Harvey Heroics see M5 home (just!)

The brand new M5 kicked off their season with a home match against Kidderminster. As players arrived for the match, it was very apparent that this game was going to be a case of youth versus experience; the Sils with a number of their developing Lions squad, whilst Kidderminster had one player under the age of 30.

Initially, it looked like the speed, skills and agility of the young Sils side would rip Kidderminster to shreds, with Harvey Wilson getting on the end of two flowing home team moves to put Sils 2-0 up. However, as the game progressed, Kidderminster began to get more into the game, and it took the older heads of Andrew Jackman, John Rice and Nick Johnson operating down the middle of the pitch to ensure that the control remained with the Sils. Even still, Arun Jogi was called upon to make a couple of fairly regulation saves before Harvey Wilson completed his hat-trick shortly before half-time.

A very positive first half led to an equally bright start for the home side in the second half, and Harvey Wilson slotted his fourth goal home, 10 minutes into the second period. At this moment in time, Sils were still dominating possession and moving the ball around nicely, but the visitors were now defending very deep, and resorting to a more direct approach to their hockey.

The final 15 minutes of the game then illustrated why the M5 is an important stepping stone for our young stars, adding an additional layer to their progress over and above the Lions matches. With Kidderminster opting for a more direct they got the breakthrough they perhaps deserved, with a slightly untidy effort being slotted home, but within 5 minutes, they had scored 2 much better goals.

At 4-3 and with the pressure on the home team, it was time for calm heads, and Nick Johnson returned to the affray to calm young nerves and do enough to break down the Kidderminster attacks and close out the home victory. A great start to the season, and some valuable lessons learned for some of the teenagers.