Over 50's Reach National Final
Posted by Mike Debenham on 9 September 2020
Shrewsbury Mens Over 50’s were back in action on Saturday 5 September 2020 to play their England Hockey Championships Mens Over 50’s Tier 3 Semi Final Match against Belper H.C, which had been postponed from March 2020 because of COVID-19.
Shrewsbury put in a strong performance, dominating the first half and creating a number of good goal scoring opportunities and were unfortunate not to be in front at half time having had a number of near misses, Alan Craddock’s strike hitting a post and Stephen Parnham’s deflected shot from a short corner being judged just too high to count.
Shrewsbury started the second half well with some good controlled hockey. The deadlock was broken after a well constructed move ended with Jon Davis converting a Penalty Flick after his open play powerful goal bound shot from the top of the D was deliberately trapped by a Belper defender’s foot. It wasn’t long before the Shrews struck again to make it 2-0 when Stephen Parnham converted a well directed far post pass after another good Shrewsbury move. Shrewsbury continued to attack and were rewarded again when Martin Hall latched onto another far post pass and deftly lifted the ball over a diving Keeper for Shrewsbury’s third.
Belper responded well to going 3-0 down and put some pressure on Shrewsbury’s defence which conceded its first goal of the Tier 3 Championships near the end of the match.
The final score was an well deserved Shrewsbury 3 Belper 1.
The Mens Over 50’s now move on to playing Old Cranleighans in the England Hockey 2019/20 Tier 3 Final next Saturday 12 September at the Nottingham Hockey Centre.
