| Team | Men’s 2nd Team |
| Opponent | Bromsgrove 6 |
| Date | March 16, 2024 |
| Result | Win |
| Score | 4 – 2 |
Bromsgrove Men’s 6s 2-4 CoB Men’s 2ndXI
Goalscorers: Noor Zaman x2, Ben Mathews and Robin Stanley.
The league season ended early for City of Birmingham 2’s as there are only 10 teams in the division, and not the normal 12. So our Club Chairman arranged two friendly fixtures with the team finishing top of this league. Both teams fielded weaker than normal teams, blooding new players, so they got the taste of league hockey.
The first fixture was away at Bromsgrove School. They will return next week to our ground.
The game started strongly for the home team (COBHC only had 10 players) and Jack was called to make a few early saves. The youth team players for Bromsgrove showed no fear and used skilful stick skills and speed to get past the back three of COBHC. Eventually the away team got a long ball up to Noor in the “D” and he slotted away sweetly giving the visitors the lead against the run of play. This settled the team a little and they began to play nice short balls in the middle of the park. Ben, Edan and Stan worked hard to win possession in the middle and used the passes wide tactfully. Andre playing left wing, and was putting in his second full game without subbing off. He found space and Owen left back supported him along with the midfielders. Our new debutant Taimoor on the other wing then began to influence the game more, attacking down the right and making brilliant pass and go “one-twos” with the midfield. He got great crosses in and excellent dribbles into dangerous areas. It was from one of those crosses that got Noor’s second. Noor was guesting this week to help with his fasting during Ramadan and was playing conservatively. The half finished 0-2 to the visitors but Bromsgrove kindly offered us an eleventh man. This helped the team and influenced the team to push high for more goals. As the high pressure began to work with Edan playing an unusual sweeper role pushed the home team back. Against the run of play in this half Bromsgrove got a breakaway and then scored from a short corner. Stan then pushed even higher up the pitch and linked up with our loan player and set up a chance for Ben to score. The game opened up in the last twenty minutes with both teams getting clear shots at goal. Bromsgrove hit the post twice! Jack in goal had to make three great saves from close range but Stan was the next but lobbing the diving keeper giving us a cushion. The home team was not going to give up and with good use of the three subs had fresh legs to push to the final minutes. With a couple of goals cushion the visitors pushed hard to hold back Bromsgrove but the fresher legs gave them a second consolation goal before the end. Taimoor for his brilliant debut after 10 years away, won him Man of the Match award. Bromsgrove return to Birmingham next week. We should have more youth players to equalise Bromsgrove youth side.