Sils fight back from 2-0 down to earn a valuable point

Third in table Telford & Wrekin joined the rain and wind as 2nd XI adversaries this weekend. Recent results have not really reflected Sils improving performances, so taking 1 point in a hard fought 2-2 draw with League front runners felt like just reward for recent efforts. In fact, the game may be seen in due course as a turning point for the team.

Early play from the visitors should have seen Sils more than the two goals down that they found themselves. Telford were attacking with abandon, finding space to create numerous chances, win short corners, put one in the roof of the net and slot a sloppily taken flick. In honesty, it could have been 5 or 6 after 25 minutes - had the floodgates opened ...

But they didn't.

Sils started to find some rhythm and more importantly their men! When the team had sorted out some tighter man to man marking in defence, the opportunity to hit on the break arose. And sure enough the enterprising, attacking play of Ben Harmer, John Rice, Mo Hadian [injured - Ed] and Luke Kent started to ask some questions of the visitors. Penalty corners followed and it was at the breakdown of Sils second penalty corner that veteran Gary Perkins bagged himself a quality League goal [Blimey, rare as rocking horse poo - Ed].

Half time 2-1 down, and inspiring words from a vocal one-man crowd [Thanks Sean - Ed] and Captain Mo Hadian were just what the team needed. No competing voices, where too often every senior player has something to say, just some straightforward instructions - mark man to man, move the ball quickly and stay positive.

Telford came out for the 2nd half looking to regain the momentum they had so dramatically lost. Resolute defence stewarded by Andrew Scott and Sam Howe kept them out, with the some impressive groundwork by keeper Brindley Jones [Man of the Match - Ed] ensuring that there were no further goals conceded. With our young players, Liam Duffy {welcome to the 2s, UK, Europe - Ed], Jake Johnstone and Sam Johnstone continuing to make solid contributions in both defence and in moving forwards on the counter attack, the stirrings of a dramatic result could be felt.

Sils second half performance was looking impressive and determined. The pendulum duly swung in Sils favour as we started to impose and enjoy our 'purple patch' of play - as in every game you have to soak up opposition pressure and await your own opportunities. It was the canny central midfielder Nick Oppenheimer [shurely shome mishtake -Ed] who quickly took a free hit awarded at the top of the Telford 'D', moving it to the right and then back to the left before reverse sticking the ball at speed, straight through the penalty spot goal-bound. It was the slightest but clearest of touches needed by Mo Hadian who was on the penalty spot [good place for an attacker methinks - Ed] that guided the ball past Telford keeper. 2-2.

At this point Sils were counter attacking with flair, Luke Kent working from baseline to baseline and keeping the misfiled fluid, then a clever interchange of play between Ben Harmer and Mo Hadian down the right hand side of the 'D' saw the ball pulled back to the penalty spot again where John Rice made good connection only to be thwarted by a defender on the line.

Telford were not finished though and had several short corners which they basically wasted, and Brindley Jones's shot stopping and one-on-one work needed to be exemplary. His stepover and backheel to clear the ball when confronted with the oppositions centre forward would be classified as showboating on a sunnier and friendlier fixture. The game's last ten minutes were open, competitive and end-to-end. Both sides looking to get the full reward.

With two minutes remaining Sils were working hard not to give anything away. Everyone was putting in great effort to stay with the youthful and seemingly more experienced Telford players. Let's at this point give special credit to the Sam, Jake, Liam trio who listened to the calling [shouting wasn't it really - Ed] and kept disciplined defence while using the ball sensibly when they had it. As a result Sils - and their much appreciated supporters at the side of the pitch, reaching double figures and being literally blown away by the passages of play they were witnessing - had the excitement and anticipation of actually taking all the points when awarded a penalty corner in the dying moments. Sils tried to pull off a corner routine that has worked well in the past: back to the injector. This time it didn't.

Sils left the pitch cold, incredibly wet and with incredible spirit. With important games coming up in the next few weeks, the performance was everything [... and the point a bonus? - Ed]. In the bleakest, dampest conditions of the season so far, it felt like the 2s found some fire, the spark needed to alight the second half of the season. Let it continue to burn brightly in the coming weeks.