This end of season fixture played up to the old cliché of ‘a tale of two halves’. The first 25 minutes of the fixture were incredibly quiet with few real chances on goal. However after the early lack of action the game began to get a little more exciting just before half time with a number of short corners, one of which Birmingham would have taken the lead from, was it not for a top low, sharp save by the Nottingham Trent keeper.
Up to this point in the match the most -fiery event had been both sides giving the referee an ear-ache following some questionable and inconsistent decision making. However, just before half time the spectators were treated to a goal, and it went the way of Birmingham. It came from a free hit in the centre into the box, past everyone but a Birmingham man managed to get his stick on the end of it and make it 1-0.
In the second half Birmingham didn’t perform as well as they had in the first half and Nottingham quickly equalised. This made the run of play change completely as for the next 15 minutes Nottingham looked like a rejuvenated side having the better chances and should have probably taken advantage of this. However following one of many Nottingham attacks Birmingham broke through the centre, passed out to the man on the left who played it in low making it 2-1.
Nonetheless, almost immediately after this Nottingham struck back after they were given a cheap short corner which was converted to make it 2-2. The game had really livened up to this point and had opened up with short corner after short corner at each end. But, in the final few minutes of the game it was Birmingham who capitalised after a Nottingham short corner. It was a 3-on-2 attack played out left and put in. 3-2.
This goal made Nottingham take drastic action taking their goalkeeper off and bringing on a player to play in a sweeping role as they threw everyone forward. Birmingham managed to repel Nottingham final attacks and the game finished 3-2.
Men’s 1s Hockey v Notts Trent by Burnfm_Sport on Mixcloud
Ben Giblin.
