Men's 1st Team Vs Bromsgrove 2

Bromsgrove 2nds 2-2 Yardley 1stXI

Goalscorers: Noor Zaman x2

Yardley salvage a point after a brilliant fightback  in their final game of 2018.

Yardley 1stXI travelled to Bromsgrove in what would be their final game for 2018 before the winter break. Yardley started off brightly with good pressing in the midfield and some battles for early possession. Bromsgrove too, got off to a good start, calling Neal Makepeace into action early on who cleared the lines yet again to keep the scores 0-0. Alex, Jeevan and Zach started to link well in midfield with Paul and Noor holding the ball up well up front, with chances going wide early on.

Yardley began to grow into the game but were beaten on occasions by the ball bouncing over sticks on what was a bouncy pitch. Bromsgrove kept knocking on the door with Neal making further saves and Mat Bartlett saving 2 off the line to ensure Bromsgrove didn’t break the deadlock. Kyle and Harry experienced joy down the wings, Kyle playing in Zach who cut the ball well across goal, Jeevan unable to put it away at the back post. Harry won the ball well in the middle and had a shot on goal stopped by a defender’s foot, but a short corner was awarded. Yardley were unable to put the chance away. Down the other end, Noah and Ed pressed high and won several battles, taking away the ball and Mat providing further cover at the back to prevent Bromsgrove from scoring. Bromsgrove were continually awarded short corners in but were unable to find the net. Yardley were down to 10 with Kyle being shown a green card, Bromsgrove came back to lead 1-0 at the break from quick open play.

Half time and a game which could go either way. Yardley started off on the back foot, Bromsgrove pressing but Mat yet again stopped the attack and Yardley went away on the counter, Alex and Zach linking with Noor to earn a short corner. More knocking on the door but still nothing. Down at the other end, Mat made another save off the line from a short corner but Bromsgrove seemingly gifted with more, finally put another away going just over the line to clinch a 2-0 lead. Harry, Jahed and Kyle continued to work with the midfield. Their persistence paying off with Alex driving the ball at goal and Noor clinching a touch to bring 1 goal back for the visitors. With the defence now holding off attacks and seeing them out well, Yardley grew into the game further making strides up the pitch, Zach running from his 23 line to the half way line before he crossed to Noor who was unable to get onto it, but Jeevan steaming down the left wing, getting onto the end of it to win a short corner for the team. An attacking 23 given later on Jeevan found himself on goal, flicking at the keeper, for Noor to pounce onto the ball and poke into the goal for the equaliser. If that wasn’t enough, Yardley continued to press even more, Alex finding Jeevan who beat defenders but his shot agonisingly wide and hitting the side netting.

Yardley now have a few weeks break before resuming the league at home to University of Birmingham 5ths on January 12th.

Report by Jeevan Chagger