Men's 1st Team Vs Pershore

Before the game both sides had been looking for their first win of the season in the Warwick Printing Hockey League West Midlands Division 1.

Both teams began quite brightly but it was  the visitors who edged an early lead. Yardley soon pulled one back from a well taken short corner when skipper Zach Jarvis scored a well taken equaliser. Pershore showed their intent and took the lead again midway through the half when a shot on goal was parried away by Yardley keeper. The ball fell to a Pershore forward who had a fairly easy task to score from this rebound. The visitors continued to show plenty of positive forward play but Yardley were responding with some resolute defending. Right on half time a Yardley attack led to something of a goalmouth scramble but Ed Reid was on hand to score a simple goal to keep the home side well in the game at the break.

Early in the second half Yardley nosed in front when they profited from a somewhat bizarre Pershore own goal. ( I know the new rules say that own goals are no longer to count – so Noor Zaman is credited with the goal ). This stung the visitors into action and very soon they had levelled the scores again and then continued to their positive intent. One of Pershore’s attacks led to a somewhat fortunate goal when a shot on target was only partially cleared into the path of  oncoming forward who calmly slotted the ball into the net. Pershore should have made the game safe when they were awarded a penalty flick after a foot infringement on the line. However, Yardley keeper, Neal Makepeace saved well to keep his side  in the game. However, after a brief spell of Yardley pressure it was Pershore who ensured that all three points were to be theirs. A cross from the left deflected its way through the Yardley defence to a forward standing in the centre of the goal for an easy tap-in.

In the end Pershore probably deserved the points but Yardley will take heart from a spirited performance to take into their next game when they visit Droitwich who are also still looking for their first win.