Men's 1st XI Vs Streetly 1

With three games to go in the season, Telford and Wrekin Men’s 1st XI were already promoted and travelled to Streetly on a warm early Spring Day. 

With four absent, Will Gough and Luke Stacey be called up to the side with a good opportunity for them to get some good minutes with the season’s objective already complete. Callum Stacey also returned following a hand injury. 

Telford got off to the worst possible start and were caught out by an aerial which found a free Streetly defender who finished well past Neil Davies. 

There was an immediate response by the divisions runners up as Cal Stacey marked his return with drag flick. Minutes later Dave Tracey made it 2-1 as he converted Liam Hennessy’s attempted shot at the back post. 

Stacey made it 3-1 with his second, this time from open play, his first in almost 8 years. After roaming through the middle of the pitch Stacey was first to a rebound and slotted the ball under the keeper’s pads. 

Tracey got his 2nd and 3rd in quick succession with two thunderous strikes from the top of the ‘D’, and almost had a 4th as Telford advanced down the right and pulled the ball back to the forward whose shot was saved by the keeper’s face. 5-1 at half time and Telford were cruising, playing some good hockey on a difficult surface. More of the same was the message at the break as the side knew that more goals were there for the taking. 

Streetly, to their credit made it much more difficult for Telford in the second half and stifled their attacks by defending their ‘D’ well and looking to hit on the counter. Telford had chances but some sloppy passing in the final third let them down. 

Telford’s 6th came from Tracey again as Liam Hennessey linked with him again to finish into the empty net and score his 20th goal of the season. Streetly hit back to make the score 6-4 as Telford were reduced to ten men on several occasions, but this played into the visitor’s hands as they sat deep, soaked up the pressure, and hit Streetly on the counter. 

Tom Mallett was unlucky to see his goal chalked off, and Callum Nightingale added a 7th with seconds left on the clock to wrap up a 7-4 win. Telford welcome Burton to St George’s on Saturday as they look to put right the 1-1 draw in the return fixture earlier on in the season.