Team:
1	Bruce Henderson
2	Dave Baxter
3	Allan Shepherd
4	Fabio Labate
5	Neil Strachan (Sunday last game)
6	Gregory Valiant
7	Ryan Laird (Sunday last game)
8	Veselin Voynov
9
10	Stewart Carlile
11	Mark Speed
12
13	Calum Fraser

Game 1: Caledonia 6 Otter 10
Per 1: 1 2
Per 2: 2 3 ( 3–5 )
Per 3: 1 3 ( 4 – 8)
Per 4: 2 2 (6 – 10)

Goal scorers	Exclusions	Extra man situations
Callum Fraser 3	A Shepherd 2	Gained 8 Scored 3 Success 37.5%	Conceded 5 Goals lost 2 Success 60%
Allan Shepherd 1	V Voynov 1
Gregory Valiant 1	Fabio Labate 1
Veselin Voynov 1	M Speed 1

Comment: This was a dogged and for the most part a controlled performance against a strong and well organised Otter side. The team are to be commended for their work-rate and determination, and with only 9 players, getting back to 6-8 with 3 minutes to go. In the end however a lack of numbers meant we were unable to sustain the intensity of our play in the crucial last few minutes. Man up started well but when Otter changed to a different defensive system we struggled to assert control.

Game 2: Caledonia 10 Solihull 12
Per 1: 2 3
Per 2: 2 2 ( 4 – 5)
Per 3: 5 3 (9 – 8)
Per 4: 1 4 (10 – 12)

Goal scorers	Exclusions	Extra man situations
Mark Speed 4	Allan Shepherd 3	Gained 7 Scored 2 Success 29%	Conceded 5+1 pen Goals lost 3 Pen saved Success 40%
Callum Fraser 3	M Speed 2
Dave Baxter 1	V Voynov 1
Stewart Carlile 1	S Carlile 1
Greg Valiant 1

Comment: This was a chance. A controlled and hardworking performance based on strong defence gave us a 9-8 lead at the end of the 3^rd period. Again though a lack of numbers, being down to 8 men due to exclusion by this time, proved decisive as Solihull won the last period 4-1. Fair play to them, they did well at an important time, but there were pivotal moments. At 9-9 they were awarded a goal from a first time shot when the foul was committed inside 5 metres and we missed an important man up at 9-10. We also missed a couple of high percentage shots as tiredness took hold. In the end though a 29% strike in man up and being unable to sustain our play for the whole game was in the end decisive.

Game 3: Caledonia 13 Tyldesley 10
Per 1: 1 2
Per 2: 6 3 (7 – 6)
Per 3: 1 3 (8 – 9)
Per 4: 5 2 (13 – 10)

Goal scorers	Exclusions	Extra man situations
Ryan Laird 6	G Valiant 2	Gained 10 + 2 pen Scored 5 + 1 pen Success 50%	Conceded 7 Goals lost 4 Success 43 %
Ves Voynov 2	D Baxter 2
Greg Valiant 1	R Laird 1
M Speed 1	V Voynov 1
A Shepherd 1	C Fraser 1
N Strachan 1

Comment: This was a very good performance and result in a game that was really must win for us after Tyldesley had beaten Invicta earlier in the day. There is no doubt that having an extra two players on the team sheet made a huge difference as we were able to play an active press defence with counter attack throughout the game which was the decisive factor in the last period as Tyldesley tired. Another positive feature of our play was that we remained patient in attack and kept possession until we were able to create a good goalscoring opportunity. This was particularly important, as Tyldesley thanks to another 7 goals by Michael Cowburn who was a constant threat, edged 9-8 in front in the last period. At this time their attacking players did not always return to defence and it was very important that we had the confidence and energy to press home our extra man advantage having swum the length of the pitch.

Reflection: This was a tough weekend with despite losing two games, good performances. The win against Tyldesley was crucial to give us any chance of missing a play off place. The first two games however highlighted clearly that we can’t play at this level with only 9 players and it is important that we have a full compliment for the final weekend. It will be difficult to pull back the 3 points we are behind Invicta and Tyldesley but with a full side we can at least give it our best shot

Running totals:

Player	Played	Goals scored	Exclusions
B Henderson	11		Pen saved
D Baxter	11	6	6
A Shepherd	5	3	7
M McGeehan	8	2	2
N Strachan	6	10	3
S Adams	8	5	5
V Voynov	11	6	6
R Laird	3	10	2
S Carlile	10	4	3
M Speed	5	8	7
A Campbell	8	10	1
C Fraser	11	33	3
A Woodall	3
S Metcalfe	2
D Stewart	3	2	4
N Comerford	3		3
G Valiant	3	4	2
F Labate	3