It's Three Points and Four Goals for Cannock 

Cannock 4 – 1 Preston 

Rufus and Swinny discussing the finer points of........beer!

After several near misses Cannock deservedly recorded their first win in their home fixture against Preston in the National League Conference North. From the whistle Cannock put Preston under early pressure. Despite several chances by the home side, it was Cannock's keeper Mike Gerraerd who had to make an acrobatic save and parry a penalty corner to keep the scores level.

Then Cannock started to create more chances. Dan Jowett and Hamish McKittrick forced a penalty corner that was saved. Then Cannock were put on the back foot as Chris Gardner was green carded. Preston capitalised on their extra man and forced a penalty corner which was again repelled by Gerrard. The half was brought to a close with several Cannock attacks, including a diving pass by Manveer Dhanda to put Gardner on goal and a solo run by Russell Anderson who was upended to provide another missed penalty corner. 

DJ going close!

Manveer Dhanda forcing a cross for another close chance.

The opening exchanges of the second half saw Preston take the advantage but it was Cannock who made the first break through when Chris Darnley pounced on a cross from Louie Morris after some fine approach play by Jowett.

Chris Darnley's first goal.

Morris was involved again when he converted a cross from McKittrick for Cannock's second goal. Cannock were again reduced to ten when Ed Fleet was green carded. Keeping it in the family was Will Fleet who followed up with a yellow card. Preston took advantage of their extra man and pulled one back from a well struck penalty corner. Cannock took this as the motivation to take control of the game once again. After several near misses 'Man of the Match' Chris Darnley struck on a loose ball on the top of the D to record his second and Cannock's third goal. The closing minutes saw good exchanges and pressure on goal between Dhanda and Nav Degan. However, a yellow card shown to Degan reduced the home side to ten men yet again. This was balanced out soon after when Preston also had a player yellow carded. Degan had the last word on his return to the pitch when superb approach play by Dhanda and Ashlin Freddie provided him with the space to flick the ball into the roof of the net for Cannock's fourth goal. 

Nav Degun scoring Cannock's fourth!

The psychological effect of this win cannot be underestimated and Cannock will head for Sheffield next Saturday with a renewed confidence and the expectation of further league points. 

Man of the Match Chris Darnley

Cannock 2s 5 – 4 West Bridgford 

Cannock conceded a goal after 38 seconds due to individual dribbling errors from the Cannock side in their own 25. West Bridgford capitalised as they stole the ball with ease and passed it round the keeper. West Bridgford then made another 2 goals from some poor play from Cannock players. Eventually Cannock woke up and bagged 2 goals before the half time break. After an inspirational talk from coach, Ashlyn Freddy, the lads went out to win. 
Cannock pulled it back level, Parker rounding off a hat-trick. However, it only took 16 seconds for Bridgford to get a goal back. All of sudden Cannock stepped up their game.  A goal for J. Greenwood from a short corner got the lads in maroon back to level pegging. In the final minutes of the game, with a free hit outside the 25, Parker found Willars who glided past his man as Conrad took on the reverse stick shot Danny Swinnerton-Ions was there to tap in the scraps.  
What a comeback!! 
 

Cannock 3s 1 – 1 Edgbaston 

Men's 3s take a share of spoils on a brisk October afternoon away at Edgbaston. Cannock dominated most of the game but failed to take their chances despite several short corners and in play chances. Edgbaston took the lead with their first attack but a Callum warren snap shot brought Cannock level.  
Ollie Balcombe produced a fine stick save in the final moments of the first half but had little else to do in the second period as Cannock dominated but couldn't manage a win.  
Next week Cannock host title contenders Birmingham University. 

Cannock 4s 2 – 3 Beeston 5s 

Cannock 4's were left frustrated after a game where they deserved at least a point against Beeston. The game started brightly enough but the visitors scored an early goal through poor defensive marking. Cannock replied soon after with a well worked goal finished by Josh Edwards. The second half started in the worst possible way, with a goal gifted to Beeston right from the push back. Beeston scored again soon after from a short corner which looked like it had killed the game off. However, this kicked Cannock into life and great play from Craddock and Edwards saw chances appear. Edwards finishing off a great move. Cannock kept working hard with Bradbury and George Collins snuffing out any Beeston counter attacks. It is games like this that Cannock have to win to have any chance of staying up, but commitment for 70 mins is required from all. Next week sees another tough game away against Brum uni. 
 

Cannock 5s 0 - 2 N.Staffs 4ths. 
 
Cannock travelled to the badlands of Stoke with a number of different players but still confident of taking the points. Andy Darnley made a return to the side  and 5th team debuts for Mike Chadderton and James Roberts. 
 
The first half was dominated by Cannock, with a number of good chances: Machin hitting the post, Pugh having a short corner deflection cleared off the line, before another short corner strike was stopped by a North Stafford foot on the line. Unfortunately, the umpires awarded another penalty corner instead of a flick. Cannock continued to dominate but we're unable to convert any of the chances they made. Half time saw the consensus that playing simple hockey would win the game. 
Cannock still exerted supremacy in the second half but it was the home side who scored first. Stand-in keeper Gary Stacey made a good sliding save, only for the ball to ricochet off one attacking player, into the path of another, who pushed the ball into the net. Cannock's hard work and industry turned somewhat to desperation through their search for an equaliser, allowing North Staffs to force an error in midfield and smash the ball into the net. 
Cannock still pushed forwards looking to score but were unable to do so, leaving the Potteries with their first defeat in the 6 games played so far this season. 
 
The side voted overwhelmingly for James 'Robbo' Roberts as their Man of the Match, for his assured performance at centre back. 
 
Jonny Machin's extravagant reverse stick effort which cleared the goal, fence,cricket nets, swimming pool and nearby housing estates, before coming to rest somewhere in Monkey Forest, rightly earned him DoD status. (He even nominated himself for the accolade.) 
 
All in all, a frustrating game, but the 5ths look forward eagerly to next week's home game with Finchfield. 

Cannock 6s 6 – 1 Bridgnorth 

Our 6th Team ran out convincing winner against Bridgnorth with a 6 goals to 1. Scorers were Bruce Alcock 3, Harry Michael 1, Rosh Chana 1 and Gary Jones 1.  
 
Cannock Badgers 5 – 4 Barton Badgers 

Cannock's Badgers squad had a fantastic performance this week 
against Barton Badgers, coming back from 2-0 down to win 5-4. With Badgers debuts for Ashlin McAree and Logan Jones and the Cannock Coaches deciding 
not to play any adults this week, Cannock started the match a little unsure, leading to some indecision and conceding two early goals. With the introduction of Harry Michael and Evan Alcock, structure and purpose returned to the Badgers side, levelling the score to 2-2 and then taking the lead to go 3-2 up. Failure to clear a short corner right on the stroke of 
half time meant the first half finished level at 3-3. 
 
The game ebbed and flowed through the second half with Cannock taking the lead only to be drawn level again to 4-4 following another failure to clear a short corner. Cannock scored their 5th goal of the game and this time managed to hold onto the lead for an exciting win. 
 
Goals came from birthday boy Oliver Bhageerutty, Evan Alcock and a hat-trick for Harry Michael. A focus for next week will be defending short corners. 

Thanks

A massive thank you to all those that gave up their time this weekend to help bring success 
to Cannock Hockey Club.Thank you to Jude Hitchens, Dave Wright, Dave Savage, Rianne and Teresa Martin for supporting our Junior Festival on Sunday morning. Thank You to Rufus & Cameron Horn for selling Match Day programmes. Thank you to Cameron Horn, Isaac Spooner, Luke Stacey and Will Hall for ball boying on Sunday.Thank you to our umpires this weekend... Will Fleet, Ed Feet, Ollie Edwards, Danny Swinnerton, Alan Craddock and Dave Bradbury. 
 
Thank you to all of you that entered our Fantasy Hockey and 55 Club Fundraisers already!! 
 
It's the passion and dedication of our membership that makes us what we are! There is still time to get involved in all the above and remember your membership payments are due in two weeks time! 

Russ (where's my car gone?) Anderson causing confusion in the Preston  (car park) defense!