2nd XI Cup Final

CANNOCK (2) 3                              1 (1) SURBITON
Louie Morris 5 (F)                           Adam Jolly 7 (PC)
Aaron Wilkes 29 (PS)
Callum Swinnerton-Ions 44 (F)

Cannock held off the challenge of Surbiton to win the 2nd XI Cup Final. Goals from Louie Morris, Aaron Wilkes and Tom Morris were enough to get the silverware back to Chase Park and send the travelling fans wild-er.

Cannock drew first blood with an excellent move down the right hand side setting up Louie Morris to apply the finish and break the deadlock. Despite Cannock & GB’s 2012 Olympic Goalkeeper James Fair commanding the goal he tended during his Olympic campaign, it wasn’t long before the score was leveled by Adam Jolly’s rocket penalty corner hit the roof of the net. The game flowed from end to end and on 20 minutes Reece Jecketts found some space in the Surbiton circle but his shot flew over the bar. Ore Ogunlana made a fine double save and at the other end Alex Penney lobbed Fair only for his effort to go over the bar. With six minutes till the break Cannock took the lead from the penalty spot thanks to a powerful penalty stroke from Aaron Wilkes, nudging them in front at the break.

A break was certainly what was needed for the travelling Morris Ground men (we mean the supporters here) as they refilled their London Lager and rested their vocals before another 35 minutes of; "There's only oneeee Ollie Edwards".

Cannock extended their lead ten minutes after the break, when a long weaving run by Swinneton-Ions caused havoc in the Surbiton defense for Tom Morris to slot in the third. Callum Stacey and Chris Beck both tested Ogunlana’s reflexes from penalty corners but the young goalkeeper was up to the job and kept his side in the hunt, but there were to be no more goals and Cannock took the trophy home on the returning coach, along with a few well-oiled, but happy,  supporters!

Captain Will Fleet told England Hockey “It’s a fantastic feeling. These lads have had a tough year so to come back and win today has been brilliant. Surbiton are very strong and we knew they’d give us a test; they’re a great side and on another day could have won. It was great to see such a vocal Cannock crowd that went on to enjoy the celebrations."

Cannock Coach Gary Stacey told England Hockey whilst draped in the Club flag; “Today's result is a brilliant way to end a very hard working season. On our way to the final we have beaten some of the best teams in the country outside of the National League & proved that as a club we are very strong. Even more so, on close
analysis it can be seen that this group of players is the future of this club, 18 out of the 20 players involved today have come through the Cannock hockey club junior ranks - with half the side still being part of the u18 squad & only one player being over the age of 24. Today was just the first step in making Cannock Hockey Clubs push back towards being the best club in the country. It is a fitting end to what started as a very emotional season. I’d love a beer but I think the crowd have drunk them all!”