and took the game to Oxford and made sure they saw nothing more of the Bicester goal. Several near misses from the team went wide including chances for George Mallam and Claydon Cummings, however with time ticking away they finally found the equaliser through Harry Tynan.

There was much trepidation over the second game against Wallingford who were responsible for one of only two defeats this season. However once they started Bicester found confidence in their own capabilities and started to assert their authority. 6 goals later, two for Keiran Matthews, one for Issac Findlay and a hattrick for Charlie Weedon, any doubts were long gone and Bicester were well in their stride.

To secure the next stage a win was needed against Banbury and a win was what we got, another hattrick for Charlie Weedon and another for Keiran Matthews comfortably secured the move forward to the Semi-finals.

Now into the Semi-Finals the team faced tougher opposition against a second Wallingford side, however with the efforts of Harry Innes and Freddie Clark in defence, goalkeeper Ben Watton remained largely a spectator. George Birtles, content thus far as the midfield anchor, got his name on the score sheet with the first and a spectacular diving reverse stick sweep from Issac Findlay secured the win.

Now into the final the team knew qualification for the regionals was in the bag but there remained a Hawks team between them and the trophy.

A back and forth final ensued. Hawks scored first but Bicester weren’t beaten yet. The game ebbed and flowed with neither team able to dominate the game and to the delight of the crowd of parents Bicester found the equaliser. However Hawks had the last word and a near perfect Penalty Corner routine ended with a strike that no-one could do anything about.

The boys were finally beaten and finished runners-up but will travel to the regional finals representing Oxfordshire.