Weekend Match Report Round Up: Saturday 14th January 2023

REDDITCH Hockey Club played their first games of the New Year last weekend with two of their teams sitting second in the table and several in the top half of their respective leagues.Redditch men’s 2’s secured a 4-2 win against Solihull Blossomfield 2’s as Lee Beedon, Josh Checkley and Richard Sellors put the home side into a commanding lead.Despite Solihull staging a comeback in the second half, Sellors sealed victory for Redditch late on with his second goal of the match.And the men’s 3’s romped to a huge 13-0 win away at Worcester 7’s as Ben McFarland scored the opener within the first two minutes of the game before Marshall Glenn added a second soon after with a well-placed shot.

Redditch remained on the front foot as Hadley Kilkenny struck twice before Miller Glen, Tom Edney and a second from Marshall put the visitors into a seven-goal lead at the break.

Young goalkeeper Aryn Welsh made a fine save at the start of the second period before Redditch regained control courtesy of Leo Jones’ strike.

And further goals from Marshall, Miller and Kilkenny saw the trio complete their hat-tricks in a comprehensive victory whilst the latter scored his second treble in as many matches.

Both William Wright and Noah Brown made the step up from the development team as Redditch ended the game with seven junior players on the pitch.

Elsewhere, the women’s 2’s edged out local rivals Bromsgrove 5’s 2-1 in a fiercely competitive local derby with just one place separating the two teams at the start of play.

Redditch started well and failed to capitalise on two short corner opportunities before Elsie Simpson finished from an acute angle to give the home side the lead after good work from Helen Abrahams.

However, Bromsgrove equalised following a quick turnover in the second period as Redditch goalkeeper Paige Whitehouse made numerous saves to keep the home side in the contest.

And Redditch eventually regained the lead as captain Louise Jennings fired through the Bromsgrove goalkeeper’s legs to seal a narrow victory and claim local bragging rights.

Lastly, Redditch Badgers were also in derby action against Bromsgrove Badgers and secured an impressive 7-4 victory in their new home kit sponsored by local firm Penn’s Ground Maintenance.

Redditch raced into a two-goal lead as Theo Cook and Elsie Simpson exchanged passes before the former teed up Ava Goodman who swept the ball home at the back post.

And the home side soon doubled their lead when a similar exchange between Cook and Simpson ended with the former finding the net.

Bromsgrove responded with a goal of their own as Joshua Dobson grabbed his first of the season with the scorer a Redditch player but playing for the visitors to balance the teams.

And striker turned goalkeeper Harry Brookes made several fine saves to keep Redditch in front before Cook’s second goal shortly before half time extended the home side’s lead.

Cook and Dobson switched teams at the interval to balance the two squads as the latter went on to complete a unique hat-trick with both goals assisted by Ethan Cook.

There were also goals for Jacob Dobson and Simpson before Theo, now playing for Bromsgrove, took his individual tally to four goals with a brace despite the best efforts of Katie Young to mark him out of the game.

The game was the perfect send-off for Goodman and Simpson who will now make the step up to senior level to play for Redditch 2’s.

Elsewhere, Redditch men’s 1’s won 7-0 on the road at Solihull Blossomfield 1’s whilst the women’s 1’s secured a narrow 1-0 win at Warwick 2’s.