England Hockey National Plate Final – Manchester 15^th May 2005.

Stevenage 4 Lichfield 0  

Having beaten National League club opposition in the quarter and semi finals in very close games Stevenage totally dominated Lichfield in the final to win 4-0.

For once Stevenage were quick out of their blocks and playing imaginative, short passing hockey at pace sliced through the Lichfield defence. Gary Brown gave Stevenage the lead after five minutes when he forced the ball home after excellent build up work from Peter Cornell and Ollie Holt. Five minutes later Stevenage were two ahead after an excellent through ball from Peter Hamid found Dean Taylor in space and he slipped the ball past the opposition keeper.

Lichfield then started to get into the game but Captain Rob Cornell and Freddy Stirling Brown snuffed out any threat. Meanwhile Peter Hamid together with James and Henry Robinson were providing good quality ball for Peter Cornell to terrorise the Lichfield defence and after 25 minutes a fine move involving Gary Brown, Henry Robinson and Ollie Holt saw Peter Cornell smash the ball into the net to put Stevenage three ahead.

Lichfield then put together a period of pressure play through to half time that stretched the Stevenage defence. However Joe Stafford and Tom Sumpter made some great tackles and when Lichfield did get shots on goal stand in keeper, John Mould, made a series of fine saves.  

In the second half Lichfield had no option but to go on the attack and throw players forward. However with Peter Hamid marshalling the midfield and Rob Cornell and Freddy Stirling Brown imperious at the back John Mould only had to make a few more saves. Stevenage were also taking advantage of Lichfield ’s commitment to attack and a superb solo goal effort from Peter Cornell was mysteriously disallowed. However midway through the second half Robert Cornell played a superb long ball to brother Peter who beat the keeper to seal the result.

 As Stevenage players tired in the hot weather Daniel Parker and Scott Reid came on as substitutes and together with James Robinson played their part in keeping the pressure on Lichfield . Gary Brown, Dean Taylor and Ollie Holt all went close late on in the game while the Stevenage defence continued to snuff out the Lichfield attacks through to the final whistle and the wild celebrations that followed from the team and 100 supporters from Stevenage who had made the long trip to Manchester .

Peter Cornell collected the Man of the Match Award while Captain Rob Cornell was presented with the trophy.

This superb win rounds off Stevenage Hockey Club’s most successful season and means the club can look forward to its 60th season in which the men will be fielding six teams and the ladies will be playing in the East League for the first time with confidence.