Great Performance

The Finchfield 1st Team completed their pre-season programme against Edgbaston this week, again another team from Midlands Div 1. Finches were at full strength with the returning Craig Roberts & debutant Jack Gibson starting for the 1st time. They set-up with an attack minded formation that started quickly to impress, with chances for Richard Saunders and Ian Bradley early on, which unfortunately they couldn’t convert. After a period where both sides probed to find a way through their opposition’s defence, Edgbaston struck first with a straight strike from a penalty corner driven low passed Alex Crowe and James Dyson. This spurred Finches on and they levelled through a reverse stick shot from Bradley. Finches continued to push for another goal for the lead, with great work from Jandu, Boyle & Roberts, but were thwarted just before half time when a Edgbaston went 2-1 up while Finches were making a rolling substitution. With their tails up, Edgbaston pushed from a third goal but the defence, commanded by Matt Stocken & Dan Birch, held out till half time despite Jack Gibson being green carded for a strong challenge with his opposite number.
The second half started at 100mph and Finches equalised straight away with a great through ball from Andy Stephens to Craig McGarry whose pass to Saunders ended with a shot rebounded off the foot of the post and was tucked away by Gibson passed a stranded goalkeeper. Edgbaston went 3-2 up with a fast break, but Finches drew level again shortly after, with a snap shot from Chris Jones. Finches squandered chance after chance but continued to push for a winner. Edgbaston got the winner following a good spell of interplay between their forwards.
Finchfield 1sts shouldn’t feel too aggrieved with the result as if they play with the same intensity in the league they’ll be well placed to be in the mix for promotion once again.
Man of the match went to Jack Gibson.