Stratford 3rd X1 – 3; Solihull Blossomfield – 1

Stratford 3^rd X1 – 3; Solihull Blossomfield – 1

Stratford hosted fellow promotees Solihull Blossomfield at the weekend and it was the local side that showed they were the ones that had adapted best to the higher league. They were more organised from the outset as they set about playing the 11 man hockey that has characterised their season to date.

Make no mistake Solihull Blossomfield are a good side. They pushed hard at the Stratford defence who stood firm, buoyed by some fine saves by keeper purser and some excellent marking form the back three of McBride, Austin and Dix.

Bird silenced the opposition playmaker from the outset and with the defence organised, Stratford started to make some telling attacks.

It was nil - nil at half time but Stratford had saved their best for a Golden patch in the first 20 minutes. If Solihull had their finger in the dyke for the first half then in 20 minutes they were blown away by a dominant display of passing Hockey. Coaché was tormentor in chief and set up Black with a beautiful reverse pass on the head of the D that opened the flood gates. A second for Black followed when released from midfield by Hugo Bates. Bates snaffled another moments later when Solihull got confused in defence and he pounced on the loose ball.

There were a number of hairy moments for Stratford as Solihull tried to force their way back into the game through a series of short corners but only managed the one gaol reply. Stratford are an improving side and are starting to feel confident at this new, higher level.

2ndTeamReport

Stratford 2nd XI    3     -    Warwick University 2nd XI   3

Stratford started their home campaign against one of the favorites for the division Warwick University, who as their name suggests fielded a team of 18-21 year olds and brought along four substitutes with them, which lead to a very energetic afternoon for Stratford. Stratford started brightly but the Uni side were the first to break the deadlock with a finish after three successive short corners had put the home team under pressure. That was the way it stayed until half time, with Jones, Reynolds, Warwick, Black and Rustler putting in a great deal of effort in midfield stopping the Uni side playing.

Warwick then scored straight away after half time giving the home side a mountain to climb, but Brookes slapped one over the keeper to keep hopes alive. Warwick then increased their lead and it would have been more conclusive, were it not for great defensive work from Forrester, Aiscough, Ralph and keeper Dudley, with the latter pulling off a number of good saves in goal. Captain white gave Stratford hope with a dipping strike off a short corner and then two minutes from the end another short corner was converted by Brookes off a Mark Reynolds pass to give Stratford a very important point and emphasizing their never die attitude.

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Hockey Report

Worcester 2nd XI      5       -       Stratford 2nd XI       3

 

After last years promotion Stratford started the new league season in Midlands Division 1, with a tough away trip against last years third place team in the division. Belying their infancy in the league, Stratford started very well and kept the ball for long periods of time frustrating the Worcester midfield and defence, so it was against the run of play that Worcester took the lead through a fortunate deflection off a short corner. Stratford came back swiftly though, with a well worked short corner, the cross from Reynolds was outrageously dummied by Howkins and Brookes, allowing Rustler to net at the back post. Worcester though scored another from a short before half time, nosing them ahead 2-1 at the break.

 

A rousing speech from captain Matt White sent Stratford bursting through with gusto and an acutely quick free hit has taken by Howkins, flipping it into the box to Rustler who flipped across to Brookes, volleying into the goal. Stratford looked good for the draw at this point, but two break away goals from Worcester opened up the defence which otherwise had looked very well formulated, with Bowen and Dudley marshalling from the back, Ainscough and White fighting hard with captain White taking one for the team in the face, allowing Forrester and Newbold to provide extra attacking impetus. Stratford got themselves back into the game again with Howkins firing a ball into Brookes, who poked between the keepers legs for his second. This however was somewhat of a false dawn, as Worcester scored a final goal to give the opposition the win. The score in all honesty did not reflect the game with Stratford at least good for a draw, the commitment shown however should bode well for the season and similar performances will certainly garnish Stratford greater rewards.

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