Redditch Hockey Club

Skipper Andy Brooks’ late, late goal secured safety in the MRHA West Midlands Premier for Redditch Hockey Club, after a nervy final game of the season against Old Halesonians.

Safety will come as a huge relief to Wayne Beard’s boys, who started the season full of optimism for a possible promotion push, only to quickly realise that a relegation scrap was a more realistic season prospect.

But going on a four game unbeaten run at the end of the season was to prove Redditch’s saving grace, and ultimately ensure that West Midlands Premier hockey would be played for a third consecutive season in 2009/10.

Saturday’s less than inspirational game began with a brisk hail shower and a bitterly cold breeze. The chill in the air certainly seemed to kick the Kingfishers into action, and they took the lead inside five minutes when Brooks scored a typical goal from a short corner.

A chance to extend their lead came four minutes later following good build up play from Chris Thomas and Steve Cook-but Dave Smith was unable to get on the end of the resulting cross.

Old Halesonians were gifted a goalscoring opportunity ten minutes later after a mistake in the Redditch midfield allowed the opposing attacker a free run into the D, but was unable to take full advantage.

Redditch heeded their warning and began to take a stranglehold on the game, giving the visitors very little attacking freedom, and the solid Reds defence swiftly dealt with any attack.

Brooks carved out another opportunity towards the end of the first half, with a superb run into the D, with only the goalkeepers’ outstretched foot stopping a clear goalscoring chance.

Old Halesonians began the second half much the brighter, and Reds keeper Scott Paul was forced into action within 30 seconds of the restart, making a superb last ditch save to keep Redditch ahead.

But the lead was to last only three minutes longer, after a deflected cross from the visitors fell to an unmarked attacker who was able to fire in with ease.

By now Redditch were under severe pressure, and were struggling to break out of their own half, and Brooks was desperately calling for his players not to panic.

They were listening, and had the ball in the back of the net moments later, only to see the goal disallowed-Richard Sellors’ shot from a short corner was deemed by the umpire to have hit his foot, and his effort was ruled out.

Ten minutes later, and Old Halesonians took the lead, cutting through the Redditch defence with apparent ease to go ahead for the first time.

Things were to get worse for Redditch as first Steve Cook and then Paul Markham were given ten minute sin-bins by the umpires, Cook’s dismissal being extremely dubious after appearing to simply ask the umpire a question.

By now the gathering supporters on the sidelines were nervously beginning to wonder how the scoreline at Wednesbury was looking.

As things stood, a Wednesbury win by 16 clear goals would have been enough to relegate Redditch, and given that they were playing Kidderminster, who have been on the receiving end of several drubbings this season, a win by that margin was not out of the question.

With less than two minutes left on the clock, Cook’s sin bin period came to an end, and as he re-entered the pitch, Redditch won a short corner. The ball was delivered to Brooks on the edge of the D, who took a moment, stepped into the D and fired the ball into the back of the net, leaving the goal keeper with no chance.

Brooks was congratulated by his elated teammates, and any sign of concern on Wayne Beard’s face on the sideline were quickly erased.

Moments later, the umpires blew their whistles to bring the game and the season to a close. Beard punched the air with delight, the Redditch players could not hide their exhilaration, and the small gathering of supporters were united in applause.

Redditch were safe regardless of the result in Wednesbury, which incidentally ended in a 4-2 win for Wednesbury, meaning Redditch would have been safe even if they had lost.

But division safety was not what expected at the beginning of the season, and Redditch have work to do over the summer months if they are to realise their goals of promotion.

The four game unbeaten run though, should provide the ideal stepping-stone into next season.

The goal that secured safety for Redditch:

And one for the caption competition-Chunk having a friendly chat with the umpires-again!