Men's 1st XI Vs Northampton St 1

Telford came into Saturdays home game on the back of a tough run of fixtures looking to get back to winning ways against Northampton Saints. Although missing Vince Richardson (chocolate hamstring) and Liam Hennessy (work), they could welcome back the duo of Phillip Bailey and Jack Mallett.

Telford started the game strongly, pouncing on any Saints mistakes and creating a number early chances. Phillip Bailey particularly enjoying a lot of space down the right. A number of penalty corners came and went for Telford, with the scoreline remaining 0-0 through a combination of shots going just wide or being charged down. The deadlock was broken when Dave Tracey found Tom Mallett just outside the D, who proceeded to weave through a crowd of players before finishing on the backhand. Mallett soon made it 2 when he once again beat a number of players, this time on the baseline, firing the ball at the the keeper, before picking up the rebound and flicking the ball into the roof of the net.

Saints then began to work their way into the game, but the backline and screens holding firm, limiting then to one penalty corner, which was defected wide by Chris Heath. Towards the end of the half they began trying to exploit Telfords left flank, but Will Gough read the play well making a number of interceptions, stopping the attacks before they could begin.

The second began with Telford knowing that although they had controlled the game that the next goal would potentially be defining. The game became scrappy, with Telford not showing the same composure as in the first half, but still having the majority of the play. They kept pressure up on the Saints D, creating a number of opportunities, but failing to add to their tally. That was until Sam Pratt picked out youngster Ollie Brannan, who drove into the D before slotting a pin point shot across goal and into the bottom corner for his first goal for the ones. 

Telford saw the game out comfortably, securing their first clean sheet of the season in a 3-0 win.