Men's 1st Team v Stockport

Following a very tough 14-8 loss against Stockport at the end of 2019, Timperley were fired up for the opportunity to set the record straight and start the new year off with an improved result.

The 1st quarter proved Stockport would be as tough as they were before the Christmas break. They came out and managed to find the net twice in the early minutes. The visitors really only had themselves to blame for the poor start, wayward passes, man-down play and poor decision making, meant that Timperley squandered possession. Luckily Ed Loveland managed to chalk up the first goal for Blues with a powerful outside shot. The goal wasn’t enough to spur Timperley into action though as the next 2 goals came from Stockport despite some fantastic goalkeeping from Tim Blower. Minutes before the 1st quarter ended a panicked attempt to clear the ball from Stockport lead to an own goal leaving the scoreline at 4-2 to Stockport at the break. A scoreline that probably slightly flattered Timperley!

For the duration of the 2nd quarter, Timperley managed to steady the ship. Taking their time and focusing more on their offensive plays. Despite conceding the first goal quite softly, they pressed on; James Bates winning a brilliant faceoff leading to a classic fast break that was nicely finished by Jack Brook. Another fast break led to Michael Armstrong scoring and he doubled his tally with the next goal from settled play. The game grew more physical and Timperley showed fantastic fight to keep in the contest. The score at the half was 6-5 to Stockport.

The 3rd quarter was a triumph for Timperley. They opened the scoring with a goal from Greg Sandy which was quickly followed by Ed Lovelands 2nd of the game. Timperley led for the first time in the game. Stockport hit back but more goals from Michael Armstrong and James Bates kept the Blues in the lead. Both teams found the goal once more in the quarter bringing the score to 8-10 to Timperley going into the final period of play. It had been a strong performance from Timperley's attacking players but credit must be given also to the defensive unit who really started to play as a strong, organised force. Tim Blower once again shone in goal, making several key saves.

The final quarter was quite a tense and nervy affair, neither team wanting to concede. Both defensive units were strong and the goalkeepers really stood out, making save after save at each end. Stockport finally managed to break the deadlock and brought the up to 9-10. By this point, the small squad sizes, injuries and the heavy pitch started to show as both teams seemed to struggle to find another goal. Finally, Stockport drew the game level. At 10-10 it was essential to manage the final few minutes, Stockport tried to hold possession but were sloppy and Timperley managed to break upfield. After a brief time out, the players took to the field with only seconds left to play. Greg Sandy drove from behind the goal opening up a half chance. He shot but the outstretched foot of the goalkeeper blocked the just as the whistle blew for the end of the game.

The game undoubtedly had it’s frustrating moments for Timperley but on the whole, a draw was probably a fair result. Several players deserve special mention for their performances. Dan Flisk played his first game for the 1st team in a long time after an extended injury and put in a fantastic performance. Tim Blower was a strong contender for Man of the match after making countless saves. Ed Loveland made a welcome return to the team and put in a very strong performance and lastly Michael Armstrongs 4 goals went a long way towards securing the result.

The goal scorers were as follows:

Michael Armstrong – 4
Ed Loveland – 2
Greg Sandy – 1
James Bates – 1
Jack Brook – 1
1 Own Goal