England
Men’s Masters O50
Shield Final
Queen Elizabeth Olympic
Park,
1st May 2016
Old Loughtonians (3) 4 v 2 (1) Charnwood
Mountsorrel
|
Camilleri Garner (2) Padfield |
Stanton-King Fox |
Charnwood Mountsorrel were unable to make a successful defence of the title they
won last year, going down to a strong Old Loughtonians side at the sun-drenched
Olympic Park.
They got off to the worse
possible start, losing possession within the first few seconds and gifting Old
Loughts a penalty corner from which they scored. It took the Champions a while to settle,
having to defend a series of penalty corners in the early stages. Dave Fox was a threat up front, however, and
he went close to levelling the scores following an excellent run and shot. After a period of pressure, Charnwood were
awarded a penalty stroke when a goal-bound shot hit a defender on the line –
Kevin Stanton-King converted the stroke to the keeper’s left. Unfortunately, parity was short-lived, as Old
Loughtonians struck on the counter attack to regain the lead. Charnwood missed a number of good chances to
get back into the game and paid the penalty when Old Loughts extended their
lead to 3-1 by scoring just before the break.
Charnwood Mountsorrel came
out strongly in the second period, forcing a number of saves from the Old
Loughts keeper, but were unable to convert any of the penalty
corners that they won. Old Loughts were
a threat throughout, however, and striker Garner scored the goal of the day,
converting expertly after a strong attack by the right winger to make it 4-1. In a game that ebbed and flowed, Charnwood
were given a late lifeline when the marauding Fox was cynically fouled in front
of goal, but Stanton-King’s penalty stroke was saved by the Old Loughts’
keeper. However, Fox was on target in
the next attack as his excellent first touch created space for him to finish
well. There was no time left to maintain
the pressure, however, and Charnwood went down 4-2 the
The Charnwood squad had had
a good season and enjoyed their day, but will regret not being efficient enough
in each circle at the critical moments during the game.
Squad:
(l-r):- I.
Wilkes, C. Waterfield (c), D. Fox, E. Allen, D. Allen, P. Oakman, T. Metson
(GK), V. Patel, T. McKee, H. Navsaria,
R. Matharu, W.
Relf, K. Stanton-King