Stourport Hockey Club match day roundup
A composed and professional performance by the men's 2nd Xi secured an important 4-3 away win against Olton & West Warwickshire on Saturday (February 7), which should now see them safe from relegation. Olton started strongly reacting quickest from two penalty corners to take an early 0-2 lead.
Olton started strongly reacting quickest from two penalty corners to take an early 0-2 lead. Stourport regrouped and responded well with two goals by William Murray in the 25th and 30th minutes, taking the sides into the halftime break level as 2-2. A calm and focused second-half display by Stourport saw them take control of the match, as Phil Baldwin scored a third, giving the visitors the lead for the first time in the match in the 40th minute.
Stourport gave themselves breathing space with a fourth by Ethan* in the 55th minute, before Olton pulled a goal back 10 minutes later from another penalty corner. Stourport's management of the closing stages of the match secured the win. This confident and disciplined performance provides a strong platform heading into a week off, before a home fixture with the league leaders, Harborne.
The ladies' 1st team fought out a tightly contested 1-1 encounter against visitors Birmingham University 2nd XI in their Women's Conference Midlands match. The opening half was a cagey affair with both sides struggling to break down the other. Birmingham enjoyed plenty of possession, but Stourport's defensive shape held firm, and any chances that did come their way were dealt with confidently. With the scores locked at 0-0 at halftime, Birmingham eventually made the breakthrough 10 minutes into the second half when they capitalised on their sustained pressure to open the scoring.
The visitors appeared to control the match from then on, as they pushed Stourport deep and threatened to extend their advantage. However, the fourth quarter saw a dramatic shift in the momentum of the match as changes in the Stourport coaches' tactics disrupted Birmingham's rhythm, who began to lose their structure and composure. Stourport sensed an opportunity and started to grow into the game. A response finally came when Laura Price was given a licence to hit the ball up the pitch; this more direct approach paid off immediately. As the visitors were forced onto the back foot, forcing a stressed goalkeeper into an error inside the D, which Price confidently placed into the goal in the 57th minute.
Birmingham continued to push forward, and only a string of outstanding saves by Fran Walker, who stood tall, frustrating the forwards to deny the visitors, and allowing Stourport the platform to mount the late response. Despite the late pressure from both sides, neither could find a winning goal, the match finishing 1-1
*Donates a Junior Player
Photographs: Stourport Men's 3rd XI 3-1 Hampton in Arden 3rd XI
