1st Team Vs Tamworth 1

It was second place against third on Saturday in what may prove to be a pivotal encounter this season. Old Wulfs welcomed Tamworth 1 to the Grammar School and were looking to leapfrog their rivals, at least temporarily.

In a repeat of what happened against Finchfield, despite being confident at the start, Wulfs went a goal down early after their striker pounced on a miscontrolled ball by Simon Palmer to put the visitors one up.

After that false start, Old Wulfs took the game by the scruff of the neck and used their pace and movement to grab a quick string of four goals. First was an emphatic volleyed shot from Andy Hobley, then a simple tap in from Archie Harris. Owen Shave deflected in from a penalty corner pushed to the right post, and then Darryl Ablard did the same off a penalty corner sent to the left post.

Frustratingly, Tamworth then got themselves back into it with a couple of goals of their own, but Wulfs managed one more via Hobley to make it 5-2 at the break.

In the second half it was pretty much one-way traffic. Old Wulfs’ attacking prowess and midfield dominance proved just too much for Tamworth as they constantly got in behind their defence, carving out chances and winning penalty corners.

There was continued success from penalty corners too, when the second half saw both Richard Saunders and Will Ashworth score from routines involving a one-two with Palmer.

Other goals in the half included a solid strike from Shave after a Wulfs overload, and also another from Ablard who converted a penalty stroke – awarded after a Tamworth defender scythed down Hobley on his way towards goal. In all, nine goals from the home side who registered a thumping 9-3 win.

Tamworth went back up to second with a win against Newtown in a reorganised Sunday game, but all the pressure is on them to stay there with a single point now the difference.

Man of the Match – Matt Griffiths