Timperley Men’s Veterans Tournament 25.3.12

Charnwood Mountsorrel proudly returned to defend their trophy on a sunny Spring day in the north west, but were unlucky to miss out due to the vagaries of the points system and their inability to master the ‘penalty shuffle’ tie-breaker.

The team featured the tournament debut for Adrian Dewick, but had a number of regular players missing.

Charnwood 3 v Old Wulfrunians (Wolverhampton) 2

Weaver

Dewick

Dayman

Charnwood were slow out of the blocks, losing the early initiative to a sharp West Midland side. Two quick goals meant that the holders had a mountain to climb, but they showed fantastic resilience to work their way back into the match. Goalkeeper Mick Kelleher pulled off a series of fine saves to keep Charnwood in the game before goals by Mark Weaver, following a shot from Dewick which hit the left hand post, and Dewick himself, after a swift break from midfield, brought the teams level. Charnwood had control of the game for the final 10 minutes, with the midfield duo of Ian Dayman and Chris Waterfield dictating play, and got their reward when Dayman completed the comeback – Nigel Calow superbly blocked a defensive penalty corner attempt by Old Wulfs, fed the ball through midfield and Dayman was on hand to expertly finish beneath the ‘keeper.

Charnwood 2 v Crewe 1

Dayman

Dewick

Charnwood had to show their fighting qualities again in the second group game, having gone behind when a Crewe striker deflected the ball past the covering Kelleher. However, it was the holders who were playing the better hockey and they gradually got on top of the opposition. Dayman finished well to bring the sides level, firing powerfully through the Crewe ‘keeper, but it took a great goal-line clearance by Calow from a penalty corner to prevent the Cheshire side from re-taking the lead. Charnwood’s good play was rewarded late on, when Ross Merrick’s cross-shot from the left was expertly deflected in by Dewick.

Charnwood 1 v Bolton 1

Dewick

This last group game was a competitive affair, with Charnwood taking the lead when Dewick maintained his goal-a-game record by converting into the roof of the net following a cross by midfielder Nigel Rixon. Both teams had chances to score as the game ebbed and flowed, but, somewhat against the run of play, Bolton got an equaliser to end Charnwood’s winning run.

Much to their surprise, Crewe topped the group on goal difference, despite being beaten by the holders – this was a result of the points system which rewarded goals scored and narrow defeats with bonus points. Undefeated Charnwood were thus condemned to a three-way ‘penalty shuffle’ competition to determine which team would join the three group winners. Eventual runners-up Gloucester City were successful with their first three attempts, eliminating both Charnwood – for whom Waterfield and Dayman had their attempts saved – and Lichfield.

Squad:

M. Kelleher (GK); N. Calow, T. Kirk (c), T. McKee, R. Matharu;

N. Rixon; I. Dayman, R. Merrick, C. Waterfield, M. Weaver, A. Dewick.

Timperley record:-

Year	Position	Winners
2008	Finalists	Timperley
2009	Semi-Finalists [Lost 1-3 on shuffles v Chester]	Timperley
2010	Semi-Finalists [Lost 1-3 on shuffles v Bolton]	Bolton
2011	Winners [Won 3-0 on shuffles v Crewe]	Charnwood
2012	Second in Group [Failed to progress after shuffles]	Wolverhampton