Men's 2nd XI Vs Burton 2

Telford 2s welcomed upwardly mobile Burton 2s to a cold and grey St George’s on Saturday afternoon. Telford knew from results elsewhere in the league that avoiding defeat would secure the league title to go with promotion secured the week before.

Telford were missing Owen Shave and Sahib Dhanjal from the previous week, with Tom Jones, Matt Denver and Gareth Hawkins back in the squad as well as Nathan Capes returning in place of Bradley Williams in goal.

Telford made the quicker start of the two teams with Burton, who themselves were much changed from the side Telford faced away before Christmas, unable to contain the initial attacks. This led to Telford taking the lead within the first 5 minutes. Lewis Moore picking the ball up on the left side baseline and managing to find Matt Hadley-Moore on the penalty spot who finished clinically into the net. Burton were then able to grow into the game and had their equalizer shortly after. A short corner drag flick hit Jordan Keeble’s body and while the game rolled on and Burton were unable to find a way past Capes in goal, when the ball eventually went out, play was brought back for a penalty flick which was dispatched by the Burton forward. Shortly after, Telford gave away another short corner, Luke Stacey unlucky to see the ball deflect following a tackle and catch him on the head, with the corner then dragged well into the far corner. Telford however struck back soon after – Matt Hadley-Moore showing great stick skills to win a short corner from which Adam Phizacklea dispatched a drag flick of his own, leaving the score at 2-2 at half time.

The half time message was for Telford to be less passive and to go out and fight for the result. In the 35 minutes of the game that followed it became one for the purists, with hockey occasionally breaking out amongst what turned into a very scrappy affair. Luca Basini seeing green for reacting after the first of what would become a string of questionable tackles from the visitors. Capes was called into action on a handful of occasions, but with the defence in front of him showing timely interventions. Further forward, Matt Hadley-Moore was full of endeavor and close control, with Luca Basini running the show in a man of the match performance in midfield. Heading into the final few minutes, it was all Telford – winning a succession of corners, they were unable to convert, with the drag flick threat of Phizacklea missing due to an injury picked up in the first half. Matt Denver saw green with a couple of minutes left to go from frustration as Burton went on the attack, but Telford were able to hold on and secure the point that wins them the league.

While Telford were frustrated with not being able to continue their winning run in what turned into a scrappy game, they can take pride in this being the culmination of 16 games of hard work and great performances to secure their second promotion and league title in two years with four games to spare.

Next week Telford travel to second place Finchfield 2nds as they enter into the final month of the season.

Goals: Matt Hadley-Moore, Adam Phizacklea

Assists: Lewis Moore, Matt Hadley-Moore

Cards: Greens – Luca Basini, Matt Denver

MOM: Luca Basini