GEC RUGBY 2 NUNEATON 4

Nuneaton gave themselves a rare and well earned victory in this end of season friendly against a GEC Rugby team that Nuneaton will face in next years league campaign.

Despite positional changes forced upon them, Nuneaton started the game well and soon took the lead when Andy FORRYAN slotted the ball with his reverse stick under the advancing keeper, following some composed play from Simon Pennington.

However this sparked GEC into life and they were soon on level terms as the Nuns defence went walkabout with their marking to give the home side an easy chance. Before Nuneaton could reply, GEC then had their turn in the lead as they scored again to take control of the match.

Nuneaton regained their composure and continued to press and were eventually rewarded with a short corner that they converted with one of their trademark routines that Dave HOLMES finished at the far post to make the scores level at half time.

Nuneaton then carried this momentum into the second half and they were soon in the lead again when club young player of the year, Tom HIGGINSON calmly slotted home another well worked short corner routine.

GEC still caused Nuns some problems but tireless running in midfield from Ali Clarke kept them in check and enabled Nuneaton to add a fourth before the close, this time from open play with Sam WIGGINS claiming his maiden goal at first team level.

This capped off a good all round performance that helped put the spectre of the league season behind them.

NUNEATON II 5 GEC RUGBY II 1

This was an enjoyable end of season game for Nuneaton who came from one down to win very comfortably.

Nuneaton played some new faces in the team with three debutants from the lower sides, each one of them scoring on theie debut.

GEC Rugby started well and took the lead in the first five minutes, but this spurred Nuneaton into action and the home side were soon level with a well taken goal from in form Roger STOKES.

Nuneaton then took the lead with debutant Matt PEGG scoring his first goal for the seconds, after which it was the turn of another debutant to get on the score sheet. This time Chris LOMAS fired the ball into the Rugby net, and as Nuneaton continued to press, the score remained the same until half time.

In the second half, Nuneaton started as they finished the first period, pushing forward and this time it was the turn of the third team debutants to add to Nuneaton’s goals when

Oliver GAZELEY followed up a shot from Roger Stokes.

The fifth and final goal came from a short corner when sly old fox Alan OWENS was fed the ball by Stu Jesson,and he smashed it through the Rugby keeper’s legs.

GEC RUGBY III 1 NUNEATON III 3

A youthful Nuneaton team played controlled and accurate hockey and ran out comfortable winners in an open game played in an excellent spirit.

GEC had the early pressure but the Nuneaton defence was well marshalled by stand in skipper Robin Entecott and keeper Mike Loveless had little to keep him busy. Nuns soon responded with some swift attacks showing their superior pace and Paul SIDWELL opened the scoring after a sweeping move down the left gave him the time and space to find his spot in the bottom corner.

To their credit, the home side countered almost immediately from a long corner their centre forward struck a good shot past the diving keeper.

The second period saw almost constant Nuneaton pressure with attacks coming from Mark Lawton on the left and Sam Wiggins and Paul Sidwell on the right. Eventually the pressure told and Ben DODDS crashed the ball in leaving the Rugby keeper with no chance.

The victory was sealed when Ken LAPSLEY snuck the ball in at the near post after a fine incisive run by Ian Lawton, ably supported by his father Nigel making a rare third team appearance.

NUNEATON IV 1 GEC RUGBY IV 1

This fixture had a real end of season feel to it as both sides struggled to find any rhythm from start to finish and ended up sharing a predictable draw.

With a host of changes in personnel from the previous week, Nuneaton blooded sixth team youngsters Luke Horvath and Tom Costello alongside the father and son pairing of Roger and Ryan Stokes.

After an early corner switch nearly brought Nuneaton the lead, the remainder of the half was largely forgettable apart from Ian “The Cat” Mason casting aside his leather driving gloves to don the keeper’s pads and make a couple of important interventions.

Ian Mason jnr tried to prompt some action with his loping midfield surges, but having only climbed off a plane from the Falklands hours earlier, he understandably started to tire towards the end.

A few choice halftime words saw Nuneaton play a more direct and less frivolous game in the second period, and Andy Mahon in his last game for the club, showed the form that has made him a cornerstone of the team’s efforts this season.

With a quarter of the match remaining, John Tilley suddenly found himself alone at the back with three attackers bearing goalwards, the rest of the defence having gone AWOL. He was powerless to prevent the ball being switched to the top of the “D” where the centre forward edged the race to the ball with Nuns’ ageing rock star lookalike keeper.

Undeterred, the home side pushed forward in search of an equaliser and with minutes remaining, Roger STOKES thrashed home a short corner to give the scoreline equilibrium.

NUNEATON VI...2-1…NUNEATON V

This was the final part of a three match series, as before the starting whistle went, it was honours even with the fifths winning the first game and the sixths the second.

After the match the sixths went off with the bragging rights in what was a very competitive game.

The sixths started the strongest and were camped in the opposition’s half for much of the first twenty minutes. During this period, top scorer Josh WAGG added one to his tally and should have added a couple more.

The visitors came more into the match after a couple of substitutions, but were not able to find the back of the net, although Wheatley and Tatum both came close.

The second half was very hard fought, with one or two of the sixth team’s younger players finding out what men’s hockey is about. They refused to give in and Mike PARKER scored his first goal for the club with a rocket into the corner of the net.

Soon after, Geoff Wagg made a real hash of a penalty and rolled it gently into the keeper’s pads. This inspired the visitors and Ryan STOKES pulled one goal back to set up a tight and nail biting finish.