Cold weather an frost had impact on more Cannock fixtures this weekend as our Mens 1st Team had to cancel their evening friendly fixture against Deeside Ramblers due to the cold conditions.

The Badgers and Fathom's (6th Team) games were cancelled on Saturday morning and the 3rd Team also lost out on a trip to bottom of the league Rugby & EW, however the sides that did take to the field had a hugely encouraging day.

Cannock 2s vs Stourport 2s (Home on Pitch 2 @ 2pm)

Despite a shaky start from Cannock the hosts took the lead through a clinical finish from forward Tom Minall convering his chance with a one on one against the Stourport keeper. The visirots replied with a short corner which was converted by a good drag flick. With the score level at 1-1 Cannock drove on to try and open the 2nd half of the season with a win.

Richard Parker playing from the back distrusting the ball with pin point accuracy saw Callum Swinnerton-Ions grab a goal from a stupendous angle. Minall found the goal again with nicely placed reverse which was quickly followed with a goal from Jordan Joiner. Back down the other end of the pitch kepper Tony Blower making his 2nd Team debut in his first full season at the club pulled off some superb saves to cover all corners of the goal to stop Stourport having any success.

Stourport pressed hard in the dying minutes and were rewarded with two goals but MOM Dan Hibbert was untouchable and made a snaking run from Cannock's D to the visitors with ease to sadly be denied eventually getting his goal late in the game.

A good solid match to start the new year!

MOM - Dan Hibbert
DOD - Lewis Round missing an open goal

Cannock 4s vs Rugby & EW 4s (Home on Pitch 2 @ 12.30pm)

Cannock 4's returned to league action after a six week Xmas break and it looked like too much Christmas pudding had been consumed! The hosts struggled to move the ball and despite lots of possession deep in their own half it was easily squandered higher up the field. Defensive errors were to blame for all of Rugby's three goals, the first saw the visotrs take the lead and only a stroke of luck at a penalty corner got Cannock back into the game at 1-1. The men in maroon then took the lead but soon gave the game back to the vistors going 3-2 behind. An fantastic game for the netural continued to ebb and flow and when Cannock missed a flick it looked like they had lost further ground on their relegation rivals but luck was firmly on the host side this week and they won only their second game this season without captain Raff Mosctiello rnning out 4-3 winners! Cannock's goals were scored by Welsh Wizard James Grifitths, veteran Dave Wigg, midfidler George Collins and the returning Mike Chadderton.

MOM - Keeper Noah Hutching on his debut making several key block and kicks.

DOD - Dave Bradbury.

Cannock 5s vs Bridgnorth 5s (Brignorth LC @ 3.30pm)

A combination of factors, including a change to the published start time, watching the Indoor finals and a rank inability to tell the time, meant that the 5ths warmed up with 9 players and started the game with 10 in a tough away fixture against 3rd placed Bridgnorth. However the visitors played tough, resilient hockey and forced an early penalty corner. Greg Bloomer received the ball from the injection and drove his way through the Bridgnorth defenders to fire home and give Cannock the lead. For the first 10 minutes of the game, Cannock's 10 players bossed the game, before the latecomers finally arrived. Surprisingly, bring the side up to full strength meant that Cannock lost their structure and allowed Bridgnorth back into the game. However, they created more chances of their own and extended their lead thanks to a well taken goal by birthday boy Paul Martin.
Bridgnorth, who as is customary at home, appeared to have 13 players on the pitch and used these extra 2 men to force a series of dubious penalty corners. However, the Cannock defence stood firm and thanks in particular  to 2 spectacular goal line clearances from Karl Owen, the scoreline remained the same until near the end of the half, when Bridgnorth capitalised on a defensive error, when the keeper obstructed the blameless Matt Wheldon and prevented him from stopping a reply from the home side, making it 2-1 to Cannock at the break.
Half time saw a call to return to the disciplined, hard-working play that had seen so Cannock dominant earlier in the game. Bridgnorth decided to use their most athletic, talented player (who mysteriously arrived prior to the game in the Cannock changing room, wearing his away kit, despite it being a home game...) in a more attacking role. However, he was frustrated at every turn by the Cannock defence and was unable to have an impact on the game, thanks mainly to the deft skills of Karl Owen.
Cannock needed the security of a 3rd goal and got it through the tireless Lee "Swampy" Marsh. Never was a goal so richly deserved. Bridgnorth again relied on their 12th and 13th men to force more short corners (12 in total) but to no avail, as the Cannock defence went into full Alamo mode. Eventually the final whistle went, signalling a justified 3-1 win to Cannock.
Selecting a Man if the Match was no easy task, with no fewer than 7 nominations, but Evan Alcock, in only his 2nd game for the side was thoroughly deserving of the award.

MoM - Evan Alcock

DoD - Jonny Machin

Cannock 'Mixed' vs Bloxwich 'Mixed' (Sunday at home on Pitch 2 @ 3pm)

Cannock Mixed Team started their 2017 cup campaign under new Captain Aaron Wilkes against local rivals Bloxwich at home on a cold Sunday afternoon at Chase Park. The team was played in fantastic spirit from both sides at which Cannock eventually ran out conving 10-0 winners.