Men’s Hockey National 050s

Tier One Championship Final Stourport Hockey vs Indian Gymkhana

Result 5-4 to Stourport after a penalty shoot out

Report submitted by Stourport Hockey Club

Midlands-based team Stourport met their London rival, to compete at England Hockey’s National final of the over 50’s men’s hockey championship; this is hockey’s equivalent to football’s FA Cup for veterans. Originally planned for early April, this long awaited final took place at Beeston Hockey Club, Nottingham Hockey Centre. Stourport lost in the final to Reading last year so were very keen not to have a repeat.

The field included many England international players, who currently still play including Dave Stokes, Tim Wood, Nisar Chaudhry Simon Thompson and David Knott for Stourport, plus Gary Carlisle, a Zimbabwe international, currently playing for Wales.

An action-packed first half, saw aggressive play from both teams, fast paced, and end to end, with lots of counter attacks from both teams. A strong attack from Stourport six minutes in saw Nisar Chaudhry taking Stourport 1-0 up.

Both teams showed very strong defence throughout with exceptional play from their goalkeepers. Half time saw Indian Gym 2-1 up, having scored in the 20th minute and then again from a corner in the 25th minute.

Stourport upped the pressure in the second half, being unlucky in not converting from a number of short corners, and open play; Indian Gym continued to strongly intercept to keep the score at 2-1 for much of the second half, until with seven minutes to go Tim Wood scored in open play.

Terrific strong play from both teams continued in the last few minutes with Tim Wood hitting the bar in the last few seconds, but at full time with the score was equal at 2-2 where the game went to penalty shuffles, with five opportunities to score within eight seconds.

Final score 5-4 to Stourport in a nail biting shoot out.