Despite missing a couple of key players, the Essex Under 16 Boys hockey team rose to the challenge in their first matches in the East Region County Championship.

In the first game against Hertfordshire, they created numerous opportunities putting a lot of pressure on the Hertfordshire defence.

Adam Paterson and Warren D Souza used all of their skills to create opportunities in the D or get short corners.

In total Essex had ten short corners but they could not convert any of them. The ball was moved around the pitch at speed and the squad controlled most of the match.

The Essex defence kept everything tight and created plenty of attacking opportunities.

Despite their efforts it finished in a goalless draw.

In the match against Cambridge (who had just drawn 1-1 against Herts) Essex grew in confidence and with a few changes in the line up they looked strong.

A number of shorts were won, but this time with Mark Banting taking the strike he scored after 20 minutes. Just before half time the second goal came from a short corner rebound put away by Elliott Seleska.

Essex kept up the pressure creating an increased number of goal scoring opportunities.

Repeated attacks in the D finally resulted in a penalty flick which Luke Mepham calmly put away and another goal was put away by Rob Hartley to make it 4-0 to Essex.

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