Men's Masters Over 40s Vs Clifton Robinsons

Telford & Wrekin Men's O40s made it through to the Quarter final of the EH Tier 2 Plate with a memorable 3-2 win at home to Clifton Robinson's on Sunday. The squad was still missing Neal Dolphin & Paul Duncan but were able to call upon youngster Tom Fisher for his first game in a Telford jersey for 20 years and Andy Lloyd & Raj Dhanjal returned following injuries. With several players still struggling with injuries and fitness we setup knowing we were going to be in for a tough game.

The visitors travelled with a bare 11 owing to their own injuries and unavailability, but it was clear from the first whistle that we were up against a team well versed at this level and it was clear to see how they've won this competition a few times in recent years. With Fish slotting in at the back next to Beef, we were solid defensively throughout and despite their possession in the first quarter the visitors didn't fashion many if any chances from open play. Often reverting to a back 3, we did well at breaking down their play and hitting them on the break with Tommy, Seato & Lloydy getting some joy up front, and Evo & Suchy finding space between the lines. A few nervous passes towards the end of the quarter across our D didn't do much to calm the nerves but Beef, Fish & John Middleton kept them at bay.

End of the first quarter and the message was clear, to stay in the game and stop the ball getting to their more dangerous players on the right. The second quarter started well and without creating any corners we looked more dangerous going forwards and from a break down our right the ball fell to Andy Lloyd in the D who looked to pass but when he wasn't closed down by anyone he glided towards the goal and with the keeper committed he slotted the ball to the near side to give us a 1 nil lead. Robinson's tried to respond but it was soon 2 nil when the ball was played into Lloydy who was again first to react on a loose ball in the D this time firing a great backhand shot from a tight angle off the sideboard to stun the visitors. We then lost Tommy to a ball to the ankle giving AJ an early run out off the bench. Robinson's managed to force a couple of corners towards the end of the half but the first was deflected wide of the post on the line by Moet and the second sailing wide of the same post.

Half time came and went and we were determined not to concede and give Robinson's a way back into the game but their keeper was unable to continue and they decided to pad up their centre mid and play with 9 outfield. To their credit this lifted the visitors who continued to play their expansive game and they tried to get back into the game, however when AJ had the ball out wide on his own their seemed little danger until he fired a reverse stick cross inside the D where a diving Andy Lloyd connected with the ball sending it towards the corner of the goal with the stand in keeper getting a slight touch on it before it nestled in the goal....3 nil up playing against 10 men for the remaining 32 minutes. Robinson's continued to press and with nothing to lose continued to commit numbers forward looking for a way back into the game. Within 5 minutes they had pulled a goal back from a scramble in the D and then on 47 minutes a reverse stick shot from the right side of the D deflected up off Moet's stick travelling at the goal where their forward gratefully deflected the ball high into the goal given John no chance and make the score 3-2.

With just the final quarter left to play Robinson's took the opportunity to go back to 10 outfield players in an attempt to force an equaliser. Chris Nightingale was tasked with playing as a high man in their D forcing them to pull one defender back to cover. More possession for Robinson's who showed no hint of any tiredness led to another quarter of cagey hockey with a "new" team like ourselves struggling to come to terms with playing against 10 men and with no goalkeeper. Despite the lack of possession Robinson's didn't create many chances of note and when a free hit was awarded to Beef on our 16, Fish looked up and could see Nighters in loads of space in their D so when he said "Find him", "Find him" Beef duly obliged and fired a diagonal ball straight to Nighters. Once he'd got the ball under control their covering defender was getting back towards him and with Nighters resisting the temptation to push the ball into the unguarded net, he took aim and backed all those hours of practice on the golf course only to shank his shot which went agonisingly wide of the far post. Robinson's were buoyed by this and continued to press but the defence held firm and when a late short corner was awarded the visitors sensed blood but the umpire spotted a foot in the D before the injection so the goal was ruled out and they were reduced to 9 for the remainder of the game for dissent. There was still time for one last shot from Robinson's midfielder at the top of the D but the ball evaded the forward's stick and missed the far post.

An entertaining and enjoyable game ended with one umpire mistakenly consoling Tommy for his miss thinking he was Nighters but a great performance again by the lads with a real mix of current and non players boding well for the future. Up next is a Last 8 tie on March 5th with the draw expected to be announced this week. We're going to have to start a GoFundMe to get Sunny a new shirt....

MOM : Lloydy
DOD : Chris "Ronny Rosenthal" Nightingale 

GOALS: Lloydy x 3

Pic;
Back: R Dhanjal, J Middleton, J. Woodrow, G. Summerhayes, T. Lauder, A. Lloyd, C. Heath, V Chumber
Front: T. Fisher, S Sahota, S Such, D. Seaton, P. Evans, A. Johnson, R Rosenthal.