H2] TQEA-BASED CLUB BIDDING TO GO 'ONE BETTER' AND BRING BACK THE EQUIVALENT OF THE FAC CUP TO THE TOWN[.H2]

TIER 3 EH KNOCKOUT FINAL WILL BE LIVESTREAMED ON FACEBOOK

HOCKEY fans worldwide get the chance later today to watch Atherstone Adders' latest attempt to bring home the sport's equivalent of the FA Cup.

The Tier 3 England Hockey Knockout Cup final is one of eight being played over the weekend and livestreamed on Facebook.

For the TQEA-based club, the showpiece at the Nottingham Hockey Centre will be something of déjà vu experience at they were last season's beaten finalists.

But the good news is the Adders Men's Firsts will not be facing their nemesis again this year – as opponents Southport pulled off a surprise giant-killing act by knocking out defending champions University of Nottingham in the semi-final last week.

News from the Atherstone camp this morning was upbeat with a rallying cry of "let's go one better" than the 2019 result.

And if their progress to the final is an indicator of likely success then the Adders are surely in with a shout when the team push back at 5.45pm.

Coach Mick Thomas's braves have certainly done it the hard way – overcoming some tricky ties as well as benefitting from a walkover when neighbours Tamworth couldn't raise a side in round two.

They began with a narrow 4-3 victory over Wolverhampton & Tettenhall in their opening tie and in round three found the going even tougher.

At full time against Berkswell & Balsall Common the score was 3-3 and in the end Atherstone Adders had teenager Will Parsons to thank for keeping one giant hand on their ambitions with two terrific saves in the penalty shoot-out to see them through 4-2 on spot flicks.

The quarter-final home tie against Southampton saw more goal excitement and a heart-stopping last 10 minutes for the Adders.

The game looked all over at half-time with Adders 4-0 up, and at 6-2 mid-way through the second half they were coasting. But the south coast side rallied and hit three quick goals that turned consolation into real hope.

As the final whistle blew the visitors were still searching for an unlikely equaliser.

Covid-19 then intervened and nearly six months passed before they were able to play their long awaited semi-final against Lewes HC in Sussex.

A near 400-mile round trip to Burgess Hill last weekend proved no obstacle and a new-look Adders side, captained by Lloyd Crowley and featuring several cup virgins including a sprinkling of under 18s from the club's junior academy, swept aside the opposition 4-0 to reach today's final.

Their opposition will also be full of confidence heading into the showdown after knocking out the defending champions who snuffed out Adders' hopes last time.

That was Southport's fourth straight away win in the competition and they also boast a fine defensive record, conceding just five goals in their five games.

Adders has the deadlier firepower non paper at least, having scored 17 goals in only four ties. Southport have notched 16 strikes in their five- match path to the final.

Atherstone Adders

R2) Tamworth W/O Atherstone Adders;

QF) Atherstone Adders 6 Southampton 5

Goals for 17 Goals against 11

Southport

R2) Vikings 0 Southport 2;

QF) Stafford 2 Southport 3;

Goals for 16 Goals against 5

Last year's winners