Scorer(s): L Morris-Fletcher, N Bandurak 2, C Bolt

Cannock travelled to Nottingham for their opening league fixture and started brightly with some nice passing moves and a high tempo. New recruit Lloyd Morris-Fletcher, who was very impressing on debut, opened the scoring with a rocket strike into the far corner to the delight of his travelling supporters. Cannock pressed the Nottingham goal and earned several short corners but were unable to extend their lead and went into the break 1-0 up.

Cannock started the second half well and soon went 2-0 up thanks to the ever dangerous Nick Bandurak who had bagged 4 in the corresponding fixture last season. The visitors then experienced a period of loose play and took their foot off the pedal which was folly against a battling side like Nottingham and they pulled a goal back with 20 minutes to go. More slack passing followed and the Cannock captain capped a scrappy 5 minute spell by gifting the ball to the Nottingham centre forward from a 16 yard hit just seconds after berating his team-mates for their poor passing. This lead directly to a short corner which was flicked low past the unsighted Cannock 'keeper to level the match at 2-2.

In danger of dropping points at the first time of asking Cannock fought to regain control and goal-a-game striking supremo (his words) Chris Bolt put them back into the lead with 10 minutes to go. Cannock 'keeper James MacPherson had to be alert to foil the home side as they pushed forward in search of the equaliser but it was Bandurak who showed his love of Goosedale yet again with a cheeky lob over the prone goalie from an acute angle to make it 4-2 to Cannock at the final whistle.

The Fours played some nice hockey despite some early season cobwebs and look to take this form into the match with leek at home next week.

Andy Orford