Match Reports Weekend 30th November 2019
Posted by Victoria Adams on 3 December 2019
Cannock M1s 6 - 2 Barford Tigers
Does learning how to retrieve rubber weights from the bottom of a swimming pool lead to goal scoring magic? Read on to find out...
This week saw Barford Tigers visit Erasmus Darwin. Barford had an identical record to Cannock, so a table topping clash was all set! Fog and frost meant the potential of a third called off game before Christmas was a real possibility. But the fog cleared and the frost disappeared and it was all go at EDA!
Barford started strongly and moved the ball nicely in the Cannock half. They would have taken the lead if it hadn’t been for a superb save from Gordon Banks...Chewy to his mates. Cannock were restricted to counter attacks for the first 15 minutes and took the lead through one of these, when Harris’ shot was deflected in by Cannock’s resident front crawl expert Widdowson. Barford came back strongly and equalised through a well executed short corner. 1-1
The game was end to end certainly exciting for the neutral fan. The lead was retaken by Cannock when Harris, who had previously missed his last 17 reverse stick shots, riffled a stunning back hand into the top corner. 2-1. Again Barford pressed forward and Cannock needed to be strong in defence. Hudson, Spencer, Ley and Michael all making superb tackles. However skipper Fleet gave away a short corner as the half finished, Barford went for a different routine but again scored to make it 2-2 at half time.
This week it was the home match expert Gooderham who rallied the troops at half time. But Cannock were rocked. After missing yoga this week, Harris’ hamstring mustn’t have been at full namaste and he wouldn’t return for the second half. As well as Harris, Spencer complained of a bad back so wouldn’t return either!
Cannock came out with a point to prove on their home turf. After a crowd rising tackle on the right hand side from Fleet, he played the ball inside to Jawanda. Jawanda carried forward with his trickery and got to the left hand side of the D. He fired across goal but no forward was there...luckily a Tony Adam’s inspired Fleet had continued his run forward from full back and deflected the ball home! 3-2! The game paused at this point as the umpire wanted to speak to the Chase High legend Lewis Michael on the bench. After explained he was watching the game, the umpire let Michael off with a warning, which he took gratefully.
Cannock started to play with more confidence and extended their lead. Again Jawanda found space and delivered a thunderous backhand across the D. This time full of chlorine filled confidence Widdowson deflected it into the top corner! 4-2! Barford pressed and pressed forward but Cannock stood firm with great tackles from Hudson and fine saves from Chewy. After another pacey breakaway from Lewis, Beano and Greg, Cannock won their only short corner of the game. With usual flicker Harris off, Fleet stepped up and guided it into the bottom corner. 5-2
At this point, part time kitchen fitter Hodgett also left the field with a hamstring issue. Early reports suggest a grade 0.2 tear (similar to a young child over stretching in a game of tag). Hopefully he will return next week. The battle continued and after a slight disagreement between Harry Michael and a Barford player. Bloomer stepped in to back the youngster up. Cannock and Barford were both reduced to 10 men. Cannock kept the ball well and after 43 passes and a little wobble from Stu. He finished with a thunderous shot to make it 6-2.
Cannock go clear at the top!
Cannock M3s 5 - 0 North Staffs
The first game of the 3rd team's double header saw 3rd placed Cannock travel to 4th place North Staffs, separated only by Cannocks far superior goal difference. A tough afternoon was in prospect. Cannock dominated the first half preventing the hosts from having more than 20% possession. The visitors used their possession well to score 2 goals. More would have been scored were it not for resolute defence and bold goalkeeping. North Stafford's attacks were limited and well snuffed out by the Cannock defenders.
Cannock started the second half well, scoring their 3rd in the first few minutes. North Staffs didnt give up but put Cannock under periods of sustained pressure but were prevented from scoring. Fluid and incisive play from Cannock led to a further 2 goals. North Staffs gave Cannock their stiffer test of the season so far, but couldn't save them from a heavy defeat.
Goalscorers: Dave Wigg 2, Nat Yerbury 1, Henry Jones 1, Jake Luke 1
Man of the Match - Scott Olsson
Cannock M3s 4 - 2 Stafford M5s
Cannock 3rds played their 2nd game of the weekend in a rearranged game against Stafford 5ths, who had been in second place but had swapped places with 3rd placed Cannock, following their defeat the previous day to the League leaders Stafford 4ths. So, all to play for in this 2nd v 3rd place clash.
Stafford clearly had a much stronger side than the team defeated by their club counterparts the previous day, as witnessed by some players who popped in to watch the game on the way back from the game at North Staffs. In fact, very few of the faces were familiar from that game... Cannock had to deal with additional handicap of having 8 players "fresh" from a tough under 16s cup game immediately prior to this match.
Stafford had clearly come here with the intention of winning and put Cannock under real pressure. However, a stunning individual run from Nat Yerbury from inside his own half and a quality finish gave Cannock an early lead. Jack Rolfe's powerful strike gave Cannock a second and a third from Raff Moscatiello on his return after over a year out with injury, gave Cannock an unexpected 3 goal cushion, with more chances going begging.
Stafford were a quality outfit and even though Cannock defended well, they never felt safe. So when they were awarded a penalty corner, it seemed inevitable that Stafford would get a goal back, which they duly did. 3-1 to Cannock was the half time score.
With half the team.playing their 3rd game in just over 24 hours, the Cannock skipper urged his side for a huge effort for the next 35 mins and they didn't disappoint. Even though Stafford mounted many attacks, the home side dealt with them effectively. Building from the back and counter attacking on turnovers saw Cannock create many more scoring opportunities but they were unable to convert.
Stafford continued to press and were awarded a debatable and disputed short corner. Twice Cannock had a defender sent to halfway for breaking early. It seemed impossible to defend against such odds and Stafford bundled in an ugly goal the post man Fin McCall was unlucky not to keep out.
Stafford had their tails up but Cannock responded well and 5 minutes from time the 2 goal gap was restored thanks to Tim Butler's clinical strike. Cannock kept their heads and stayed strong, to finish the game 4-2 winners.
Man of the Match - Tommy Bhageerutty whose skilful and determined play saw him a constant thorn in the opposition side.
Cannock are now in 2nd place, 5 points clear of 3rd placed Stafford. Next week sees them host league leaders Stafford 4ths. Just 2 points separates them and a Cannock would see them top the table going into the Christmas break.
All ladies games were cancelled due to frozen pitches!