Spa Add Another three wins

Droitwich Spa hockey Club welcomed two teams from Bromsgrove; and one from Kings Heath and Stourport in the February edition of the Sunday Worcestershire Tournament. Droitwich continued their excellent form, having only had one defeat out of their last four tournament.

This tournament showed the depth of talent that is beginning to come through the Junior Section of Droitwich Spa Hockey Club, as there was a squad of 13 that were available. Spa continued to employ the formation of 3 – 2- 2 to allow the team to press and attack teams on the break.

Spa did this expertly in their first game against a Bromsgrove B side. This was a tight affair with the game condensed in the middle of the park. Despite this Spa tried to work the ball out wide using the midfield grace Of George Hutchocks who kept prompting the attacks. At the back Matthew Whiteside in goal and Issie Trickett kept the attack out. Spa scored with three minutes to go with Fernando Prenderville dispatching the into the keepers bottom left hand corner.

Spa second game against Bromsgrove B was combative performance built on work rate and excellent tackling from all the 9 players used in this tie. John and Fernando Prenderville kept causing problems with their predatory instincts and pace worried Bromsgrove. This 0-0 draw meant an excellent result and Bromsgrove still aren’t able to get a win in 6 attempts.

Spa next game was against a young Kings Heath side, where Spa had many opportunities to beat the last defender or draw the defence out wide but weren’t able to make that final pass to create the opportunity. Once more this showed the team are getting into the right areas of the pitch, and having excellent defensive tactics, and are building their attacking instincts.

Spa final game was the most difficult they have had as they faced a young pacey skillful Stourport side. Matthew Whiteside home team keeper kept Spa in the contest early on as he saved many shots, displaying excellent pad and kicker saves as well as being commanding in his area with one on one opportunities that attackers had. Once this onslaught was weathered Spa began to play like a team, and moved the ball around and began to beat the last man by attacking the flanks.

This created three opportunities with Fernando Prenderville just putting the ball wide when through on goal; John clipped the post and Matthew Gurr did not make the most of his opportunity in the circle after slick build up down the left. Leaving the final score 3-0

Despite this defeat this was Spa’s first in three tournaments, and is a record which they are rightly proud of.