1st Team Vs Leamington

Old Wulfs faced a Leamington side who have been promoted into the league Old Wulfs have just come down from. There were changes to the side that played last week. In came Minton and Tibble from the 2s and Callum doubled up after playing for the 3s. Charles Palmer guested to add extra depth in attack.

Old Wulfs started the game rather slow and within the first 30 seconds conceded a short corner, this early chance for Leamington woke up the Old Wulfs team. The team played the ball around the back and patiently built up play winning a short corner. Palmers initial drag appeared to be going wide, but the defender on the line not sure flicked a stick at it and put it in the goal 1-0. Unlike the Old Wulfs of old where they would try to score a second. Old Wulfs kept possession for large periods of the game, and reducing the Leamington forwards to scraps of opportunities. Birch could have made it 2-0 but falling for a dummied kick by the keeper missed the chance to slide in at the back post after Tibble has picked him out. Dave Ward making his first appearance of the season got his chance at a short corner, his pass to Griff was stopped on the line by a Leamington body, penalty stroke awarded. Ablard scored the flick sending the keeper the wrong way 2-0. Old Wulfs continued to build patiently and pulled the Leamington defence apart winning another short corner before half time. Wardy’s strike was saved by the keeper who kicked it straight out to Palmer, who buried in the bottom corner 3-0.

Old Wulfs began the second half rather slow, and allowed a Leamington forward to find space. He drove through the defence avoiding challenges and the best efforts of Luke in goal to found the keeper and calmly slot away for 3-1. Any chance of a Leamington come back was quickly silenced after Charles scored Old Wulfs 4th with a well taken strike on the top of the Dee. Leamington had been warned earlier in the half when Callum hit the post and Old Wulfs had forced the Leamington keeper into more saves. Griff got Old Wulfs 5th after the Leamington keeper made another clearance, Griff with his back to goal turned and hit a snap shot into the bottom corner. Leamington beginning to tire and struggling to get out their own half at times tried to throwing aerials one of which did not clear Callum, who collected and hit volley just over the crossbar. Old Wulfs now finding more and more space picked apart the Leamington defence once more with a slick passing move. Built form the back, Palmer hit a ball through to Birch, who deflected the ball on target. The Leamington keeper saved, but Tibble was on hand to tap in the rebound 6-1.

Overall a great performance with the team enjoying their hockey and playing for another. Next Saturday it’s Stafford at Home, which will be another challenging game.

Man of the Match: Simon Palmer.