| Team | CoB Men’s 2ndXI |
| Opponent | Lichfield 6 Development |
| Date | November 30, 2024 |
| Result | Draw |
| Score | 4 – 7 |
Goalscorers: Owen, Jeevan Chagger, Isa, Robin Stanley
What a game of hockey!! An 11 goal thriller packed with incident, entertainment and good hockey!
With lots of resources available on paper, the reality of the afternoon began with CoB only able to start the game with 9 players and no goalkeeper. There were all sorts of mitigating circumstances why this was so, including some late-comers stuck in traffic.
The game started evenly enough with both sides pushing forward at every opportunity. The visitors soon made their numerical advantage tell as early as the 5th minute when a scramble in the Home D and lack of a keeper gave Lichfield an early lead. CoB began to made some chances and helped by the arrival of two more players gave the side much more balance. CoB soon made these opportunities tell when Owen seized upon some indecision in the opposing D to grab an equalizer. Shortly afterwards, Lichfield’s energetic approach saw them retake the lead. CoB still without a keeper. The visitors continued to play a very
positive game matched by CoB’s efforts, making this quite an entertaining period of play. CoB were buoyed by the arrival of the final late-comer. This meant that the home side could now rotate their outfield players. Still without a keeper. Lichfield extended their lead though a meaningful surge up-field, into the D leading to a simple task to score. This prompted Ian to briefly leave the pitch to pad up! While he was preparing, CoB continued with their positive play and reduced the arears when Isa’s good play saw him score his team’s second. Just before Ian could take to the field, Lichfield managed grabbed two more goals. Now Ian was on, pads and all. In-spite of the scoreline, CoB were still in the game and being very positive in their outlook. Then, arguably the goal of the game. Jeevan. Skipper for the day, surged up-field from his defensive position almost to the D, slipped the ball to Anthony who then played it back to Jeevan in the D and his shot gave the keeper no chance. So 5-3 down at half-time, but still very much in the game, CoB came out for the second half in a positive state of mind.
The second half proved to be very evenly matched with both teams ‘going for it’. A couple of short-term injuries caused a little bit of a disruption but after another very good approach by CoB into the D led to a penalty stroke being awarded. Stan duly stepped up and the score was now 5-4. Then Jimbo had to go off with a groin injury. Ian was proving that it had been a good idea to pad up when called upon to make some crucial saves and clearances. Other temporary halts for CoB injuries caused little disruption. To their credit Lichfield continued to press forward at every opportunity and scored two late goals to claim the comfortable victory.
However, CoB cannot feel disheartened in any way. Everyone played their part in a very entertaining game. Well-done to all, including some new players, and especially to Ian for gallantly padding-up and helping-out the team. With a keeper from the start, this might well have been a different result.
The final game of the first half of the season, next week, is away to Old Wulfrunians.
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