Men's 2nd Team Vs Olton & W Warwick 6ths

Olton and West Warwickshire 6s    1 V 2    CoBHC 2s

Goal scorers: Jordan McGuigan and Ben Matthews

With weekly fluctuations at the top of this division this was again a third from top verses third from bottom clash!

CoBHC are gradually crawling away from the lower placed teams at the bottom, but this looked like another tough encounter. A few discussions before the teams warm up eventually lead to a five strong midfield against the Olton team.

The home team started the game positively and got good possession for the first five to ten minutes. This culminated with a six pass move from the back line through the middle of the pitch and finally finding an unmarked central striker who drove into the “D” to shoot. Luckily, Jack in goal charged forward, closing down all the angles and made a great save. This shocked  the visitors into action and the midfield engine room of Ben and Jordan began to take charge. The five across the middle gained more possession and settled into good attacking play.

For the rest of the game it was pretty even throughout, with both teams creating chances. Probably Jack in goal had more to do in the first half, saving six on-target shots and keeping his team in the game. There were  a few defensive errors from “16’ hits” or ariels into the “D” which gifted the home team clear goal scoring chances or short corners, but the defence worked hard and stopped the attacks. Luckily, Jahed running out fast stopped every shot from the numerous short corners.

Out wide Parameth and Sean supported by Matt as their rotating substitute, got more into the game and took the ball into dangerous areas and winning plenty of penalty corners. The attacking options for the visitors this week were Anthony alongside James. Both players held up the ball waiting for support and made great through ball passes to the high midfield players. The well-drilled short corner routines for the visitors put the utmost fear into the home defence. Jordan pushed out to James time and time again, for a blistering rocket shot at the goal. The defence kept clear and left the keeper to try and stop the shots. Unfortunately for the visitors, he made great reflex saves, but eventually the pressure was too much. From a short the keeper cleared wide for Anthony to collect, his shot drifted across goal for Ben to sweep in.

The home team pressed high to get a reply but Ian (midfield sweeper), Paul, Edan and Jahed defended strongly.  1-0 for the visitors at half time.

The second half started with good possession for the visitors with excellent passing in a crowded midfield. It was hard to see which team was in the top half of Division 9 SW and who was in the lower. The game still ebbed and flowed but the visitors looked the more likely to score. They started to win a lot of short corners putting the home team on the back foot. Unfortunately, a serious injury befell a defender on the line as a deflected short corner shot ricocheted off the keeper’s thigh onto his head. Both teams helped with First Aid and we wish the player all the best and a speedy recovery. Once play resumed the visitors won possession and Anthony passed to James whose shot rebounded to Parameth who moved the ball to Anthony and his shot across goal again found a waiting midfielder Jordan to power his shot in.

A two-goal cushion did not put any of the visitors at rest as this was a very tough game and everyone knew they needed to keep the intensity for the final ten minutes. The home team found another gear and pressed high for a reply. Paul as centre back called all his players deep to defend for the final ten minutes. Tactically not a clever move as it meant the team had to withstand an onslaught for a full ten minutes. This, of course, is nearly impossible but panic (by Paul) set it. The home team was winning penalty short corners over and over. Fouls were being gifted to the home team in dangerous positions in the “23’”. In one instance confusion set in and as the visitors tried to discuss it with the umpire the home team took a quick free hit and dribbled 5m and charged into the “D”. Frantically the defence tried to mark up and get tackles but the ball fell to an unmarked player on the back post to tap it home. Every decision was now not going the visitors, way and pressure was building on the eleven men back defending the slender lead. Umpires in the end had to pause the game as indiscipline from both teams was making officiating impossible. This pause, with five minutes to go helped the visitors regroup, take a breather and try to gain control. The defence still had to stay strong but Jack had little to do in the final minutes. As the final whistle blew the City of Birmingham Second Team rejoiced in a hard-fought victory against a very strong opponent. Jack was voted Man of the Match

The last time the Second team played the then third from top Bournville they lost 2-1 but played so well as a team it felt like a victory (of sorts). I have changed my mind, winning against the third from top and playing so well as a team is SO much better.

Thank you for the support and coaching on the side-line from Jeevan and John. Next week at home against Droitwich Spa 3’s. 1 o’clock, last game before the Christmas break and half way through the season.