Match Reports Weekend 11th & 12th November. Report No. 11
Posted by Victoria Adams on 12 November 2017
Cannock M1s 0 – 4 Loughborough Students
Cannock travelled for a late start to Loughborough & started the game brightly. Josh Keaveney broke lose into the Loughborough circle following a surging Duncan Gladwin run but only was bravely denied by a smothering goalkeeper save.
Another chance went begging for the Stags before a slack pass saw the Cannock defence overloaded & the Loughborough attacker rounded the goalkeeper to shoot on goal but a diving save in the by Callum Stacey saw the ball safely go wide.
The home Students then continued to apply pressure on the Cannock goal only to be constantly denied by good defending & excellent goalkeeping by Gavin Adams to see the game goalless at halftime.
Again Cannock started the second half spritely & force a penalty corner. Stacey's low flick was excellently turned around the post by the Loughborough goalkeeper. The students then went to the other end & force a penalty corner of their own. This opportunity was taken & saw the home side take an advantage.
As the half progressed they won more PCs & score two more to open up a 3-0 lead. As the half closed a good team goal saw the game end 4-0 to Loughborough, a score line that flattered them but the young stage will regroup & go again next week.
MoM - Gavin Adams
Cannock M2s 1 – 1 Rugby
With the invention of virtual reality it is now possible to get a realistic experience of many sports. However this is expensive but Rugby HC have the answer for a small fee you to can visit their ground to play hockey but come back playing Football and Rugger.
Cannock 2s started well moving the ball at pace round the back and into the midfield. Chances came through great individual play and an impressive move down the right where Chris G hammered the ball down the line to Willars who exchanged passes with Warren all the way along base line but no goal sadly. Deadlock at half time.
Second half the experiences got more realistic. The opposition started diving and rolling on the floor, just from walking past them. Every other word is offensive. You get threats of violence and umpires who imagine insults at them. Headlocks you will be pleased to know are allowed and actively encouraged in the rugger part of this game and no cards will be given. If you smile at them though it’s a straight short corner.
The 2s enjoying this experience scored through a physics defying goal from Joiner and were on with a chance to double the lead from Parker’s lob but sadly missed. Cannocks GK kept the side ahead with several slick saves but with the rules of Rugby not clear to Cannock they conceded and drew the match:
Cannock M4s 1 - 1 Harbourne M4s
Cannock Men’s 4’s welcomed unbeaten league leaders Harbourne 4’s to Chase Park. Cannock 4’s lined up with yet another change of team, 6th team keeper Joe Thomas stepped up 2 teams to help out, who would of thought he was only 14 years old.
Cannock started well and soon won a short corner and another and another unfortunately they couldn’t turn pressure into goals, Harbourne then won their first short corner of the game and converted, against the run of play, Harbourne hadn’t dropped any points all season, this was going to be hard for Cannock to get anything out of this game.
Conceding a goal only made Cannock work harder, they were playing as if they were league leaders, then they won another short corner but this time Greg Bloomer beat a few players and slotted the ball home, game on.
Chances came and went, both teams battling hard to get the result but the game ended 1-1, some great performances from all of the Cannock team, Joe making some great saves and controlling his defence like an older player would do, Andy Orford defending like he’d been playing all season and not his 2nd game back, Evan and Luke running tirelessly in midfield, Gary holding the middle of the park, Paul, Karl, Phil and Greg defending from then front finally Matt and Cam helping to keep the score level after immense pressure.
Cracking result against the league leaders, now believe and we can push up the table.
MOM Joes Thomas
DOD Andy Orford ( not available next week)
Cannock M5s 4 – 3 Finchfield M4s
Cannock Mens 5ths frustrating league season continued with a home defeat to Finchfield 4ths. A number of new faces to the line up fitted in extremely well but fortune did not favour these brave souls.
Cannock started brightly with a goal inside 5 minutes, when a short corner was pushed by Tom Hyde to Lee Marsh at the far post, who deftly deflected the ball past the postman. So far so good.
Finchfield struck back quickly, with a goal from a penalty corner. The straight strike passed the keeper at near hip-height but gravity allowed it to strike the back board. However, what height was it when it crossed the line? No matter, as the goal stood.
Soon after, Finchfield broke down their right and despite the sliding keeper, getting a stick on the ball, he could only deflect it into the path of another forward, who pushed the ball into an empty net. 5 minutes later, confusion followed a Finchfield hit just outside the Cannock D. A speculative shot through a crowd of players left the keeper unsighted and only able to deflect the ball into the net for a 3rd Finchfield goal in 12 minutes. Despite renewed pressure from Cannock and a number of short corners, they were unable to break down the Finchfield defence. The game threatened to turn ugly, with a flurry of cards, which one almost thought heralded an early Christmas. (2 yellow/1 green for Fichfield and 1yellow/green for Cannock) It stayed 3-1 at the break.
Cannock scored almost straight after the restart, from a fine individual effort by Tom Hyde. Cannock continued to press hard, creating chance after chance and earning a number of short corners. It seemed inevitable that Cannock would get back on top and eventually parity was restored when a through ball into the D got the faintest of touches from Tom Hyde. The score was now 3-3, with Cannock pushing hard for the winner. However with 5 minutes to go, another Finchfield break resulted in a penalty corner. Gary Jones made good ground and put a strong block. Unfortunately the ball looped high into the air and over the keeper and postman and over the line. Such was the freakishness of the goal that Finchfield didn't even celebrate. Cannock weren't dead yet and forced another penalty corner with time expired, but weren't able to equalise. Final score 3-4.
The positives from the game were the work rate and resilience shown by every player. On the minus side, Cannock will rue their failure to capitalise on the many chances they created. Despite being far and away the better side, they still did not win.
In a close vote for Man of the Match, Gary Jones took the award, ahead of Tom Hyde and Scott Olsson.
Cannock L1s 0 – Swansea
Cannock ladies 1s travelled to Swansea knowing that a win would leap frog the home side. Despite adverse weather and playing through the various seasons Cannock kept Swansea at bay and went into half time 0-0
Second half saw both sides continue to compete for the share of the spoils with Cannock hitting the post taking them close to nicking it from the home side. Unfortunately against the run of play (and a poor umpire decision) Swansea found the back of the net!
Cannock continued to pressure the home side but couldn’t find the equaliser.
Pom Leah redfern
Cannock L2s 2 – 3 Shrewsbury
Cannock ladies 2’s faced Shrewsbury at home, a battle at the bottom end of the table where a win would ensure a trip into mid table! Cannock started well playing the ball around convincingly and penetrating the visitors D early in the first half. Shrewsbury however got on the scoreboard first with a break away goal, Cannock lost their way slightly after dominating for the majority of the first half.
Cannock managed an equaliser before half time in the shape of Nic George breaking into the D with a great personal effort.
The start of the second half saw Shrewsbury smash a great goal from the edge of the D into the net leaving our keeper Gemma stranded. The Home Side answered with another equaliser And with only 10 to go the hunt was on for the winner. Cannock went on to hit the opponents post twice and cause their defence many problems but the reward of a goal never came!
Shrewsbury nicked the winner in the last 5, Cannock remain near the bottom of the table but are not going down without a fight, next week we face bottom of the table Matlock.
Cannock L3s 3 – 4 Lichfield
Cannock Ladies 3’s travelled to EDA to take on a win thirsty Lichfield. Cannock needed the win to have a hope of winning the League so bought with them determination and passion from the start of the match
Despite their best efforts, Lichfield proved to be quick and Cannock’s focus was lost for a brief period when Lichfield were two up at half time with no goals scored by Cannock at the whistle
Cannock entered the second half with desire and drive in order to take the win and things looked up as three goals came and possession in Lichfield’s half rose.
Unfortunately Lichfield answered with a lifted goal and tied the match. Cannock pushed but Lichfield ouches harder for a fourth goal in the last three minutes of the match. Lots of will came from Cannock as the Ladies Threes now push to gain experience and skill from the remainder of the season.
Goal scorers: Jude Hitchens 1 and Jenna Martin 2
PoM – Vicky Wilkes
Cannock L5s 1 – 6 Watts L5s
Cannock Ladies 5’s played exceptionally well today against Watt’s 4’s.All players exceeded there limits and together they enjoyed the game.
They played rather defensively throughout the game but managed to have shots on goal, with a goal been scored by Nicole Rose in the second half.
The team cooperated with each other ensuring smooth play occurred throughout the game. Final score 6-1 to Watts.
PoM Nicole Rose.
Saturday 18th November - Quiz Night - 7.30pm
#properhockeyplayers Quiz Night
As many as you want up to 6 in a team. £2 per player. Raffle as well.