Hockey:
Redditch 2nds boost survival hopes

REDDITCH Hockey Club 2nds boosted their West Midlands Division One survival hopes with a vital 4-3 win at Market Drayton on Saturday.

Lee Beedon and Steve Dawes both went close early on despite Andy Brooks serving a ten-minute touchline sentence.

Redditch then conceded a soft goal against the run of play but, with Brooks back on the field, regained their shape and equalised through a Dave Baker penalty corner strike before Brooks put them ahead by half time.

Some good saves from stand-in keeper and man of the match Matt Walton kept Redditch in the game and he even faced a penalty stroke which was placed wide of the goal.

Market Drayton levelled but Matt Grubb converted a rebounded shot to put Redditch ahead once more.

The hosts hit back again but moments from the end Beedon produced a moment of individual magic to score the winning goal for Redditch, who are now four points above the drop zone and second bottom Droitwich, who they host tomorrow (3pm).

THERE were no points for the first team from another double-header but in what is a tough West Midlands Premier Division season there was again no shortage of effort.

On Saturday Redditch lost 6-2 at home to Aldridge & Walsall. The first half was evenly matched but the visitors eventually took a 2-0 lead before Steve Cook reduced the arrears before half time.

In the second half the Reds bossed possession for long periods but they were wasteful in front of goal and were made to pay by the clinical visitors, although Redditch did strike again through Dan Waite.

Sunday brought a stern test as leaders Hampton-in-Arden were the visitors and Redditch can be very proud of their efforts in a 4-2 defeat.

With the visitors having had no game on Saturday, it was expected the game would be one-way traffic towards the home goal but this was not the case as the depleted hosts gave as good as they got and they trailed just 2-1 at the break, with Steve Dawes on the mark for the Reds.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first as both sides created chances. Hampton went 3-1 up but captain Chris Thomas scored to give Redditch hope of claiming a superb point, only for the visitors to score next and put the outcome beyond doubt.

Redditch head to Finchfield tomorrow (1.30pm).

REDDITCH 3RDS were beaten 7-2 by local rivals and hosts Bromsgrove in West Midlands Division Two.

The hosts were always in command and led 3-0 before Redditch improved and got on the scoresheet when Ben Sullivan found player of the match Callum Amos-Pace on the left wing and he passed to Rich Randle who converted superbly from a tight angle.

The outcome of the match was never really in doubt and Redditch were 5-1 down midway through the second half before they scored again when Amos-Pace again powered down the left and crossed for the returning James Makin to fire the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.

Redditch were short of nine regular players and this was a great team effort which again shows great promise for the future of all connected with Redditch Hockey Club.

Redditch 3rds host Solihull Blossomfield tomorrow (1.30pm).

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