Badgers Vs Stratford

Stratford 7 v 2 Yardley

Goal scorers Cem and Guest player

Stratford kindly allowed Yardley to field Five older Badgers this week as the usual squad had various reasons for absence ranging from Ill health to transport problems.

The Visitors started badly with two defensive errors which instantly got punished with two early goals. This shattered the visitors’ confidence and they struggled to string many passes together or hold onto possession for any length of time. The home team pressed hard and put their opponents under pressure, never giving the team time on the ball. The Yardley defenders worked hard and kept Stratford at bay for long periods but the long spells of pressure eventually told and they got two more goals in the half.

After a team talk to boost morale, Yardley played better hockey in the second half and put pressure on the home sides defence. This gave the defence spells to recharge their batteries and hold of attacks better than in the first half. The midfield started to track back with the Stratford attacking players. The visitors got a couple of goals which was just rewards for the improvements made over the first half, unfortunately three more Stratford goals gave the home team a resounding victory. Cem scored one of Yardley Badgers' goals as he drifted unmarked from his wide position to the back post to score from a well hit cross. The Yardley second goal was a very similar taken goal well hit by our loanee from Stratford.

A big thank you to the home team for their flexibility with the Badgers rules and the loan of players throughout the game. Hopefully we should be back to a full squad next week away at Olton.