Badgers Vs Cannock

Cannock Badgers 1 v 1 Yardley Badgers

Goal Scorer:  Kyle Francis

Yardley turned up with 9 eager players at the home of Midlands Hockey on the excellent water based Astro. A few ill players and five others committed to school based projects left our squad depleted but not down hearted. We apologised / mentioned to our hosts, we had 9 but that we were still keen to play. After their Captain had taken a brief stock of his team, he generously loaned Jake and Arian to us and they played fantastically up front for the whole game.

Having the teams all even (eleven a side) made it a much more enjoyable game and a very competitive affair, which both teams enjoyed whole heartedly.

Both teams had two adults, coaching and guiding the teams shape. This guidance was needed, as  in the first five minutes Yardley’s midfield were all over the place. The left side was  switching to the right and vice versa. Then the whole midfield were drifting to the side the ball was on and crowding one side. Eventually they calmed down and maintained their shape discipline.

Yardley had the better of the first half and were unlucky to only score one with our guest Jake getting very close with the keeper quickly closing him down. The visitors’ pressure eventually told after a spell of five penalty corners in a space of five minutes. On the back foot the home team tried to pass the ball from the back through the midfield but time and again the Yardley speed in midfield broke up their play. The goal came from a dubious deflected lifted ball by John Ballard which fell into a group of players and Kyle not waiting for a whistle hit the ball in. It was slightly miss hit and bobbled into the goal but a deserved lead for the visitors.   

A goal down and ten minutes left in the half the Cannock adults pushed high and got the Cannock young strikers more involved in the game. But again the Yardley back line of Edan, Ethan and Jack in goal (this week) thwarted the chances with great defending and calm clearances. Going into the halftime in the lead was promising but the pressure never eased in the second half and the Yardley defence was under pressure for long spells. The midfield dropped deeper to assist the defence and all worked hard to keep the lead. Two scares from breakaways in the first ten minutes of the second half was a sign of Cannock’s intent.

The Yardley midfield was now tiring with all the running and their maximum effort in the first forty five minutes. Chasing the ball, closing down opponents and running with the ball were simply sapping the strength. If the team had held their shape more rigidly and got the ball doing the work they may have gone on and scored a few more. Alas tired legs eventually led to Cannock’s equaliser which was hit powerfully low past Jack at his far post. Cannock only won one penalty corner throughout the game, and this was expertly defended by the four on the line. Cannock had more possession this half but Yardley still had chances, breakaways and again won three more penalty corners.

It was a very friendly but highly competitive affair and all players on both teams were tested and were asked questions of themselves. All Yardley players should be proud of their display and effort; we will look forward to visiting this Cannock team again next season.