The men’s football 1st XI made it three wins from their last three games as they beat Nottingham Trent 3-1 at a cold Bournbrook on Wednesday evening.
After their impressive 3-1 win on the road at Stirling last week, the Lions were looking to keep up their rich vein of form by taking all three points in front of a home crowd.
The first 15 minutes was a cagey affair, with Birmingham edging the possession. The game was played with little width, as the strong wind played its part. The game needed someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck. The men in red got the break they needed from the left hand side, when the impressive Birmingham left winger latched onto a cross and calmly slotted past the Trent keeper. Birmingham had the lead they deserved.
From this moment on, the game was played with far more fluency as Trent pushed for the equaliser. Just as the away side began to get into the game, spending more time in Birmingham half, the Lions broke down the right and won a free kick on the right hand side. The ball was fizzed into the box and Birmingham centre back Ben Healy was in the right place to guide the ball into the net for Birmingham’s second. At the half time break, the home side had the lead they deserved.
Trent came out of the blocks sharply in the second half, but Birmingham held firm when they needed to. Birmingham will feel hard done by the goal they conceded, as a cross looped over the keeper’s head finding its way into the net. Trent were back in it. The next goal would be vital, as both sides pressed high, tired legs began to show. When Birmingham won a free kick around the half way line it didn’t seem like a scoring opportunity. However, right back fresher, Ottis, had other ideas as he whipped a vicious ball into box, where his cross was met by Centre back Ben Healy’s head, sending the ball into the top right hand corner. 3-1 Birmingham.
From then on, it was a case of running the clock down and keeping the Trent response at bay. UoB did exactly that, until Trent were awarded a penalty following a rash challenge. Even so, it wouldn’t matter as the Trent striker rattled the crossbar. It was the story of their night as the game ended 3-1 to the home side.
One could sense the importance of this victory at the full time whistle for the Lions. They now have nine points from their last three games and will look to make it four out of four when they travel to Durham next week.
