3 wins in 3 for Men’s 1st team

Worksop 1sts 2 Halifax 1sts 5
Bairstow, Bamforth (2), Graham M, Love

Halifax maintained their run of wins in Yorkshire League Division 2 win a mixed performance against a solid and uncomprimising Worksop 1st X1.

As in the previous game the lads started strongly using their passing skills to carve the Worksop team apart and it wasn’t long before the 1st goal arrived after a good move down the left resulted in the ball falling loose in the D and youngster Matthew Bairstow pounced on it to fire a reverse stick shot into the corner of the net. This was quickly followed by goal number 2 with Jake Bamforth being fed by Matthew Graham at a penalty corner shooting into the keeper but following up to score from the rebound.

Bamforth then struck again after good work from Josh Foreman and Dave Wheatley- Bamforth firing in from close range. Halifax then started to take their foot of the gas and tried to dribble out of defence and try and play long balls. This resulted in Worksop gaining more possession in the latter stages of the 1st half and it was no surprise that they scored their 1st goal to make it 3-1.

After the half time break, Halifax started to pass the ball and move well into the space and a flowing move from Tom Love, Josh Sutcliffe and Bamforth enabled Graham to have an easy tap in goal. Love capped a good performance with a superb individual goal picking the ball up on the 25yard line to beat 3 opponents with slick skill and fire his shot into the top corner of the net.

Some of the young team thought the game was won and complacency crept in again and the last 10 minutes was a scrappy affair – good defensive work from veteran Paul Graham and Paul Wheatley was needed to keep Worksop at bay. Matthew Metclafe in the Halifax goal was also required to perform which he did with some style although he was helpless to stop Worksop scoring a consolation goal late on. (5-2 win).

With harder games to come, the team will need to be more consistent and play to their strengths which is their passing game and avoid complacency and drops in concentration which is when they become vulnerable. Next week Chapletown are the opposition at Park lane, can the team make it 4 wins in 4!