Being in a big group of 6 teams, with only the top 2 qualifying, it was always going to be a big ask for the boys to follow up on last years runners up achievement, but they got off to a steady start with a respectable 0-0 draw against Trojans. They followed this up with a very satisfying 2-0 win against Fareham, when they really began to find some form and play well as a team. Had they continued to play that well in the following game against Andover they would have undoubtedly done better than the 0-0 draw that was the result, however the boys went into the final two games having not conceded a goal and knowing they still had a chance to qualify. Romsey were the next opposition, and an incredibly close game looked to be heading to a 1-1 draw until Patrick Diplock found enough space on the wing to send a pinpoint cross into the D, which was met superbly by Callum Coxhead who turned it past the keeper to give Yateley the win in the last minute of the game. A draw in the final game against Fleet and Ewshot was enough to see them qualify for the semis in second place in the group.
The semi final was a very close game and could have gone either way, and unfortunately it went the way of Alton with a narrow 1-0 win, so the boys had to pick themselves up for the 3rd place playoff against Petersfield. Having gone behind, they showed huge belief to pull it back to 1-1, and then scored another to take the lead. Almost immediately they were pegged back to all square again, so to the dreaded penalties it went. All 3 of the Yateley penalty takers showed a cool head and clinical finishing to slot the ball wide of the keeper, and with Petersfield having missed their first, there was no need for the final penalty and the boys were ecstatic to finish 3rd. To illustrate how close the top teams were, the winners were Romsey, the team who we had beaten during the group stages. Every single one of them put everything they had into all 7 games today, they played some fantastic hockey, and we’re hugely proud of all of them.