LTHC Men’s 1st XI 4 at Stourport Men’s 1st XI 2
MRHA T1 – Midlands Premier
Saturday 1st February 2020
The Men’s 1st XI travelled to Stourport for their game this week, and were met with instant setbacks due to some unforeseeable illness and late arrivals. Despite this, Town started the game with good intent.
There was a lot of early pressure with man of the match Charlie Dowse commanding the middle and half backs Sam France and Jim attacking very well down the sides. This early pressure spilled over into a penalty corner which Ian Johnston ripped passed a helpless keeper, 1-0 Town. Still clearly distressed about the shear pace of Johnston’s flick, the Stourport goalkeeper was abusive toward the umpire which ended in a yellow card.
This meant Town had a man up and an open net. Despite this Ethan Hoddle, who was suffering from illness, decided to blaze a shot wide of the open goal with the despairing Andrew Capel and Samuel Curd unable to get a touch. He then made up for this terrible miss by finishing into an empty net after a lovely exchange of passes with Nick Morris, 2-0 Town.
A rare attack from the opposition just before half time gave them a goal from a short corner drag flick put straight down the middle of the goal, putting the home side back in the game at 2-1.
After a stirring half time team talk Town came back out with aggression and intent. However Stourport applied the early pressure in the second half and levelled the game from another penalty corner.
This did not faze the Town who scored another through Johnston, an unbelievable show from another ill-stricken player. The final goal of the game came from some lovely work down the right with the ball finding its way to Samuel Curd who slipped the ball through his legs, and the ball fell to James Lewis to slot in the bottom left of the goal. Town held out and won the game 4-2.
A well fought win in the face of adversity, keeping them third in the table. Next week Town entertain top placed side University of Birmingham 2nd XI, looking for a better result than in the first half of the season.
