| Match Report |
Telford 2s travelled to Sutton Coldfield to face their 3rd team in a late game on the smurf turf under the lights. Despite Sutton’s position in the table they were coming off the back of a good result the previous week and having scored in most of their games so Telford knew this wasn’t a fixture to be taken lightly. Missing Jordan Keeble and Own Shave through injury as well as Will Lorenz being unavailable, Telford welcomed Sahib Dhanjal and Matt Denver back into the side as well as Adam Phizacklea appearing for the first time this season for the 2s. A reshuffled Telford defence retained possession for large parts of the opening of the game, patiently transferring the ball well and tiring out the Sutton press. It took some time to get used to the bounce of the pitch but Telford were making good in roads and would have had more clear-cut opportunities had some dubious umpiring decisions gone their way. The deadlock was broken however when Luca Basini set up John Perry on the top of the D, sniffing his first goal of 2023, Perry switched the ball onto his reverse and unleashed a great strike into the top left of the goal, leaving the keeper and the Telford bench stunned. Sutton however continued to offer a threat the other way, Nathan Capes in goal having to make a smart save from less than a yard out, the Telford defence of Tom Bullock, Luke Stacey and Matt Denver however remained strong, albeit did drop to 10 men when Denver was shown a green for frustration with yet more interesting umpiring calls.
At half time the message was to make more of the space that was certainly there for the taking and to keep the mouths shut, albeit that Telford were playing well and the goals would come if they kept playing the right way. In the second half a tactical reshuffle from manager Tom Williams quickly reaped reward when Tom Jones slipped a short corner to the right to find Lewis Moore to slot the ball home for his first goal of the season. Shortly after, both Tom Jones and then Adam Phizacklea spent time in the sin bin with green cards which slowed Telford’s progress towards more goals but the team were able to keep defensively solid. Back to their full complement, Telford were starting to play some lovely passing hockey, epitomized by the third goal where Sean Huffer found space on the right side baseline before delivering an inch perfect slide pass to the back post to Sammy Brazier. Brazier took several touches but was able to tap the ball home for his first goal for the 2s. Seven minutes later it was 4-0, Tom Jones having a goal bound effort blocked by a defender’s leg, with Huffer burying the resulting penalty flick to the keepers right with aplomb. Telford lost Matt Hadley-Moore to a yellow card with seconds left on the clock but by this stage the 3 points were secure to make it 12 wins from 12.
Man of the match in truth could have gone to half the team, Lewis Moore, Sammy Brazier, Matt Denver and Luca Basini would have all been worthy recipients but Luke Stacey got the award for an outstanding all round game at the back.
Next week Telford welcome Edgbaston to St George’s looking to continue their winning run.
Goals: John Perry, Lewis Moore, Sammy Brazier, Sean Huffer
Assists: Luca Basini, Tom Jones x2, Sean Huffer
MOM: Luke Stacey |