Badgers Vs Kings Heath Pickwick

This was the rearranged fixture from last week when the snow forced a cancellation.

The Badgers had a guest adult keeper this week, Anthony from the 2nds, who was very much under constant pressure throughout the whole game. Kings Heath had three very well drilled players who put Yardley under constant pressure and forced the defence and midfield to stay deep for long periods of the game.

Yardley did get breakaways as the visitors pushed high but the visitors’ sole adult tidied up all of the attacks. The home team put in a great amount of effort and battled hard to keep a clean sheet. Which lasted for thirty minutes.  Unfortunately, Yardley's central defender sustained a hit to his leg from a penalty corner shot and as he left the field to get treatment no Yardley player covered the position and on the next attack Kings Heath had a player over to slot the ball away. 1:0 down at half time Yardley tried to establish a playing formation but without their coach (Umpire in game) on the side-lines guiding the team it quickly resulted in again loss of structure and eventually in Kings Heath's second goal. Not long after, another Yardley player got injured getting a ball hit high at him from a Kings Heath pass. The ball caught his finger awkwardly and he couldn't carry on playing.

With ten minutes left Yardley started to get more positive attacks of their own, actually over-running the adult defender and charging towards goal but unfortunately these shots went wayward. The visitors were tired and our three substitutes continually rotating, kept the home team fresh right up until the final whistle. Yardley Badgers' always have tough games against Kings Heath and as always, the Yardley team never gave up. They all worked for each other tirelessly. A brave display and as the school holidays start they can get a deserved rest ready for the away game at Cannock in two weeks’ time.