| Team | Men’s 2nd Team |
| Opponent | Worcester 6 |
| Date | November 5, 2022 |
| Result | Loss |
| Score | 1 – 3 |
Goal scorer: Sean Brookes
The game started brightly for the visitors with a solid back three (Paul, Ian and Jahed) and a compact central midfield (Jordan, Troy and Ben). The play was sharp and precise for the first ten minutes with good interplay between the central midfield and the wide players (Kamran and Mathew). This solid start did lead to a few half chances for the forwards (Anthony and Sean)
The visitors did take a little time to get used to the brand-new water-based pitch that was exceptionally bouncy. A few passes lacked power from the visitors, not finding their target. A different technique which the home team obviously worked hard on, proved advantageous to them. The ball seemed to go faster if dinked into the ground. Trying to power along the astro slowed the ball whereas a short jab into ball and ground let the ball fly.
Stan making a welcome return from injury soon came on the pitch to be the target man up front. Winning a short corner within minutes of his arrival. The home team were starting to create a few inroads into the visitors’ defence and won many short corners. The defence held strong for long periods supported by a compact midfield, but the pressure grew and the home team gained the advantage.
Worcester had a player with strong left hand -stick control in midfield, he was a constant thorn in the visitors’ side. The CoBHC team could not defend his advances through midfield. He constantly reverse-hit the ball at the defenders’ feet winning advantage over advantage. This combined with the home team’s very physical style of play did lead to many injury stoppages as Ben and Jordan got “clattered” many times. Eventually Ben got struck from a reverse hit keeping him out for most of the game.
With the midfield still trying to manage the reshuffle, the home team took advantage. They got a clear pass to an unmarked striker on the back post to take the lead. A few more attacks lead Jack in goal to make fine one on one saves from unmarked forwards. The visitors got stretched after this so Stan dropped back into defence to strengthen it. Unfortunately. another team reshuffle confused the whole squad and the home team got a second as the right back position was unmanned.
2-0 at half time was frustrating as the City of Birmingham Second Team was playing some good hockey but with no protection from the umpires by the physical play of the home team combined with confusion at very inappropriate times gifted the home team the lead.
Second half team talk was blunt and to the point. A few apologies about the confusion were made, and the team regrouped and reset for the second half.
The team started to get back to basics and play to their strengths. The play in the middle of the field was composed and the team started to understand the pitch peculiarities. Troy began to dominate in midfield, assisted by Jordan to get control of play. Both teams were trying long ball passes but Ian at the centre of defence was cutting many of Worcester’s attempts.
The visitors goal eventually came from a long ball 16 hit from the left by Paul. It was a reverse stick diagonal pass straight up to Anthony at the top of their 23’, he turned his marker and passed the ball to Sean who struck from the back post, beating the keeper. The whole team buoyed by this, then pushed higher and had the home team pegged into their own half for a solid ten minutes. The team won a couple of shorts but unfortunately Stan couldn’t get a clean shot away as the defence moved fast to close him down.
Throughout the game the home team closed players down really fast giving little time on the ball unpressured. ( a tactic we should embrace)
As the visitors’ pressure grew for the equaliser Ben with adrenaline pumping came back on the pitch in pursuit of another team goal. The home team dropped even further with an attacking forward trying to track back, but taking Jordan out from behind (green card) . Luckily Jordan recovered eventually after another clattering in this game, but the team’s momentum dropped. It was a much better performance in the second half with some nice plays. One interlinking play that must be mentioned was a lifted ball to Jahed who bounced the ball through a playe’rs legs reaching Jordan who also squeezed the ball though to Anthony who controlled the rising ball to flick it to Stan in the “D”. No goal unfortunately, but a nice passing display which is surely this team’s strength.
As the game became more stretched in the final ten minutes both teams had chances, with Sean attempting a tomahawk shot on goal and Mathew Chow getting good shots from wide positions but it was the home team who settled the game with a killer third goal giving the visitors no chance with a few minutes left.
Not winning isn’t a nice feeling, people like the winner mentally. After last season and so many victories, this team has tasted that winner mentally. It’s good. The first three points can’t be far away from a team that is improving in every department in every game. A few pointers were discussed at the end which if go heeded will surely help improve the team next game. We learn from our mistakes and that will make us stronger.