Men's 1st XI Vs Leek 1

Telford hosted high flying Leek on Saturday, looking to put in a better performance than the previous week. They welcomed back the youthful duo of Phil Bailey and Sunny Sahota.

Early on Telford restricted Leek  territory well, forcing them into a number of errors. However it was Leek who had the first opportunity, when their forward found himself at free at the far post. With goal at his mercy he was thwarted by fine double save by Telford's keeper Neil Davies. It was then the Leeks keepers turn to pull out the stops, getting a good hand to a well struck back hand by Tom Mallett. Blows continued to be traded in the way of penalty corners, with Mallets low effort again being saved and Callum Stacey sliding a flick just wide. At the other end Stacy saved well on the line from a Leek drag flick,  before skipper Tom Gough charged down another. The deadlock was finally broken when a Leek forward wove his way to the top D and had time to strike the ball into to bottom corner, making the score 1-0 at half time.

Telford knew that they had put a good shift in, and were well in the game, but could not afford a second half like the previous week.

The second half way a cagey affair by both teams, with the next goal likely to be key. With time running out, and Telford still a goal behind both teams saw cards shown. With Telford pressing more in search of a goal, this lead to chances for both teams, with Davies doing well with a number of 1v1s. Leek thought that they had scored a second after the ball was forced over the line after a rebound, but the Leek player was rightfully found to have come through the back of Vince Richardson's stick, getting non of the ball. 

Despite Telford's best efforts they could not force the goal that would have given them a well deserved point, with the match finishing 1-0. Telford can take heart from putting in a performance like that against the team in 3rd when they visit top placed Khalsa next week.