Mens 1s vs Uni of Birmingham M2

Harleston Magpies Men, sponsored by Seven, travelled to University of Birmingham 2 with a depleted squad due to injury and illness but with the welcome return of Lawrence Williams and Ed Cross who missed the previous two matches.

With both sides still needing points to be certain of retaining their national league status, the first quarter was keenly contested, but there were few goalscoring chances for either team. Magpies started the second quarter strongly and tested the Birmingham goalkeeper with a reverse stick shot from Tom Ridley and a close range effort from Josh Peterson. Magpies lost Richard Larkin to the re-occurrence of a hamstring problem which placed further pressure on the small Magpies squad against the fit and fast University team. Half time was reached with the score 0-0 after Will Donsworth made a goal line clearance from a penalty corner.

Magpies started the second half with a swift counter attack which led of the award of a penalty corner. Myles King duly stepped up with a powerful drag flick to give Magpies the lead. Magpies midfield and forwards worked extremely hard to deny University of Birmingham time and space with Ben Emms, Lawrence Williams, Nicholas Urquhart-Pearce, Ben Brand and Dave Skinner all displaying good skills and great determination. University of Birmingham started to build sustained pressure and equalised midway through the third quarter with a drag flick from a penalty corner. The quarter ended with the score at 1-1.

With University of Birmingham regularly rotating their full squad of 16 players, Magpies were forced more onto the defensive during the fourth quarter. The experience of Tom Ridley and Ben Gowing was vital for Magpies, who managed to retain possession for long periods of time and also launch several counter attacks. With time running out University of Birmingham launched wave after wave of attacks during which Will Donsworth and Ed Cross made important tackles. University of Birmingham won a final penalty corner in the last two minutes, but Magpies defensive unit kept out the shot to win a richly deserved away point. Final score 1-1.

Next week Magpies are at home against relegation threatened Peterborough Town.