Cannock Hockey 

Weekend Report No 20 

Due to the effects of the snow this weekend Cannock's fixtures were decimated and despite valiant efforts to clear the snow only the first and second teams managed a game. 

1s 0 V 2 Preston 
Cannock travelled North again this week with a league fixture in Preston on a day that saw snow in the air. On a very slippery pitch Cannock struggled to get out of third gear. Preston capitalised on this lethergy and took the lead after 11 minutes, Cannock had opportunities to level the score before half time but a rebounded shot was sent wide. Preston pressed hard in the early minutes of the second half but as they started to run out of legs Cannock began to make inroads. They won a brace of corners but only found the bar rather than the back of the net. To add to Cannock's misery Preston forced a corner of their own and it looped in to make the final score 2 - 0 to the home side. 
 

DoD Swinny forgot shirt 
MoM Manny for lots of running  
 
2s 2 V 6 Loughborough University 

Callum Swinnerton-Ions started the game with pace from the start which was rewarded with a penalty stroke, after a wild stick tackle from Loughborough's keeper stopped him scoring. Aaron Wilkes converted the stroke into a goal to give Cannock the lead. Cannock maintained the early control and up the kept pressure but Loughborough got one back from a corner and  then took the lead with another from the field. Cannock responded with another from Wilkes to level the scores. Just before half time Loughborough went 3-2 up despite Cannock having the better of the pressure. As the  second half started Cannock let in an early goal and from there on Loughborough had the momentum and the flood gates opened. 

MoM - Norwood for being solid although he did try to get hit by provoking their team. 

DoD - Wilkes - he went to defend Joe thinking Loughborough had started it. Also put a drag down the middle. 

2s 4 – 1 Boots 

On Sunday Cannock travelled to Derby to play their latest Cup game. They ran out  4-1 winners with 3 goals from Aaron Wilkes and 1 from Lewis Round. Joiner missed a sitter that anyone else would have scored but decided to hit it really hard at the keeper from the p spot. Anyway leaving late, arriving late and on a cold and wet day cannock headed to Boots. Cannock scored first through a reverse flick from Wilkes into the top corner. A second goal from Wilkes left Cannock feeling confident  and they finished the half with strong passages of play which they converted into chances. After the break the visitors tired and the good hockey stopped and players resorted to dribbling and making poor decisions. Round fired a reverse passed the keeper and Wilkes flick his third from the top of the D. The poor play continued and an overloaded Cannock defense conceded a goal to Boots. The last 10 minutes where scrappy and players lacked discipline. Wilkes' hook over the fence would have been better seen over the road at Trent bridge. 

MoM - Alex Hill 

DOD - Wilkes forgetting his towel, shorts and being Aza. 
 

5s V The Snow 

Saturday morning dawned with a covering of snow on the ground. The call went out for snow shovels, brushes and more importantly, people to operate them, in order to attempt to get the  local derby played. 
An initial squad of Callum McGarrie, Matt Wheldon, Cameron Horn and Rufus Horn we're joined by 5th team wannabe Aza Wilkes. 
Further reinforcements arrived in the form of Phil Micklewright, Jonny Machin and Evan Alcock. However, Evan's grandad, Laurie, advised that there was more chance of Hell freezing over than defrosting the pitch, so the decision was taken to call it a day. 
At that point, Paul Martin and brother Eddie arrived, along with Karl Owen and his 2 daughters. A decision was made to hold a special snow-skills session, involving snowball fights, snowman building, snow shovel cricket and writing in the snow. The highlight was building a snow ramp/kicker. The girl's sledge was hijacked and multiple attempts were made to cause spinal injury, utilising said kicker. 
Eventually a decision was made to end the shenanigans and adjourn for lunch at the Podge and Tin restaurant in Cannock. 
Whilst there, Evan Alcock made heroic, if rather suicidal bid for Man of the Match by slurping 2 tablespoons of fiery chilli sauce through a straw and the snorting black pepper. He is young and foolish, but he will learn... 
DoD goes to Robbo: His excuse for not helping to clear the pitch was "I've got to go to ballet."