Slazenger’s Mens Veterans team played their first home game of the season against Huddersfield Vets on Sunday.
Both teams made a sluggish start to the game, probably due to the wintery conditions. Slazenger’s looked solid in defence with Matt Green and Mark Kitchen quelling any attacks from the Huddersfield front line with great determination,whilst Darren Buttery proved a thorn in the Huddersfield defence’s side with his constant hassling and enthusiastic running, but it was in midfield that Slazengers took a long time to get to grips with the opposition formation.
Time and again the home side were outnumbered in midfield and this caused Slazengers to hurry their passes, which more often than not went straight back to the opposition.
The result of this was few goal chances for either team and both sets of strikers were isolated from everyone else.
Huddersfield’s only chance of note was deep into the first half when defender Andy Fisher had to leave the field after sustaining a blow to the face during a collision with an opposition player, whilst clearing the ball.
It was left to keeper Giles Field to make a double save whilst at full stretch on the ground.
Second half the home team started with more intent, the ball was passed out to the flanks more and people were making themselves available for return passes.
It wasn’t a surprise when Darren Buttery managed to get on to a fiercely driven ball into the goalmouth from winger Alan Perry and convert the chance.
The home team continued to press for further goals with Simon Chamberlain and Ben Graham starting to dominate the midfield but the home team just couldn’t find the net for another goal to kill the game.
Despite having to weather a brief Huddersfield respite the home team were fairly comfortable at the end.
Final score 1-0.
