Team | Yardley Men’s 1st Team |
Opponent | Whitchurch |
Date | November 29, 2014 |
Result | Loss |
Score | 2 – 4 |
Goal scorers: Noor Zaman, Zach Jarvis
Despite losing three defenders to illness and injury before the game, Yardley put in a competitive performance in the Warwick Printing Hockey league West Midlands Division 1
Both teams started brightly looking for openings but without creating too many clear chances. Alex Makepeace was making his presence felt for Yardley with some robust defensive work as well as his midfield promptings.
Midway through the half Whitchurch centre forward won the ball in midfield and ran on unchallenged to slip the ball past the advancing keeper to open the scoring. This gave the visitors the confidence to push on and they were always the more likely to score again. And so it proved to be when a short corner routine resulted in a second goal and a fairly comfortable lead at half time.
Continued pressure early in the second half resulted in a third goal, put away after a goalmouth scramble was not cleared by the Yardley defence. Most weeks that would have been enough to finish off the game, but Yardley had other ideas. A promising Yardley attack found the ball reaching Robin Stanley at the head of the D, who calmly slipped the ball to his right to the oncoming Noor Zaman who gave the keeper no chance as he reduced the arrears. With renewed confidence Yardley enjoyed a period of pressure and forced the Whitchurch defence to concede a penalty flick. Skipper Zach Jarvis calmly put the ball into the back of the net for Yardley’s second. If Yardley had managed to maintain this pressure they might have completed a most unlikely comeback. However, a breakaway goal calmed the visitors’ nerves to finally put the outcome beyond doubt. More goals might well have followed had it not been for Yardley’s keeper pulling off some timely saves and Alex Makepeace clearing off the line from another goal attempt.
Unfortunately Yardley had to finish the game with ten players as a player was yellow carded late on after a previous verbal warning.
Although Yardley’s spirited effort almost got them back into the game, it was the visitors who deservedly claimed all three points in the end. This week Yardley face a long trek to Newtown.
Report by Peter Brainch (Publicity Officer)