06/09/2026
Our Birmingham league 50s squad preseason friendly with Hindlip...the result is in ⚽⚽⚽
*HARTSHILL STROLLERS W.F.C.*
Official Matchday Poster Report — Over-50s Pre-Season Friendly
*HARTSHILL WALKERS 3 – 2 HINDLIP*
*Date* : Sunday, 6th September 2026
*Venue* : Summerhill School
*Match Official* : Reg Walker ( _Outstanding Performance)_
*TEAM SHEET*
_Hartshill Strollers Over-50s:_
Roger Furnell (GK) – _Man of the Match_ ⭐ ( _2 Penalty Saves... technically!_ )
Dean Tranter
Andy Murdoch
Anand Patel ⚽
Graham Taylor ⚽
Nigel Campbell
Harry Singh
Richard Green
Danny Gil ⚽
Kev Houlston
*FIRST HALF SUMMARY*
The match started at a rapid pace, with Hartshill initially struggling to find their shape despite tactical guidance from the technical area by manager _Lord Prestidge_ .
Hindlip capitalised early on a defensive miscommunication to slot home the opener.
That setback sparked Hartshill into life. Settling into their structure and stretching the pitch, space opened up through the middle for *Anand Patel* . Anand seized the opportunity, calmly guiding a fine effort home to level the scores—a _rare_ and valuable goal.
As confidence grew, Nigel Campbell walked a fine line with a sequence of physical tackles, running offences, and fouls while adapting to an out-of-position role, earning a brief " _naughty Nigel_ " tag before putting in a stellar second half.
Hartshill took the lead when centre-forward *Danny Gil* received the ball out wide and, against all odds, composed himself to finish into the far corner.
" _Gilly" and "calmly_ " in the same sentence, but it was pure quality.
Just before half-time, Dean Tranter conceded a penalty after stepping into the box. Hindlip’s lethal frontman stood over it, but *Roger Furnell* produced absolute magic between the sticks, diving brilliantly to deny the strike and preserve the 2–1 lead at the break.
*SECOND HALF SUMMARY*
The boss shuffled the pack for the second half, introducing Big Andy Murdoch to anchor the defence alongside Nigel Campbell. The tactical tweak paid off immediately, giving Hartshill total control, while Kev Houlston out wide on the left and Rich Green in midfield offered a dynamic new shape.
The pressure told when *Graham Taylor* unleashed an absolute thunderbolt from distance, smashing it home to make it 3–1.
However, a fourth running infraction penalised Hartshill with a second penalty against them. Step forward *Roger Furnell* once again. Hindlip's taker struck a fierce effort, but "Magic" Rog launched himself across goal and tipped it onto the crossbar with the absolute finest of fingertips—a camera-ready save that capped off an undisputed Man of the Match display.
Hindlip mounted a late push and pulled one back with a strike into the far corner to set up a tense finish, but Rog's heroics and a resilient backline ensured the lads saw out a well-earned 3–2 win.
*MATCH OFFICIAL RECOGNITION*
Special mention goes to Reg Walker for an outstanding refereeing performance. Reg kept firm control of a competitive clash, managing running infractions and physical battles with great authority and fairness throughout.
*KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR LEAGUE ACTION*
With official league fixtures commencing next week, the squad takes four critical lessons forward from this fixture:
*Discipline* : Eliminate unnecessary running penalties and foul counts in critical areas.
*Game Control:* Keep the ball moving quickly and frustrate the opposition through sustained possession.
*Defensive Shape:* Maintain a tight structure and clear communication across the backline.
*Target Play:* Strikers must hold their position up top to provide a vital relief outlet under pressure.
*STATISTICAL HIGHLIGHTS*
Final Score: Hartshill Walkers 3 – 2 Hindlip
Goalscorers: Anand Patel ⚽, Danny Gil ⚽, Graham Taylor ⚽
Penalty Heroics: Roger Furnell (1 direct save + 1 fingertip tipped onto the bar)
*Man of the Match:* Roger Furnell ⭐
*THE FINAL WORD*
" _The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It is nothing of the kind. The game is about glory, it is about doing things in style and with a flourish, about going out and beating the lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom."_
— *Danny Blanchflower*
