England Hockey Men’s Masters O50 Trophy Round 1

18.10.15

 

West Bridgford 3 (1)  v  Charnwood Mountsorrel 2 (1)

 

 

A depleted Charnwood Mountsorrel squad faced new opposition at the West Bridgford School ground in the first round of the England Hockey Masters O50 tournament.  A number of absentees meant that Charnwood fielded a bare minimum side, with two players carrying injuries which severely restricted their movement.

 

Charnwood made a really bright start, however, dominating the first quarter with swift, accurate passing leading to a number of half-chances.  Ravi Matharu, skipper Chris Waterfield and Kevin Stanton-King were instrumental at this point and the good play was eventually rewarded when Waterfield finished a disrupted penalty corner routine with a firm shot past the keepers left hand.  As the half progressed, the home side came more into the game and pulled level from open play when a scramble in the circle fell to their forward who finished well.  Both teams had chances to take the lead, but it remained 1-1 at half-time.

 

It was the away team that re-took the lead in the second period, as Will Relf worked a penalty corner to his left, where Ian Wilkes finished expertly.  This was a rare attack by Charnwood, as the strength of the West Bridgford squad took its toll on the hard-working Charnwood side.  The home team equalised from a penalty corner, when poor marking left two players alone at the far post and a simple chance was converted.  At this point, Charnwood were limited to sporadic attacks, but one led to Hash Navsaria having a fine effort pushed round the post by the diving home keeper.

 

West Bridgford scored the winner with 15 minutes to go when a quick breakaway resulted in an unmarked forward lifting the ball over the helpless Tom Metson in goal.  Charnwood responded with vigour, but failed to significantly trouble the home defence, who marshalled the injured forwards Paddy Oakman and Wilkes well.

 

Charnwood will now go into the Shield and will hope to replicate last year’s good run in the third-tier tournament.

 

Squad:

T. Metson (GK), E. Allen, D. Allen, T. McKee, R. Matharu;

H. Navsaria, K. Stanton-King, C. Waterfield (c), W. Relf;

P. Oakman, I. Wilkes