LTHC Men’s 2nd XI 3 vs Harborne Men’s 2nd XI 3
MRHA T1 – Midlands 2
Saturday 18th January 2020
The Men’s 2nd XI showed a strong performance against a well drilled Harborne side. Captain Lamb stressed the need for a good start and the team appeared to take his message on board. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case. As usual Town decided to pretend the first half doesn’t actually count towards the score.
Despite early possession Loughborough’s defence decided that leaving a Harborne player in the D to himself was a sensible choice. Inevitably the ball found its way to the forward who made Dhuita look silly by chipping it up and lobbing him from the penalty spot.
One quickly became two as a sloppy turnover allowed Harborne a tap in and leave Town in an unfortunately all too familiar position.
Town as usual picked up and efforts from Hatley and Henderson helped lift spirits. This hope was quickly snuffed out as Harborne were awarded a penalty stroke which was dispatched. Half time and Town looked out of it at 3-0 down.
But this is Town, “Kings of the comebacks” and a strong team talk saw Town start well. Henderson banged a trademark reserve at goal which forced a good save from the keeper. Gutteridge came close also.
A spark was needed to help start the comeback. Up stepped Club Captain Parry. A tactical switch by Lamb to move the danger man further forward paid instant reward with Parry unleashing an unstoppable reverse hit into the roof of the goal. 3-1 and a lifeline. One became two and three quickly as Barnaby Sargent-Megicks, scored two quick goals.
From there the game became scrappy with Henderson picking up the traditional card and two Harborne players also joining him on the sideline at different times.
With the game finely poised but Town in the ascendancy, David Ottewell decided to challenge his teammates. Unbeknownst to the rest of the players he had taken a strong dislike to a Harborne forward, and lunged into a two foot tackle. The result a 10 minute yellow that ended his game.
Town defended with a spirit that would have served them well in the first half and held on for a 3-3 draw. Pundits will question how high Town could be if they took the first half of games seriously.
Town will look to improve next week with a trip to play bottom of the league Leek.
