12/03/09 - Warwick A (13) vs Walsall A (11) by Jonathan Fleet
Warwick traveled to Walsall on Thursday night to take on the team relegated from the first division last season. Walsall are a strong side in their own pool, and Warwick were prepared for a tough game.
The game started with both sides playing hard, and it only took a minute for Duncan Holland to be the first player excluded. Warwick defended the man down and forced an exclusion on Walsall a minute later, and Holland atoned immediately by "rising like a salmon" at the far post to score the opener. After the restart Walsall pulled the goal back, but goals from Kirk Holland and Lee Jeys put Warwick 2 goals up at the end of the quarter.
Adrian Challinor was excluded at the start of the 2nd and Walsall scored, but 25 seconds later Challinor also made up for his transgression with a goal. Walsall scored again before the end of the quarter to narrow the gap to a single goal at half time.
The second half started with an exclusion for Walsall, converted by Lee Jeys for Warwick, Duncan Holland returned the favour for Walsall allowing them to score. All of this was in the first breathless minute of the half ! 15 seconds later Walsall were level before Warwick started to impose themselves again. In a war of attrition both sides were conceding major fouls and having players excluded, a total of 13 in the quarter, however Warwick managed to score 4 goals (including one from junior Tim Walton (15) ) without reply from Walsall.
Warwick went into the last quarter 5 goals up and despite a spirited fight back from Walsall managed to ride out the storm and win the game with the final score at 11-13. A mature performance and a well deserved win that has given the team real confidence for the rest of the season.
Scorers for Warwick: M Wardle (2) J Woodland (1) A Challinor (1) T Walton (1) K Holland (2) D Holland (1) L Jeys (5)
