The day began with Lansdown M1s heading in an unusual direction, North on the M5! to rainy Wolverhampton for their last preseason friendly v Finchfield.
The game started with a period of stoic defence from Lansdown as Finchfield pressed high and well with Lansdown unable to get the ball clear. This was ended by the champagne moment of the game as Nick picked the ball up on our 25 and proceeded to repeatedly beat the 3 same players following him up the pitch to the opposition D. The champagne moment did not unfortunately include the shot, but this turned the tide for Lansdown who then enjoyed a period of sustained possession and repeated attacking turn overs. One said turn over lead to Nick receiving the ball on the p spot, falling in the keeper, pushing him down whilst getting up to flick the ball high into the net past the defenders retreating to the goal line: 0-1 and HT!
After a positive half time team talk Lansdown went out to “keep doing the same”. Lansdown continued in the same vain but Finchfield upped the anti with both teams creating plenty of chances and with it, more niggly fouls. Nick succumbing to a green card for apparently deliberately tripping a player, then later yours truly getting a yellow for definitely deliberately tripping a player. A string of penalty corners for Finchfield brought a brilliant saves from MoM Tom Pinless, one of which was then followed up by a sweetly struck tomahawk into the Lansdown net: 1-1.
Lansdown then pressed high with Luke picking the ball up on the base line and hammering the ball across for a tap in, unfortunately too close to the goal keeper… but he tapped it in for him anyway (‘twas a cross): 1-2
Finchfield pushed hard again for an equaliser and with another penalty corner, burying a strong low drag flick into the bottom corner to make it 2-2 final score.
A strong performance to take us into the season.
2-2
Scorers: Nick Mahon and Luke Ashenhurst
Cards: Nick Mahon (g) and Stuart Kedge (y)
MoM: Tom Pinless for some brilliant saves
DoD: Stuart Kedge, needless yellow card