Cannock M1s 7 - 0 Lichfield M3s

   Cannock’s first league game of the season saw them travel to Lichfield. After last weeks friendly win, Cannock welcomed back an abundance of players for the first time this year. 
   Cannock started strongly and made an early breakthrough after some nice midfield play was finished off by Greg Bloomer. Cannock continued to press and got a second when Spencer Lee was fouled in the D and converted the penalty flick himself. Cannock’s 3rd and 4th came from Harry Jawanda who dribbled through the Lichfield defence and hit reverse stick shots into the corner on both occasions. Cannock got their fifth before half time when Ed Martin picked the ball up in the D and walloped it through the keeper for his first.
   In the second half Cannock were put under more pressure and Chappell made a number of good saves to keep it at 5-0.  Ed Martin got the 6th goal with a lovely timed volley after some great play down the right hand side. Cannock’s 7th and final goal came from Greg Bloomer after a strong run from midfield allowed Will Fleet to lay it on a plate for Bloomer who scored with his 3rd shot.
   A strong start to the season for Cannock but they will want to improve defensively in coming weeks.

 

Cannock M2s 3 - 1 Lichfield M5s

   Cannock 2nds travelled to Lichfield Saturday evening for the first time of the season to take on their 5ths and it was the visitors who started the brighter of the two teams. Dominating possession for much of the first half but with no reward. Lichfield defended well as Cannock tried building plays and became frustrated, often trying to force the ball. Yet it came to half time and both teams would have been sure they were in with a chance of taking the 3 points.  
   The second half however, was a different affair. Within the first minute Cannock had slotted home courtesy of Clark now playing in Center Mid. Cannock continued to press with good play down to wings from both Hames and Griffiths. Soon came a second goal for Cannock as B.Alcock took his chance and made it 2 from 5 yards from a short corner routine. But the game was not over and Lichfield fought back, piling pressure in Cannock’s defence for the first time. Eventually they got their reward and slotted one home past Lloyd-Smith bringing them right back in to the game. End to end play ensued and either team could have bagged a few more. It was Cannock to take the final opportunity when Clark hit home his second of the game in an inspired second half performance.  Cannock’s defence looked resolute throughout and it’s hard to imagine many goals going through them this season based on their first league performance. 
   A good start for the 2nds taking home the 3points in a well spirited game vs a young Lichfield team. Next week Cannock host Buxton 3rds at home and will hope to continue in much the same way, taking opportunities that a strong team can make aplenty.

 

Cannock M3s 3 - 1 Aldridge and Walsall M3s

   A new look Cannock 3rd team made it's first appearance in the league, not having had any friendly games to re-acquaint themselves with the sport before the season started. The side is a true mixture of youth and experience and their adaptability was tested early on when a late withdrawal of a key player just before pushback meant that Henry Jones was asked to play centre back having never previously played there before.
   Cannock started brightly, with the team gelling well from the pushback. A number of attempts on goal went unconverted but eventually a penalty corner was worked back to the injector Lewis Asling so he could open the scoring. Continued pressure from Cannock created more chances but none found their way into the goal. Such was Cannock's defensive superiority that the visitors didn't have a touch inside the Cannock circle, except for a penalty corner which was cleared before they could go anything with it. 1-0 at the break.
   Positive and encouraging words were said at the break and Canock had every reason to start confidently. However, the home side lost their shape and forgot everything they had previously done to put themselves in a dominant position. They allowed Aldridge back.into the game and force some attacks of their own. Keeper Rufus Horn was forced into action for the first time - a diving stick save and clearance kept Cannock's lead.
   This galvanised Cannock, who returned to the objective of winning the game. Goals soon followed for Dave Wigg and Nat Yerbury to make it 3-0. 
   Aldridge chose to leave it late to attempt a comeback, but Cannock stood firm. However, they were given a glimmer of hope when the Cannock keeper chose to let a shot go, mistakenly believing it to have come from.outside the D. Apart from a bit of niggle, there were no further incidents of note and 3-1 was the final score. Cannock could and should have won the game by a much bigger scoreline. Finishing more of the chances they create will be the focus going forward.

MoM - Henry Jones

 

Cannock L1s 0 - 3 Timperley

   Cannock ladies 1s travelled to another experienced national league side Timperley. Another tough game for the visitors who tried hard and showed some good play at times but were unable to keep the ball out of their own net

 

Cannock ladies 2s 1 - 3 Nottingham 

 

Cannock ladies 3s 2 - 1 Lichfield 

 

Cannock L4s 1 - 0 Bloxwich L

   Cannock Ladies 4s travelled to Bloxwich for their first away match of the season and both teams came out fighting hard for the win. The first half was packed with end to end action, until Cannock won a short corner which was injected by Abby Rhodes. Mandy McColl went for the straight strike which was deflected, but Judy G was on hand to fire the ball back towards the P spot, where Mandy lifted it over a defender's stick and into the goal. The home team's confidence seemed to waver following the goal, and Cannock earned a succession of short corners but were unable to repeat their earlier success. 
   Towards the end of the first half a resurgent Bloxwich made it through to Cannock's D, where some purposeful strikes on goal were saved by keeper Jess Lynch. Bloxwich followed up by winning a series of short corners, but none found the back of the net. 
   Cannock opened the second half with determination, but were reduced to 10 players following an injury. Bloxwich kept searching for a goal but were denied by the Cannock keeper, some strong defending from Tracey Carey and Tracey Lloyd-Smith and a goal-line clearance from Jayne Flanagan. With ten minutes to go the visitors were again in trouble as two more players left the pitch injured, and although one was able to rejoin the match intermittently Cannock played to the end fluctuating between 8 and 9 players. Bloxwich attempted to capitalise but Cannock's marking stayed strong and a series of clearances to the sidelines by Julie Fisher helped frustrate the home team until the whistle blew on a hard earned win for Cannock.

POM: For the second week in a row the opposition gave POM to Abby Rhodes; while the team awarded POM to Tracey Carey and Julie Fisher