Men's 1st Team Vs Harborne 4

CoBHC Men’s 1sts    6   v   1   Harborne 4ths

Goal-scorers:  Noor Zaman 3, Alex Makepeace, Kyle Letts

This might well have been billed as David v Goliath as the visitors were already as good as league Champions at the start of the game and CoB were in the lower reaches of the league, but safe from the dreaded drop.

CoB were limited to the bare eleven through the restrictions of Ramadan and other reasons. The visitors were fielding a full squad of fourteen.

Both teams made a steady enough start. The home side’s defence held firm against the visitors’ early advances. Harborne forced the game’s first short corner but the resulting shot on goal was well saved by Neal.

CoB gave themselves an early boost with the first goal of the game. Good work from Jeevan on the left saw the ball cross to the right of the D. It was not cleared by the defence and found its way to Alex who did not need too firm a shot to beat all defenders and the Keeper and into the goal.

CoB took heart from this and began to create more chances. Harborne were trying hard to get back into the game, but were being well marshalled by a very resolute defence, with Sohail particularly, giving nothing away.

As the game moved into the latter stages of the half, CoB surprised their visitors by scoring again. Good work from Jordan led to a fairly simple tap-in for Noor.

A period of pressure from Harborne forced Neal into a series of fine saves, one of which was right on half-time. A case of so far, so good from the home side who were all working hard for the team.

Harborne were quick off the marks at the start of the second half and had a shot on goal just wide.

CoB produced some good chances and both Jeevan and Jordan went close with good efforts.

Good work again from Jordan led to a pass into the D which was turned by Noor into the goal, for a 3-0 lead. CoB were enjoying their game with good team work and possession. Jeevan went close with another couple of good efforts. Alex forced the keeper into a great save with another good effort. Harborne were still trying hard to get back into the game and managed to pull one back from a well taken short corner routine, for 3-1 with about ten minutes left. Great work from Kyle involved him making a super interception and driving into the D and putting away a great shot on goal. Now 4-1. More pressure from the Home side saw them awarded a Penalty Flick for an infringement on the goal-line. Alex made no mistake, for 5-1. Noor had another chance go just wide. CoB completed a fine afternoon’s work when Jordan again was the provider for Noor to complete his hat-trick and the team’s  resounding 6-1 victory over the would-be league Champions.

16 goals scored in the final five games is a fair return for a pretty good run-in to the end of the season.