Saturday March 13^th 2010     Atherstone Fathom 1, Yardley Fathom 3.

 Another very solid defensive display gave Yardley a very hard earned but deserved win at Atherstone.  The home team had planned a Badgers game, but the Fathom format did Yardley no favours as Atherstone then called in a number of strong adult players to support their quite skilful youngsters.

 Yardley were pushed on to the defensive right from the start and the back three of Neil Toye, Glenn Sherard and Ibrar Ahmed had plenty to do in protecting Anthony Truelove in the Yardley goal.  But the pressure told after twenty minutes when a follow up from an Atherstone short corner gave the Yardley defence no time to clear.  But just before half time, in a rare Yardley attack, Chris Wadhams deflected a long ball into the path of Munib Altaf who scored with a cross shot into the far corner of the net.

 Atherstone continued to press at the beginning of the second half and Anthony Truelove was often called upon to keep the scores level.  But Yardley, with Gavin Hetherington, Hasnain Altaf and Munib Altaf showing their speed and fitness in midfield, began to get into the game and create good chances of their own.  Wide men Peter Milner and Paul Jarvis kept the ball moving and encouraged by this, even an injury to Chris Wadhams did not prevent Yardley from attacking. Halfway through the second half, Robin Stanley drilled in an unstoppable short corner to give Yardley the lead.  Yardley then re-inforced their defensive line to protect their lead, with Robin Stanley and Hasnain Altaf tackling hard and breaking up the Athersone attacks.  But after Atherstone had hit the bar, Yardley made the game safe five minutes from time when, with Atherstone committed upfield, Munib Altaf broke away and, even though chased by two defenders he coolly took the ball away from the goalkeeper and finished with a delicate reverse stick flick to give Yardley a victory they greatly enjoyed.

 Saturday March 6^th 2010       Yardley Fathom 1, Rugby Fathom 1.

 A solid display by the Yardley defence and two stunning second half saves from keeper Anthony Truelove kept Yardley in the game against a well organised Rugby side.  Rugby fielded a mixture of youngsters and strong adults whose careful prompting and accurate passing generally gave the visitors slightly the better of the game.

 Yardley’s front line included Charles Chikasha, Munib Altaf and Scott Oliver, but the promising line up, supported in midfield by Zach Jarvis or Luke Menzel, sharing a game after their earlier efforts in the 1^st XI, never quite clicked.  Rugby’s veteran defenders demonstrated their solid positioning by clearing most of the crosses from the right and counter attacking from midfield. At half time, the game was broadly even with neither side looking very likely to score.

 Charles Chikasha took advantage of hesitation in the Rugby defence right from the second half push back to burst through and cause the Rugby goalkeeper to pull off a great save.  Yardley appeared encouraged by this and began to attack and move the ball with more purpose. Robin Stanley continued to dominate the area in front of the Yardley back line and with their tails up, Yardley took the lead with a trademark goal from Munib Altaf who controlled the ball well after a long run by Scott Oliver had cut out the defenders and slipped it past the goalkeeper as he advanced to try and make a save.

 Going behind appeared to give the Rugby side more energy as they fought for an equaliser. Anthony Truelove kept Yardley in the lead with two tremendous saves and the Yardley defenders managed to survive a number of short corners before a rebound from another Truelove save was collected by a Rugby forward who scored easily.

 Neither side could get a winner during an exciting finale to the match that ended with honours just about even.

 Saturday February 27^th 2010     Yardley Fathom 4, Hampton Fathom 2.

 Matches between Hampton and Yardley have been hard fought with Hampton coming out on top earlier in the season but Yardley narrowly having had the best of the matches before then.  Hampton again lived up to their reputation for skilful attacking play but also their vulnerability to counter attacks when they lost possession in midfield.

 Hampton started strongly and took an early lead with the umpire playing a good advantage to allow play to continue after an infringement in the Yardley defence.  Hampton continued to press hard for a second goal and it was a little against the run of play when Munib Altaf took advantage of a mistake and ran through to push the ball past the goalkeeper.  Hampton’s second goal after twenty minutes was rather fortunate when a ball rolling slowly towards the goal hit a post catching the Yardley defenders by surprise and allowing a Hampton forward to follow up and score.

 Yardley then began to threaten the Hampton defence and scored two goals just before half time.  First Charles Chikasha dribbled the ball from just over the half way line defeating a number of Hampton defenders and taking the ball round the goalkeeper for a splendid solo effort. Soon after Ismail Mutlib also caught the Hampton defenders out with excellent skills on the ball and a powerful finish.

 Both sides tightened up their defence after half time, with neither being able to score until Ismail Mutlib put the game beyond Hampton with a goal right at the end of the match.  Yardley put in a strong performance against tough opponents and their defence played well in keeping Hampton’s forwards out throughout the second half.

 Saturday February 13^th 2010     Yardley Fathom 0, Atherstone Fathom 0.

 A midfield stalemate led to Yardley and Atherstone achieving what is now becoming a rarity in modern hockey, a goalless draw.  Not only was there a lack of goals, but there was also a lack of goalmouth incident which meant that neither keeper was called upon to make any significant saves.

 Yardley will consider themselves a little unlucky to have two possible goals disallowed for infringements spotted by the umpires but in general this was a game best forgotten.

 Saturday February 6^th 2010    Banbury 4, Yardley Fathom 1.

After only their third defeat of the season, Fathom captain, Chris Wadhams, admitted making a mistake in the line up of the team that faced a useful Banbury side in an early start at Bloxham School.  “I should have stuck myself up front out of the way and let the youngsters use their skills and stamina to run the midfield” he said.  As it was, the two man Yardley midfield, with the skipper short of pace and Ismail Mustapha making his first Fathom start after graduating through the Badgers, was overrun by Banbury’s quick and skilful young players and Yardley’s back line was under pressure for considerable parts of the game.  Sweeper Robin Stanley was a great asset in breaking up the Banbury attacks and also giving support to the struggling Yardley midfield.

But Yardley’s front line, with Charles Chikasha and Hasnain Altaf prominent, made enough chances to keep the game in balance but despite hitting a post and having a number of short corners and strong crosses from the right wing, the opportunities went begging.  Although, towards the end of the first half, defensive uncertainty gave Banbury a chance to open the scoring, Yardley felt at half time that they were still well in the game.

But Banbury quickly doubled their lead after half time with a reverse stick shot that Anthony Truelove, in the Yardley goal, couldn’t keep out.  Later, a mix up which led to the Yardley defence leaving a shot that they believed had been hit from outside the “D” made the score 3-0.  Even with the game beyond reach, Yardley continued to make and miss a series of good chances. A deflection into the roof of the net then added to Yardley’s misery before finally a short corner was converted by Charles Chikasha after the first shot from Robin Stanley was blocked on the goal line.

Saturday January 30^th 2010     Yardley Fathom 4, Harville 0.

 After last week’s opponents had arrived without a goalkeeper, Harville, a mixture of players from Harborne and Bournville, brought thirteen players including a goalkeeper but omitted to bring any goalkeeping kit.  This meant they played without a goalkeeper for the first half, with Yardley lending them the Badger’s goalkeeping kit for the second half.

 To give the maximum number of players a game, a 12 a side match took place. Whilst this meant space was harder to find, when Yardley did eventually move the ball quickly to wide areas and crossed into the “D” the Harville defenders were in difficulties without a goalkeeper.  A goal from Scott Oliver and two from Hasnain Altaf meant that Yardley turned round with a three goal lead.

 With a fully kitted out goalkeeper, Harville were much more competitive after the restart.  A fourth goal early in the second half from Scott Oliver made the game completely safe for the Yardley side but despite the best efforts of both teams there was no further score.  Gavin Hetherington, having a run out before keeping goal for the Badgers, impressed with his energy and skill.  Badgers Jacob Smith and Ismail Mustapha also impressed in sharing a game in the 12 man team.

 Saturday January 23^rd 2010  Yardley Fathom 6, Barford Tigers Fathom 1.

 After many weeks of inactivity, a hat trick from Charles Chikasha contributed to a good performance from a strong Yardley Fathom squad. The visitors also reported similar problems in their Northern Fathom group with teams crying off at short notice. But although both sides welcomed the chance of a game, Barford could only raise eight players. It was only the fact that the Badgers game had been called off that enabled Yardley to lend their opponents county goalkeeper Gavin Hetherington and county winger Jacob Smith and get the game under way.  Both the young county players performed very well, with Gavin making a series of good saves and Jacob being always dangerous on the right wing.

 Barford’s older players retained their skills even if they moved more slowly and they took an early lead with a flicked shot after a short corner had been well saved by Anthony Truelove.  Yardley were put under pressure by the stick work and skills of the Barford veterans but after twenty minutes, Charles Chikasha followed up a short corner to drive the ball into the corner of the net.  Just before half time, a goal from Andy Pyke gave Yardley a hard fought advantage.

 Yardley took command of the game in the second half as Barford tired and two further goals from Charles Chikasha made the game safe.  Towards the end, constant pressure led to a short corner being drilled into the net by Robin Stanley and almost immediately a good Yardley move left Munib Altaf with an easy opportunity to score Yardley’s sixth.

Saturday November 21^st 2009   Yardley Fathom 10, Sutton Coldfield 9^th XI 0.

 Yardley’s seven second half goals swamped a young Sutton team in a game that was not as one sided as the score suggests.  After the disappointment of Rugby’s calling off last weeks fixture, Yardley were able to put out a strong side, with Andy Pyke and Robin Stanley available and Ismail Mutlib, who was unable to play for the 1^st XI, coming in to strengthen the usual Fathom line up.

 Sutton played some neat hockey when they could get the ball but their defence was put under pressure by the Yardley attack, with Ismail Mutlib and Munib Altaf in particular causing Sutton severe problems. The Sutton goalkeeper made a number of fine saves in the first twenty minutes, but a goal from Andy Pyke and a trademark neat finish from Munib Altaf after being put through on to the goalkeeper made the score 2-0 after half an hour. A fine goal line clearance by Haseeb Altaf then prevented Sutton from pulling a goal back and just before half time a particularly fine reverse stick shot from the edge of the Sutton “D”  by Andy Pyke gave Yardley a 3-0 lead at half time.

 Yardley were able to make their superior skill tell in the second half. Their sweeping attacks and sharp finishing were too much for the Sutton defence, who nevertheless showed great spirit and kept trying despite the wet and windy conditions. Andy Pyke scored a second half hat trick to make his tally five, two goals from Charles Chikasha and one for both Ismail Mutlib and Robin Stanley brought Yardley into double figures.  One promising feature of the game was the excellent play of the two players from the Badgers squad, with Janaid Ali and Haseeb Altaf  both putting in very creditable performances.

 Saturday November 7^th 2009    Yardley 1, Hampton Fathom 3.

 With three young players suspended, Yardley had to re-organise their squad for the visit of Hampton.  Yardley planned to counter Hampton’s attacking style by posting two sweepers in front of the back three and relying on the strength of Robin Stanley and the speed of Hasnain Altaf to create an attacking midfield.

 The unfamiliarity of the system showed immediately as Hampton attacked at once and it needed a sharp interception from Glenn Sherard to prevent an early goal.  But Yardley then quickly settled and though not looking entirely secure defensively, set up a number of strong attacks through their midfield that penned Hampton in their own half.  Following a short corner, Yardley had strong appeals for a penalty stroke turned down after a deflection from the goalkeeper appeared to lob up and be prevented from crossing the line by the body of a defender. It was a surprise when Hampton opened the scoring after twenty five minutes with the Yardley defence arguing that the chance had been created by dangerous play.  Both sides had chances before half time but there was no further score.

 Anthony Truelove, Yardley’s goalkeeper had a busier second half as Hampton began to get a grip of the game and the Yardley midfield found themselves pushed further back into defence.  Hampton scored a second goal following a short corner that was eventually turned in from close range by the Hampton left winger.  A third goal soon afterwards from a short corner following a ball lodging in the goalkeeper’s pads ended Yardley’s challenge, though a late break away by Hasnain Altaf and Munib Altaf allowed Munib to beat a covering defender and dummy the goalkeeper to score a good consolation goal.

 Yardley travel to Rugby next Saturday and will hope to put out a more competitive side with some of their stronger younger players available as the 1^st XI is without a league match.

 Saturday October 31^st      Atherstone Fathom 4, Yardley 1.

 The increasing unreliability of a number of Yardley’s younger players finally caught up with the team as one late cry off and two players simply not turning up led Yardley to travel to a tricky fixture against Atherstone with just nine men.

 Yardley were also without a recognised goalkeeper with Neil Toye volunteering to put on the pads.  Not surprisingly, Yardley’s long unbeaten run, lasting for a year, finally ended.  But the nine men put up strong resistance and the Atherstone goalkeeper had to be fast off his line to smother two Yardley attacks that had put Munib Altaf through on goal.  Yardley also had three short corners which they couldn’t convert.  It was near half time before a cross shot from the Atherstone left ran across the goal and crept just inside the far post to give the home side the lead.  Atherstone quickly scored a second as Neil Toye couldn’t get his pads moving quickly enough to clear.

 But Yardley were not disheartened and despite carrying an injury, Charles Chikasha dribbled through the Atherstone defence to win a short corner that Matthew Bartlett converted with a strong drive.  Despite having to defend constant Atherstone attacks, Yardley were still dangerous on the counter attack.  Neil Toye made two important saves and Peter Milner, Paul Jarvis, Glenn Sherard and Matthew Bartlett defended strongly. Yardley’s resistance was only broken near the end of the game when Atherstone’s strongest player converted a short corner giving the goal keeper no chance.  As Yardley tired, Atherstone score a final goal to make the score 4-1 and leaving Yardley to feel that the game was there to be won had they been able to field a full team.

 Saturday October 24^th     Yardley 5, Banbury 1.

 After a month out of action with no fixtures or opponents crying off, Yardley might have been rusty but instead began the game well and put Banbury under pressure from the start.  But missed chances and solid defending meant that Yardley waited nearly thirty minutes before Hasnain Altaf opened the scoring for the home team. Then, just before half time, Munib Altaf fastened on to a ball that was already bound for the net and hit it in from point blank range.

 Banbury fought back at the start of the second half and pulled a goal back from a good attack.  But Yardley regained the advantage and goals from Sameer Hussain and a second from Munib Altaf made the game safe.  A disallowed goal robbed Munib of his hat trick, but with the last hit of the match Robin Stanley converted a short corner to give Yardley a comfortable win.

Saturday September 26^th        Old Wulfs 1, Yardley 4.

 Yardley’s pre-match preparations were upset by the non arrival of one of the players and the team arrived late at the Aldersley Stadium for the game against Old Wulfs.  Fortunately two of the young players from the 1^st game played earlier on a nearby pitch were available which meant that Yardley could put out a full eleven plus coach Chris Wadhams.

 The disorganisation appeared to be overcome as Yardley, playing down the slope on a well sanded and bouncy pitch, gained the early advantage and missed a number of good chances.  Old Wulfs then came more into the game as their young players put together some neat moves.  But Yardley took the lead when Ismail Mutlib threatened a 16 yard hit, gained possession and going to his right put the ball across the “D” for Munib Altaf to score.

 Old Wulfs attacked down their right wing and two good passes and a precise cross which was driven into Yardley’s net gave goalkeeper Anthony Truelove no chance.  Yardley fought back and a clever dribble from Ismail Mutlib left him with an open goal to make the score 2-1 at half time.

 The hot weather led to a number of substitutions in the second half which slightly upset the rhythm of Yardley’s passing game.  But the visitors were generally in control and two goals from Ismail Mutlib made the score a comfortable 4-1.  Whilst the game was reasonably even in terms of possession, in Ismail Mutlib and Munib Altaf, Yardley had two dangerous in form strikers whereas the home side struggled with their final pass.

 Some good work on the right wing from Charles Chikasha and a solid midfield base from youngsters Zach Jarvis, Luke Menzel and Gavin Hetherington meant that Yardley’s sweeper and back three were rarely troubled.

 Saturday September 12^th      Yardley 4, Tamworth 0.

 Two powerfully hit second half goals by Robin Stanley gave a more realistic look to the score line in this first Fathom fixture of the new season.

 Yardley started strongly and dominated the early possession with Tamworth struggling to clear the ball from their own half.  But the Yardley forwards were guilty of over elaboration and persistently taking the ball on the reverse stick side rather than making simpler passes.  After Yardley had missed a number of chances, Ismail Mutlib finally made a quick pass on the open side across goal to allow Munib Altaf to score from close range.  Tamworth rallied after going behind and enjoyed much more possession before half time.  The visitors forced a series of short corners that came to nothing but Yardley were disappointed at turning round only one goal ahead.

 Robin Stanley’s first goal came from a short corner early in the second half.  Yardley then began to play more skilfully and a sweeping move from the Yardley “D” involving Charles Chikasha, making his debut on the right wing, Robin Stanley and Ismail Mutlib gave Munib Altaf the chance to deflect the ball neatly past the Tamworth goalkeeper.

 Ten minutes from time, Robin Stanley scored his second goal and Yardley’s fourth with a bullet like shot from the right side of the “D” to give Yardley a comfortable victory.