Men's 1st Team Vs Harborne 5ths

CoB Men’s 1sts    4  v  0     Harborne 5ths

Goalscorers: Abrar Baig, Alex Makepeace, Noor Zaman, Jeevan Chagger

Last game of the season and all to play for. It was quite simple, Win the game and pip the current league leaders to the final top spot, albeit on goal difference.

On a fine sunny afternoon, CoB pushed back and set about their task. An energetic start saw some positive possession and forward intent. Harborne too showed their intent and attacked whenever possible. CoB continued to press forward and a great cross-field ball from Ash out to Kyle on the right wing. Kyle surged forward into the D and his shot was just wide of the mark. Abrar and Ash were central to CoB’s forward push but were well supported by Jeevan and Kyle out wide, with Alex, Zach, Ibrar and holding in midfield. Noor was also making the visiting defence work hard. At the back Scott mastered the central position with David and Mat in control in other defensive positions. Neal was having a quiet game in goal, not really called into action.

Just past the midway mark CoB finally made their attacking play count. Abrar found a good spot in the D to unleash a shot which slammed into the goal, seemingly with a slight deflection either off a defender or a post, or both. Either way it was a deserved lead.

Further chances to add to the lead fell to Noor whose shot was cleared and a surging run by David, whose cross into the D again found Noor whose shot was well saved.

Harborne moved forward whenever they could but could not create many meaningful goal-bound efforts. Then, for a while, both teams were fairly evenly matched, but before half-time CoB managed to add to their slender lead. Alex, always energetically getting forward, bustled his way into the D and his reverse hit beat all defenders and the keeper.

So, a deserved lead at the break. So far, so good.

The visitors got the second half under way and tried hard to get back into the game. But Scott and all around him coped well with whatever came their way. CoB again continued their attacking intent and Ash went close with another good effort. Eventually the pressure told again and CoB added a third, to virtually make to game safe. Another forward run by Alex and his cross found Noor who made no mistake with his shot, to finish off another well- worked team effort.

Then it was Jeevan’s turn to have a go. His first shot on goal was partially saved by the keeper, the ball came back to Jeevan whose second shot was also well saved. Eventually, Jeevan did get onto the score-sheet when Ash played a ball to him and he made no mistake in putting the icing on the cake and the team’s fourth goal.

In the end, an excellent team performance produced what was needed. A win. And more to the point, top spot, on goal difference, and promotion as league CHAMPIONS.

A wonderful end to the first full season’s hockey as City of Birmingham.

Nineteen league games played, fourteen won, three drawn and only two lost. A total of seventy goals scored and only thirteen conceded. Of those games, 12 were achieved with a clean sheet.

Many, many congratulations to all who have played in the first team squad this season. It has been a pleasure to watch the hockey the team has played at times.  We look forward to the possibilities awaiting the Club next October.