Boys U16 - Lions vs West Herts

Ealing and West Herts played out an action-packed and fast-paced match, with both sides producing moments of real quality.

Ealing started brightly and should have gone ahead early when Aanay missed a good chance. Moments later he made amends, finishing smartly after just five minutes to put Ealing 1–0 up.

West Herts responded well and soon levelled the score. Callum then went close for Ealing, before West Herts hit the post from a short corner after a sharp save. Ealing produced a well-executed short corner of their own, but it was West Herts who struck next: after a series of set pieces, they converted another short corner to take a 2–1 lead.

Aanay continued to threaten, forcing a strong save, and Ealing crafted a beautifully worked move into the D but couldn’t find the finish. West Herts, playing some of their best hockey, extended their lead to 3–1 before half-time.

Ealing pulled one back through Aanay, making it 3–2, and the hosts defended a late West Herts short corner excellently to stay within one at the break.

Ealing came out strong and created a great early opportunity, but couldn’t convert. The game developed into true end-to-end hockey, with both teams trading attacks. West Herts earned another short corner and, showing how well-drilled their routines were, forced two saves from Roman before finally scoring to make it 4–2.

Roman continued to shine, pulling off a superb stop from a lifted West Herts effort. Ealing then produced a brilliant move from the back, and Annay completed his hat-trick with a terrific finish, smashing home after a pinpoint assist from Oscar to close the gap to 4–3.

Ealing pushed again with another well-worked build-up but missed a key opportunity. With pressure building, West Herts earned yet another short corner and converted, restoring a two-goal cushion at 5–3.

That goal proved decisive, and despite Ealing’s effort to respond, the match finished Ealing 3–5 West Herts.