Re: Hockey Match Report Stratford 3rd's played on 21 March

Hockey match report. Barford Tigers 3^rd's vs Stratford 3^rd's. (Stratford were away)

Result: Barford 3 – Stratford 4

Stratford faced Barford away this weekend in their last league match of the season. Barford took first blood when they scored their first and dominated the first half of the match. Valiant Eric Furby diving magnificently to make a crutial tackle, was injured in the tackle and had to go off to receive medical treatment. This forced a change which saved the day for Stratford as evergreen Wood took up the sweepers spot and masterminded the construction of a defensive platform crucial to turning the match around, with building block's Austin, Stagg, Cawthorn and Hooker buoying up the team.

The second half saw Stratford come out all cylinders firing, fresh from an awe inspiring team talk by Captain McBride, one spectator commented "What did he (McBride) give those players during the break?" The answer, of course, was a heavy dose of motivation.

Stratford showed their ilk by digging deep, notably the injured Townsin playing through the pain and skipping round the opposition. This helped Stratford in making devastating breaks, the first came from Ed Hogg, with a well worked passing move swiftly up the pitch for Davey to lay up Hogg who's finish almost ripped the net. The next goal came from a defense splitting run by Dave Black, the ball found it's way to Davey who rocketed the ball past a frozen Barford keeper to bring the game back into Stratord's hands. Next up McBride, who startred the move from right back, followed up and was rewarded with Davey's deflection falling nicely into his path, McBride picked his spot and thrust home for Stratford's third goal. Barford pulled a goal back when their new sub came onto the field and caught Stratford unawares with his fresh legs. But it was stalwart Dave Bird who finished the game off with a short corner routine improvisation, when he was unable to set up Davey, Bird took it upon himself to drag flick with such fineness, it was likened to a kingfisher breaking the surface.

Stratford's Captain McBride commented after the match "A great game and a fitting end to a great season, with Stratford 3's finishing soundly mid -table in this higher league, I'm overjoyed with the boys performance. Roll on next season!"