Another sunny Sunday in Birmingham

On Sunday 25th March - another sunny Sunday - University of Birmingham played host to Lichfield Hockey Club in their last match of the England Hockey League's Conference West. Lichfield desperately needed a win if they were to stand a chance of avoiding the relegation play-off spot. If Birmingham won they could end up Runners Up - depending on the result in the Havant game.

Birmingham set off at a cracking pace ...

... and were three goals up in the first quarter of an hour

Peter (Jacko) Jackson opened the scoring then Rich grabbed two more goals

Aathavan (Aardy) Lingeswaran extended the lead to four by half time.

Two quick goals by Lichfield brought them into the game before Rich scored his third and Birmingham's fifth to make it 5-2.

However, two further Lichfield goals made for a tense final ten minutes ...

... until Will Byas eased the home fans' nerves with a strike in the final minute.

With Havant (surprisingly) losing 2-1 at Cheltenham, Birmingham finished 2nd in the League by a clear 2 points (albeit some 14 points behind Champions, Bath). Well done to the entire squad in what has been their best season for many years.

Well done and thanks to coach, Steve ...

... and manager, Norman