HOCKEY: NICK Baker bagged four goals as Warwick’s third team recorded recorded a convincing 5-2 victory against a strong and skillful Barford Tigers side.
Baker opened the scoring with a solo dribble from inside his own half which finished with a delightful reverse stick shot.
Barford replied with a neat short corner move to level things up but Baker was on target with a powerful short corner to regain the lead for Warwick.
On several occasions Barford pressed hard and trapped Warwick into the left channel but good work from Nick Kishor, James Langley and Luca Martinelli managed to retain possession to feed into Emlyn Evans and George Holding.
In the second half Warwick made more opportunities down both sides of the pitch with Simon Shepherd and Matt Walmsley being able to feed passes through to the forwards who enjoyed more space and breakaway chances.
Great work from Ed Hare, James Sear, John Kane and Rich Kelly began to create more openings in the resilient Barford defence.
Baker stepped up to drive another short corner high into the roof of the goal for his hat-trick before Warwick’s high press forced an error and an interception picked up by Simon Shepherd whose drilled pass found Rich Kelly at the far post top slot in Warwick’s fourth.
More pressure and another short corner led to Baker scoring his fourth goal of the match but it was Barford who had the final say by scoring what proved to be little more than a consolation.
Elsewhere, the fourth team lost 2-1 against Barford Tigers with Archie Gale producing a man-of-the-match performance in midfield but there was better news for the the fifth team who beat Leicester Westleigh 3-1.
Josh Cooper bagged a brace and Luca Cardelinos scored the opening goal as Warwick returned to winning ways.
Anyone interested in joining this progressive, sociable club should contact us at [email protected] or go to www.warwickhockey.co.uk.
