Sils win the derby in style.

Sils came into this match on back of a bad head to head record with Solihull Blossomfield last season where they lost both fixtures against their local rivals. The squad was rejuvenated by return of key players including Millan Chauhan who lined up alongside James Ball, Joe Schuppler and Matt Deakin in defence. Interestingly, the team have not been able to line up the same back four now for any of their 6 opening games. Keeper Brin Jones has been one of the players who has featured in every game so far and was looking to add to the 2 clean sheets that he has so far kept this season. In midfield the team stuck with their diamond formation, and looked to surprise the opponents with inclusion of Max Levenger as the holder and distributer in front of the back 4, supported by Luke Kent on the left, George Bayliss on the right, and captain Mo Hadian at the top, just behind the starting front pair of Tom Merriman and Kartik Kumar. With a strong bench of Mark Dovey, Joe Houlcroft and Danny Nicoll, Sils were looking to get back to winning ways in this derby. Vice Captain Nick Oppenheimer was rested due to his recent injury and took on the manager's role on the sideline.

Sils picked up the game exactly where they left off against Telford where they came back scoring 2 late goals playing some of their best hockey this season yet. There was a lot of quick passing which saw the team move the ball quickly into the right areas and create some early chances. Mo Hadian and Kartik Kumar came close in the first 10 minutes but the Bloss keeper was able to deny them early on. Tom Merriman's good work on the right helped them win their first short corner. Although the keeper managed to save the resulting shot, it was George Bayliss who reacted quickly and got himself in the right place at the right time from the rebound with a cool and composed finish from an acute angle to put Sils up 1-0. The confidence was now evident as Sils continued to distribute the ball around the park effectively creating attacks from both sides. Luke Kent's pace and trickery created the next chance as he was able to cut in from the left of the D and take a shot on. The ball went millimetres wide and Tom Merriman came agonisingly close to connecting with it at the far post, however Bloss somehow escaped. With Mark Dovey back into Midfield, Sils were able to build one attack after another. The attack minded left back Matt Deakin, combined well with Joe Houlcroft and Danny Nicoll when they were on the left and constantly posed a threat to the opposition. From the right hand side Joe Schuppler was always looking to support the attack and it was his good work that allowed George Bayliss to become the provider this time as Danny Nicoll slotted his cross into the back of the net for 2-0. Having scored his first goal for the club, Danny was now on top form and continued to trouble the Bloss defence. He came close again hitting the post, but moments later, on another speedy attack Danny managed to cut in deep from the right hand side and square the ball perfectly across the goal for Mo Hadian. All Mo had to do was connect and he did so with a reverse stick for 3-0. The goals were coming fast as Sils played 'total hockey' with their accurate passing in this half. Schuppler and Kent then set up George Bayliss who continued to demonstrate his talent, this time with a sweetly struck reverse stick shot from the top of the D that made the backboard rattle and put Sils 4-0 up. Just before half time it could have been more, a series of slick one touch exchanges allowed Kartik to have the ball in a good position in the D, but he was too unselfish to bury the ball and instead tried to set up for George for his hat-trick, opportunity gone.

Sils delighted at half time with the performance so far, were aware that they could not take their foot of the accelerator and started brightly again. Kartik came close, as this time he decided to shoot, his reverse stick attempt was saved well by the keeper. Max Levenger who had a fine game in midfield then won a short corner after his quick thinking with a series of free hits outside the D, getting the opposition frustrated. He buried a well struck shot from the resulting short and put Sils 5-0 up. Sils were then slightly guilty of falling back into some old habits of dribbling more than they should and Bloss slowly started to work themselves back into the game. Keeper Brin had to be alert from a few short corners and make some solid saved. James Ball and Millan Chauhan were solid for the majority of the game, winning tackles, and it had to take a bit of luck to deny them a clean sheet today. A hard struck shot from the 25 into the D was then very slightly deflected by the Bloss striker, leaving Keeper Brin unsighted and wrong footed, 5-1. That was about all the joy the Bloss were going to have today as Sils sured up their defence, with Dovey helping out at the back, and took control of the game yet again. A good move started by Kartik's quick stick moves saw Mo set up George on the right of the D who's firing strike went inches wide of the post to deny him of the hat trick again. Tom Merriman and Danny Nicoll now both on combined well on the right as Bloss could not handle the pace and skills, George was able to get yet another assist by a well crossed ball, Mo Hadian getting his second goal of the game reaching out in front of the Bloss defenders and deflecting the ball first from a tight angle. 6-1. There was still time for more, Tom Merriman getting amongst the assists setting up Kartik for the 7th, 2 goals in 2 games now for the new signing. More chances came as good hockey continued, best of which saw Joe Houlcroft nearly open his account for the season when he connected to a cross at the far left post. 7-1 the game ended, to the relief of the opposition as it could have been into double figures. Sils 2s were delighted with their biggest win in 2 years, since they beat Streetly 16-0 in November 2013. A much needed goal boost for their confidence, and a warning to their upcoming opponents.