Hockey: IoM U18's praised for fighting spirit in EH semi-final defeat

Manx side beaten in semi-finals by Folkestone Optimist

The coaching team of the Isle of Man Under-18 Girls hockey team says it's proud of the squad's efforts as they fell to defeat in the semi-finals of the junior England Hockey Championships.

The Island side were beaten 6-0 at the hands of Folkestone Optimist Under-18's during the last-four phase of the EH U18 Girls Tier 2 Plate on Sunday, 16 March.

Facing a Folkestone side who'd conceded just two goals so far in the competition, the Isle of Man squad found itself 4-0 down inside the opening 30 minutes.

Further damage was avoided before the break as Valkyrs goalkeeper Robyn Stones successfully denied a Folkestone Optimist penalty stroke to keep the visitors in with a shout.

Despite an upturn in the second period in which the Isle of Man began to dictate possession they were unable to convert any of the multiple penalty corner chances they created.

They'd be further punished in the second half as Folkestone Optimist grabbed two more goals to progress to the final.

The Isle of Man girls sides' journey in the competition followed a penalty shootout win over Brooklands-Poynton in January before a home victory over Northallerton in February.

Earlier in the campaign the Isle of Man team had also been part of two fixtures in the EH U18 Tier 2 KO Championship tournament.

The first was a victory at Preston in October 2024 before a penalty shootout defeat at home to Chorley Phoenix in November.