Potters out fighting

This would have been a cracking game for the neutral spectator and as the game went on, increasingly so for our home fans. The game at 10am at Worcester University was played in a misty drizzle, which made for a zippy playing surface. New faces dominated in the Potters side this week, with a number of players making their debuts. After soaking up some early pressure, the Potters started to increasingly string together some great attacking moves. The ever-reliable Rees Bonham worked well in the centre of midfield with Stuart Boocock, creating a number of chances in the attacking third, while at the same time in our defensive third, Katharine Gascoigne-Wilson (on debut!), Liam Batchelor and Sam Brookes kept things tight. The pacey Lichfield strikers forced a number of saves from Austin Shipley in goal, but with 3 adults playing in the Lichfield team and at one point in the second half 4, the Potters were buzzing at half time, much the happier of the 2 teams with the scores level at 0-0. Two rotating subs throughout the game kept everybody sharp as the rain continued to fall, but whereas Lichfield edged the first half, the Potters definitely were the stronger in the second, with wave after wave of attacks in the latter part of the match. Dominic Hole and Ben Gough never gave up with their forward runs and it was through sheer persistence from Ben that the Potters finally took the lead with around 5-minutes of the game to go. Ben celebrated well, with leaps, spins and whoops of delight! Resolute defending prevented an equaliser, although Lichfield did manage to strike the post. Superb result for the 12 Potters junior players and their solitary adult, Adrian Shipley. A wonderful performance all-round and promising debuts for Hope Dickson, Grace Moseley, Azzaria Molla and Phoebe March. Man (Woman!) of the Match would go to Katharine Gascoigne-Wilson who played left back and considering she is new to Worcester Hockey Club and not 13 until next week showed real potential and will no doubt have the Ladies Team scouts out to watch her real soon. Match Report by Adrian Shipley