Redditch Hockey Club

Redditch Mens Firsts put in two superb performances on Saturday, the first to clear the pitch of snow following Thursdays blizzard, and then proceeded to demolish bottom side Ludlow 14-1 at Bromsgrove Road.

With the Ladies Firsts game called off, it was only after the Mens Firsts squad cleared the pitch during the afternoon that the match was finally given the go ahead.

And what a good job it did, with Redditch giving their best performance in months.

But after a difficult first half you could have been forgiven for thinking that the Reds were in for a much tougher game.

Redditch took the lead in the tenth minute through Antony Brookes, but only after the visitors had gone close on more than one occasion.

And the visitors were given a way back into the game in the 15^th minute when a defensive error from Ray Jakeman allowed a Ludlow attacker a free run on goal before going round Redditch goalkeeper Scott Paul to slot home.

The visitors continued to exert pressure and should have gone closer from a penalty corner in the 21^st minute but instead shooting wide.

The ascendancy fell towards Redditch in the 23^rd minute though when a Ludlow player was yellowed, and moments later the Kingfishers moved ahead through captain Andy Brooks’ high shot from a penalty corner.

The visitors weren’t without their chances though; another defensive error this time from Paul Markham saw Ludlow gifted another opportunity, only to shoot wide.

But Markham made up for it moments later, clearing a shot off the line with keeper Paul beaten.

Then in the 32^nd minute Redditch made the most of their numerical advantage when Richard Sellors scored from close range in the aftermath of a penalty corner.

Brookes then put a shot wide before Dave Smith grabbed his first in the 35^th minute to send Redditch 4-1 ahead at half time.

But Redditch went in at the break temporarily a man down, Jakeman’s miserable afternoon going from bad to worse after receiving a yellow card for contesting an umpire decision.

Coach Wayne Beard must have had some magic words at half time, for after the interval Ludlow were barely given a sniff as the Kingfishers piled forwards.

Brookes got the ball rolling immediately after capitalising on a rebound from a Brooks shot to score his second of the day from a yard out.

Smith then grabbed his second of the day in the 38^th minute after good work from Sellors, before competing his hat trick two minutes later from a well worked penalty corner routine,

Redditch had half a dozen shots two minutes later that the visiting keeper somehow kept out before Brooks scored his second in the 43^rd minute.

Brookes became the second Redditch player to complete a hat trick in the 52^nd minute, with his shot taking a deflection off the keeper on its way in.

And Brookes’ fourth goal three minutes later moved Redditch into double figures, scoring after good work down the right flank by the energetic Steve Cook.

Brooks then had a shout put onto the crossbar from a penalty corner before getting his hat trick in the 63^rd minute with a powerful shot from inside the D.

Smith had his fourth in the 66^th minute after good work from Cook and Brooks, while Brookes saw a fifth goal go begging after putting the ball over the bar a minute later.

Ludlow then had another player yellowed with just over a minute remaining, and Redditch took advantage again.

Brooks grabbed his fourth of the day from a penalty corner before Jason Ellis-Woodley hit Redditch’s 14^th goal with seconds remaining to complete the rout.

It was also a good day for the remainder of the club, with both the Mens Seconds and Mens Thirds securing crucial wins.

Adrian Young’s Seconds moved closer to league glory with a battling 4-3 win away at Bridgnorth, again coming from behind to grab a vital win.

The game started evenly with the Redditch defence tested before Pete Dawson broke the deadlock to put Redditch ahead.

Bridgnorth recovered to score two goals, both from first from well drilled penalty corner routines the first just evading keeper Young,

Lee Beedon equalised for Redditch after a silky run, but Bridgnorth were soon ahead again after sloppy defensive work from Redditch allowed a Bridgnorth attacker a free effort on goal.

But Redditch once more showed their fighting qualities that have kept them top of the league, with some improved hockey in the second half.

Kyle Haresign’s persistence on the right wing was rewarded with 15 minutes remaining when his shot from an acute angle was deflected into the net by a Bridgnorth defender.

Beedon then grabbed his second of the day with only a few minutes remaining to secure Redditch a hard earned win that keeps them top of the league with just four games remaining.

But in the dying seconds Redditch suffered what could be a critical blow, Haresign suffering cruciate ligament damage after a heavy tackle, forcing the midfielder to miss the remainder of the season.

Barry Fitzpatrick’s Mens Thirds couldn’t quite replicate their 10-0 demolition of Kingswinford earlier in the season, but still managed a 4-0 win with Jason Abbotts, John Manison and Alex Ward’s double securing an important win in their battle for promotion.