15th March 2010
Whitchurch win again to retain 2nd place
Whitchurch overturned a half time deficit with a fine second half display to run out 4-2 winners against visitors Bournville, a result that leaves Whitchurch three points clear in second place in the EHL Conference West with just two games remaining. Whitchurch opened brightly, the Bournville keeper saving well from Rhys Gowman after good work from Mark Whatling in midfield. Whitchurch keeper Iwan Williams had to be quick off his line to smother a dangerous attack from the visitors ten minutes into the game but a minute later Bournville took the lead, Mark Crennan firing home a powerful reverse stick shot. Whitchurch reacted well, forcing a succession of penalty corners without success and Richard John went close to equalising after a good interchange of passes with Ben Croxall. Whitchurch enjoyed plenty of possession with Joe Naughalty looking dangerous breaking from midfield but the Bournville defence held up well and Williams had to pull off a fine save to prevent the visitors from increasing their lead following a dangerous counter-attack. Whitchurch opened the second period strongly with quick passing and fine movement and scored twice in the first twelve minutes. Naughalty earned a penalty corner and his shot rebounded off a post for Alex Keating to fire home from close range. The Bournville keeper then made two fine saves to deny Whatling and Croxall before Whitchurch took the lead, Naughalty collecting a forty yard pass out of defence from Jon Collis before driving into the circle and firing home past the Bournville keeper. Bournville responded well and Louis Jones made an important tackle to break up a dangerous attack, but the visitors grabbed an equaliser with fifteen minutes remaining, Oliver Jones scoring from close range following a cross into the circle. Whitchurch were not to be denied though, and with ten minutes remaining Neil Potter restored Whitchurch’s lead following a good interchange of passes with Gowman and a few minutes later Laith El Khatib finished off a strong run by Naughalty to score Whitchurch’s fourth and round off a fine team performance.
