REDDITCH Borough may have been pipped to promotion from Midland League Division Three, but there were well deserved celebrations when the Reds reserves won the Challenge Vase on Saturday.
Craig Malins grabbed the only goal of the game at the Valley Stadium in front of a crowd of 285 as Borough defeated divisional rivals Northfield Town 1-0 to clinch some richly deserved silverware.
The Reds started strongly and within the first five minutes Liam Fullerton could have put them ahead but was denied by the post.
Shortly afterwards Jason Cowley fired a 25-yard volley which rattled the Northfield crossbar.
However, the hosts’ pressure was rewarded in the 22nd minute when Malins volleyed in from ten yards following a well worked corner.
Redditch continued to have the better of the match and missed further chances, but it mattered not as they were largely untroubled at the other end.
Borough won ten out of 11 matches to end the league campaign but had to settle for third place despite collecting 62 points from 28 games. They finished four and three points behind champions Leamington Hibernian and runners-up Smithswood Firs respectively.
