| Match Report |
Bournville 2 v 1 Yardley Badgers
Goal-scorer: Zak Dean
Yardley made a little history today, scoring the team’s fastest first half goal ever! From push back to winning possession, then winning a penalty corner, then Zak Dean scoring, all inside 60 seconds. It was very quick and the lead gave the team extra confidence and everybody played very good hockey throughout the game.
The Yardley Badgers pushed high to extend the impressive lead, but the home team dug deep and soon got a lot of counter attacks by running with the ball through the midfield. The game became stretched and both teams had good attacking plays in the "D".
It resulted in a very exciting game of hockey and both keepers had long spells where they had to make impressive saves.
Unfortunately for the visitors, two goals were eventually conceded, but no players dropped their heads and everybody played up to the final minute to produce a high tempo game for 70 minutes.
A special mention this week must go to our two wide players of Thomas and Evie. They both held the wide positions effectively and worked up the field attacking and maintained the defensive work rate too. Many players and supporters commented on their efforts.
Towards the end of the game Yardley attacked remorselessly trying to get a point and was so close in the final minutes. Zak (not the goal scorer but our other Zak) had a powerful shot saved by an absolutely brilliant diving save from a keeper sprinting from a previous save. From the side lines the shot looked goal ward bound and then suddenly the keeper dived across tipping it over. A great save but unfortunately Yardley’s last attempt to equalise.
It was a great team performance, the best of the season. All the players linked up using intelligent passes, finding the player in space and kept getting the ball out wide. The team rotated players throughout the high tempo game and this resulted in a team strength and shape that stayed fresh for 70 minutes.
|