Men's 2nd Team Vs KIngs Heath Pickwick 2nds

City of Birmingham Men's 2ndXI   0-7  Kings Heath Pickwick 2nds

Another outing and more valuable experience for our young Second XI. CoB Men's 2ndXI hosted Kings Heath Pickwick M2s in their 4th game of the season. Some good defensive work and clearances from Mohammed, Edan, Stan, Paul and keeper Jack kept the score at 0-0 for much of the first half. With an inexperienced team, CoB did their best to go forward with Sean and Anthony having few chances to take the ball forward despite efforts from Parameth, Jahed and Kamran to get the team going. Zak in midfield played a key role in helping the ball go out wide but it was the lack of experience that would count with Kings heath taking a 2-0 lead at half time, going on to win 7-0 at the final whistle.

This was a very wet and chilly Saturday afternoon, and the City of Birmingham Hockey Club Men’s 2nds were facing the top team in the SE4 division, Kings Heath, already scoring an average of over five goals a game.  All eleven players were apprehensive but also excited about the game.

The home team started brightly, passing the ball around the pitch. Players moved into space being options for the player on the ball. The team linked up with each other with accurate passes and also spread the ball out wide making full use of the whole pitch. For a solid twenty minutes it looked like the home team were the league leaders with the visitors struggling to get any possession. Unfortunately, all this possession didn’t lead to many clear chances in the opposing team’s “D”, only a couple of chances materialised. Anthony upfront was again causing the defence problems, but his shots went wide. Stan still struggling with an injury supported Anthony and also got a few shots at goal.

After twenty minutes of pressure the home team pressed even higher trying to make the possession count and as another attack broke down, the visitors put four one touch passes together with a breakaway and scored. This buoyed the King’s Heath team, consisting mainly of very experienced players, each with over 25yrs experience of playing the sport. They pressed high and closed the space at the back, strangling the home team’s defence. The home team tried to readjust and make space and get the ball moving with fluidity again. Kamran and Parameth still only playing their third ever  league game are building in confidence, and were getting lots of the ball and linking up defence to attack on the wings. Their improvement every game can only bode well for the Second team as the season goes on. Zak and Jahed in our central areas were the main reason the early possession looked so fluid and professional. Both youngsters relishing the big pressure in the middle of the park. They played good “one twos” together and also involved all the players around them.

The home team throughout this half tried to get an equaliser, pushing high and getting into dangerous areas but again the visitors got numerous swift counter attacks which Jack in goal had to save. The visitors also began to win lots a penalty corners which put the defence under the microscope for long periods. Unfortunately, just before half time the visitors got a second, again from a breakaway won by a defensive error.

In the second half the strength of character shown by Mohammad and Edan at the back, alongside Jack in goal meant that the 7-0 score line could have been considerable higher. These three players saved many counter-attacking forays into the “D”.  As the game wore on the three at the back defended for long periods supported by the Captain Stan (whose injury was again recurring). The midfield did support the home defence but fatigue gradually got the better of the young team. Man of the match was undoubtedly Jack in goal who made some great saves. The best being the diving save to his left stopping a certain goal. Sean upfront was drawn in to support the defence and any attacks the home team won were from long balls down the side channels. Anthony upfront never gave up on these long ball punts and chased any lost cause to give the team a breather. Towards the end the home team did manage to get in the opposing “D” and had a couple of chances and won a penalty corner.

Many players came off the pitch trying to analyse exactly what turned the game on its head. Lack of experience was one suggestion, more teamwork, less individual forays, another was tired legs. But looking forward to the positive side for the rest of the season, which was that in this side we at City of Birmingham Hockey Club have a squad who will develop and get stronger. The first twenty minutes showed the supporters and players alike that the CoBHC 2nds will fit into this division with ease. This is a young group of players with only three experienced players of league hockey, and only the team’s fourth game together. This team will develop and surely as confidence grows a win will come.

At the end our Chairman presented Sean the “Vice Chairman Award” for service to the club. Sean has been playing youth hockey now for ten years, whether it was with Jim Sumner’s Youth Section or Jon Smith’s Badgers. His years of commitment to our club has been duly rewarded when he was presented with a new hockey stick as thanks for his loyal service with various teams and recognition of moving into league hockey. Well done Sean and thoroughly deserved.