Men's 1st Team Vs Old Halesonians 3

Yardley 1stXI 4-6 Old Halesonians 3rds

Goal scorers: Jeevan Chagger x3, Jahed Islam

In what turned out to be a hectic couple of days, Yardley played their second game of the weekend, on the back of a defeat on the previous day.

On Sunday 24th March, Yardley played hosts to Old Hales 3s at the Holte Academy in a re-arranged game. The previous game in February, had been called off due to a frozen pitch. With a few players unavailable, Yardley called on Anthony to play between the sticks with Neal Makepeace our usual goalkeeper playing up front alongside Jon Smith who has umpired for us during the course of the season.

Old Hales started off with the first chance in the opening minutes but it was kept out by our defence. Yardley pushed on and grew into the game having the lion’s share of possession and chances in the following 10 minutes but chances went amiss. It would be the visitors who would strike first, quickly followed by a short corner converted to double their lead. Yardley midfield of Zach and Alex were finding both Neal on Jon well out wide. A quickly taken attacking 23 saw Jon slip the ball to Jeevan who buried the ball past the keeper. Old Hales would go on to score two more goals late in the half both from open play, Anthony unlucky not to have kept both out as they trickled into the goal.

Half time and a plan to reduce the deficit. It’s not every game that at half time the plan is to score from the first stroke. With a Yardley push, Jeevan passed Alex who played a lovely aerial to Neal in the left corner. Neal, under pressure, turned his defender and switched the ball to Jahed who made no mistake in finding the net with an open goal. A jubilant home team who were simply nursing tired legs to salvage some goals in the second half. Old Hales continued to press and but would be Yardley who reduced the score line again, Ricky slipping the ball to Jeevan who reversed hit the ball through the keeper’s legs for his second. A reshuffle at the back, saw Paul drop to right back and Ed to right wing, a move that protected the right side a bit more, both Paul and Ed working well to keep Old Hales at bay. Zach and Noah played the ball well to get the ball out of danger but Old Hales quickly added 2 goals as Yardley were reduced to 10 men. But it was Yardley who would have the final goal, Ricky again finding Jeevan whose shot somehow beat the keeper, much to the surprise of both teams. A valiant effort though several with 1stXI players missing.

Yardley’s final game is away to University of Birmingham 5s next week in what will be their final game of the season, which has been a successful introduction to  the new league structure.