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West Midlands Police Men’s Hockey Team took on Olton in a mid-week “Veterans” Match at St. Martins School, Solihull on 21st October 2021.
West Mids were unable to field a full O’35 side so both sides fielded 15 players with nearly a 40 year age gap between their most senior and junior players.
With the influx of new players continuing, West Mids again spent a large portion of the warm up introducing themselves to half the team. Finding out this was a side light on defenders and forwards, stand in Captain, Sam Straw decided on a 352 formation which had worked well in previous games.
The game started with each side trying to figure each other out in this first encounter between them but as the half wore on Olton started to gain dominance and created more, clear cut chances. Olton finally scored from their second penalty corner in the closing minutes of the first half, while Mids had little to show for their efforts.
The second half started as the first half ended however West Mids were able to create a few more opportunities in Oltons D. Then, Martin Boyle chased what looked like a lost cause and drove in to the D and squared the ball to Gaz Unett who scored at the far post to equalise.
Olton didn’t let up and some ill-discipline and not playing to the whistle by West Mids allowed Olton to easily work the ball around Neil Lindsay in the Mids goal to quickly take the lead for a second time.
Olton continued to attack, moving the ball well around in defence before finding the free forward, so as the game went into the final phases West Mids couldn’t keep up the high work rate that had seen them stay in the contest. Despite some fantastic saves from Neil Lindsay, Olton scored 2 more goals as the game came to a close.
The final score of 4-1 was perhaps a little harsh for all the effort West Mids players put into the game, however Olton were the better side on the night and West Mids will not play many sides who will be better in the future.
West Mids next game iis against Bloxwich HC in a mixed friendly in November. If you would like to join the:
Mixed Hockey Team please contact Neil Lindsay (PPU)
Ladies Hockey Team Sade Gerald (Firearms)
Men’s Hockey Team, Sam Straw (FCID) or Carl Dodgson (Walsall NPU)