Match Preview

This weekend provides an opportunity to get the 3rd XI back into a winning mentality.

January fixtures have yielded a single deserved point at Bloxwich. Poor 1st half performances and consequent losses [Bromsgrove and Bridgnorth], a match cancelled [Stratford] and a match abandoned through light failure [Finchfield] have not helped us build momentum or confidence. All in all, a mixed bag of weather and variable team performances that have been punctuated only occasionally with bright spells of hockey.

I'm looking for the team to make progress in the coming weekends as we have a series of fixtures with opposition at both ends of the table. We'll keep playing our progressive and passing game of hockey that serves us well when we are disciplined and composed in possession. Keeping the game simple with early passing, good use of our central midfielders to transfer the ball across the pitch and keeping our forwards high up the pitch to constantly threaten in attack. With 5 games in the next three weeks [check your availability please for Sundays 18th and 25th, rearranged Home games] , the team should look to regain the swagger that we achieved before the break.

Let's start with a confident approach to the game on Saturday against North Stafford, make sure we begin the game well prepared and that we work together to play the hockey that we enjoy - solid as individuals, exciting as a team.

See you in the changing room.
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