Badgers Vs Berkswell & BC

Yardley Badgers 0 v 4 Berkswell and Balsall  Common Hockey Club

Yardley were struggling with winter illnesses throughout the squad this week. Only ten fit players with both possible keepers out through ill health.

The Captain decided to field ten outfield players to bolster the team’s formation. The team at the start were given an extensive guide to formation play by John Ballard and the need for discipline throughout the game was emphasised. Each player was given their position and role. The game started with the 15 player squad opposition keen to get at the keeper-less goal. But to great credit of the whole of the Yardley team, they defended the midfield area with skill and strength.

With constant guidance from the side line by parents and John Ballard the team’s shape and discipline held for the 35 minutes of play. Each player working their role in the team shape perfectly. The visitors struggled to break down the solid midfield and defence in all of those 35 minutes. Unfortunately, the home team went into half time a goal down as the defence and midfield heard a loud whistle and momentarily stopped playing but the visitors played on into the “D”, getting in striking range of goal. Realising late, that the whistle was from another sport on a different astro pitch the team failed to stop a well struck shot low to the back post.

The home team’s attacking forays steadily built up in intensity as the game went on. The team grew in confidence from the solid midfield and made numerous drives into the attacking 23. The home team’s attacking attempts were more dangerous than the visitors’ efforts in the first 35 minutes but unfortunately the visitors’ keeper made good saves and stopped Yardley scoring the whole game.

Going into half time only one goal down was a moral victory for the Captain as the team played outstandingly with ten men and no keeper. As predicted at half time the high work rate put in by the home team led to tired legs and loss of concentration. The Berkswell and Balsall Common Badgers’ Hockey team with their constant rotation of players from their 15 player squad kept fresh. They started to build up long periods of pressure. After ten minutes of the second half they got the second important goal.

Yardley then went on a very positive run of attacks trying to get a deserved goal. The team’s shape collapsed and all position discipline disappeared. The home team’s attacking style did produce much more efforts on goal but again the keeper and defence halted all efforts. The high attack left the Yardley back three open to counter attacks. This led to two more goals for the visitors with ten minutes to go!

Yardley didn’t change their tact, and continued pressing high. This so easily could have led to a double figure (against) score line, but to Yardley’s credit they ended the final ten minutes constantly encamped in the visitors’ half looking for a deserved consolation goal. This game’s score line may attract a few raised eyebrows but for me it was the team’s best performance of the season so far, with players working for each other throughout. A few players were disappointed at the result but the effort and performance, shows great promise for future games.