YARDLEY Hockey Team registered their first win of the season after a hard won battle with Barlaston which saw them take the lead in the last ten minutes of the game.
Yardley took charge of the game immediately from the start and within the first five minutes forced a penalty stroke after a shot on goal was stopped on the line by a defender’s foot.
Unfortunately Yardley could not take full advantage from this as skipper Zach Jarvis’s powerful drive hit the post and rebounded to safety.
Yardley’s recently improved form over several recent weeks continued as Barlaston struggled to contain the lively attacks from the visitors and after twenty minutes it was no surprise that they took a deserved lead albeit in a rather comical fashion.
Alex Makepeace’s deflected scoop shot deceived the home goalkeeper and a couple of defenders as it landed and slowly rolled into the goal.
Yardley continued to attack but could not add to their advantage and as half time approached a rare breakaway from the Barlaston forwards gave the home side the chance to level the match at 1-1.
Having failed to make their first half dominance pay, Yardley found Barlaston more confident in the second half and were forced to defend a number of attacks from the home team.
However, Yardley were still enjoying the majority of the game and with ten minutes to go a sweeping attack came to Kamran Mir in the D. He squared the ball to Noor Zaman who did not waste the opportunity to restore the visitor’s lead.
As full time approached the game became a rather more feisty affair as Barlaston tried to find a second equaliser but Yardley’s defence remained solid as they registered their first win of the season.
This week Yardley face a home game against Droitwich, the team just above them in the Warwick Printing Hockey League West Midlands Division One.
