England Hockey

Men’s Masters O50 Shield Final

 

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Lee Valley Hockey Centre

3rd May 2015

 

Bournemouth (0) 1  v  2 (0)  Charnwood Mountsorrel

Goodbourn

Taylor, C

Oakman

 

Charnwood Mountsorrel rounded off a great weekend for Leicestershire hockey following in the footsteps of Vase Winners Coalville Town to capture the inaugural Masters O50s Shield.  Second half goals from Colin Taylor and Paddy Oakman were enough to give them the title in a hard-fought battle with Bournemouth.

 

The first half was an even affair, with Bournemouth going close with a shot that flashed just wide of the post.  At the other end, the Bournemouth goalkeeper had to be on his mettle, but he showed good awareness to get out of his goal well to repel the Charnwood attacks, lead by Colin Taylor.  It was level at the break, but both sides had had their chances.

 

Into the second half and Charnwood nearly converted their first penalty corner, Colin Taylor denied by a superb goal line clearance.  The game ebbed and flowed, with each team having periods of sustained pressure without reward, as defences held sway.  It was Charnwood who drew first blood after a lovely flowing move culminating in Mark Taylor freeing Colin Taylor in the circle. He jinked inside the last defender and fired a lovely strike into the bottom corner.  Charnwood had their best spell now, with Mark Taylor in irresistible form, but stout defending denied them a further score.  Bournemouth rallied and levelled the scores, a nice turn and shot inn the circle was turned in at the far post by an unmarked forward.  This was a rare blemish by the Charnwood defence, expertly marshalled by Dave Allen and Ravi Matharu.

 

Parity didn’t last long however and Charnwood soon re-established their lead.  The outstanding Oakman cut in from the right, faked a cross and found a gap at the near post from the narrowest of angles, beautifully deceiving the goalkeeper.  That proved to be the winner and despite some nervy moments, Charnwood Mountsorrel took the trophy back to Leicestershire with them.

 

 

Squad:

Rear:  E. Allen, W. Relf, R. Matharu, K. Stanton-King, C. Taylor, I. Wilkes, D. Allen, T. Metson (GK), Mark Taylor,

Front:  A. Seymour, T. McKee, H. Navsaria, C. Waterfield (c), P. Oakman, Matt Taylor (Manager)