Old Hales 1 vs Bridgnorth 1

Old Hales mens 1st XI made a successful start to their new campaign with a victory over local rivals Bridgnorth. With the sides having met several times over the last few seasons and some overheard nervous mutterings that Bridgnorth had become somewhat of a bogey team in the changing room pre-match, Hales showed quite convincingly they were the better side on the day. Starting brightly, Hales stamped authority on the game early by asserting dominance over the slow starting visitors. Hales were unlucky not to be up in the opening few minutes when Chris Whiley neatly slid the ball across goal for striker Charles Palmer who could not quite find the correct angle for the deflection. However they were rewarded minutes later when Chris Hill's drag flick was blocked on the line by a defenders leg. A determined Hill stepped up and cooly converted the stoke to put Hales in the driving seat. Sparked into life Bridgnorth responded ten minutes later to level the scores with a well worked finish. Hales immediately returned fire two minutes later when Hill stepped up with a jaw dropping drag flick in the top corner giving the bemused Bridgnorth goalkeeper no chance and to give hales the advantage going into the break.

Caught napping just after the beginning of second half a defensive error by the home side led to midfielder Dan Richards turning the ball into his own net to level the scores and deflate a home side riding a high from Hill's flick. Hales picked themselves up once again and began to take control of the game, dominating in possession and were rewarded when Hill pounced again to complete his Hat-Trick and finish off a well worked team effort to swing the advantage back in the home sides favor. 10 minutes from time Hales added to their tally again when captain Cole Hickman's drag flick also found the back of the net to give the home side a 2 goal cushion. Bridgnorth grabbed a late consolation goal with a good drag flick of their own to finish the match 4-3.