Hartshill Strollers WFC
A community walking football club providing safe and fun opportunities for all abilities.
MATCH REPORT
Hartshill 0
Birmingham 3
o70’s.
The biggest celebration last night was the occasion, in that we put together a squad of 9 who all played their part in what I believe to be Hartshill’s inaugural o70’s WFA National Cup game. Even several played or watched who were involved in the o60’s winning team of 2016. But it’s fantastic that our club could field such a senior team as this.
The game itself was a disappointment with too many playing, in retrospect, outside their normal position or coming back from injuries and all 3 Birmingham goals (2 first half) came from defensive mistakes in our own half and we were punished. Our low goal policy had no effect as each chance was dispatched fast hard and along the ground into corners.
We had given this same team hard fought challenges at Rushall in the league and league cup, but Birmingham deserved to be winners in this one. We missed Mo in the centre who was injured and our shape was never the same.
From a performance point of view Dave Seddon came out with credit and flashes from Graham Crew, it was also good to see John Green playing and Tony Drew giving it a go out of goal. However too
many changes including a couple of blue cards contributed to a missfiring performance.
But congratulations to all including Les Fotheringham, John Gill, Stephen Driscoll , Stephen Arnold and Captain Stephen Nicholls.
Proud you did your best effort!
Best performances will come.
Grealish
Happy Sunday everyone, hope you're enjoying the sunshine. This group of Champions definitely are 😁🏆⚽️
It was a morning of 2 tournaments at Rushall Olympic for Hartshill o70’s, being the Midland League games to finish the season followed by 3 (of 7) League Cup games. The other 4 to follow on 2nd May with relevant finals.
A valiant and defiant Hartshill stripped down to a minimal squad of 6 with injuries and absences gave a very good account of themselves. They finished the league with two very credible 0-0 performances against Rushall and Abbeymead with stout defence and with captain Steve Nicholls (Nico) playing in an unaccustomed role in midfield offering threatening goal strikes, keeping opposition defences on their toes. Recently registered ‘lofty’ Andrew Stevens played his debut in defence alongside a steady Mo Singh, and John Gill (Gilly) in midfield and Steve Driscoll as the front runner. Over the 4 mini tournaments Hartshill finished in mid table and given the quality of opposition including Nottingham Reds and Forrest Vets (winners) was laudable.
We moved onto the Midland League Cup. A stirling performance against Bramcote included move of the match with Nico breaking through midfield and with 2 on 1 fed a perfect ball to Gilly to score. Hartshill continued to be the better team but Mo pulled up with a calf injury with time still to be played. The team held firm to complete a deserved 1-0 victory.
The referee endeared himself to the team by saying ‘ this is what walking football is all about’ but perhaps premature adulation as his own performance became increasingly finicky, pedantic and inconsistent in the next two games.
Next game was v Birmingham and Mo was brave enough to start so went up front while Nico reverted to defence. Strange decisions (for both sides) followed on interpretations of backing in, tackling from
behind and running, which was stamped on forcibly when ON the ball but allowed OFF the ball! Tony Drew was showing how difficult it was to beat him in goal with a couple of fine saves but after 10 minutes (of 15) a ball across the box and the attacker went past Lofty and scored into net. Birmingham (who will be the WFA National Cup opponents next Thursday 10th April at 8pm) game managed and ran out 1-0 winners.
The last and final game was against a ‘Nomad’ squad who could only field 5 players, and so we rested Mo. Tony Drew saved his best performance for this game. The referee gave another couple of curious decisions as DOGSO’s, and awarded penalties. The first one with divine providence Tony saved easily. 5 minutes later a second was awarded and duly despatched but the ref hadn’t blowed! On the re-take Tony did a great push over as the ball was hit with venom towards the roof of the net. The score finished 0-0 but ‘Nomads’ (should have been Coleshill) forfeited the match so Hartshill won 1-0
.
This sets the scene nicely for the 2nd May finals.
All in all an enjoyable mornings football, and credit to a depleted but stalwart six!
Great photos from walkingfootball.com ..what a great tournament this was. Well done Lou for organising it ⚽⚽⚽
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