REDDITCH United were stunned by Stourport Swifts in the Worcestershire Senior Cup final as Matt Clarke’s side missed the chance to end their nine-year wait for a trophy.
The Reds were beaten by second-half goals from Jordan Annear and Ben Tilbury at Bromsgrove Sporting’s Victoria Ground as Swifts ran out deserved winners to lift the trophy for the first time.
Despite playing two levels above Midland Football League Premier Division opponents Swifts, Redditch were second best for much of the game and rarely threatened the Stourport goal.
The Reds handed a debut to Ben Newey in goal with regular goalkeeper Adam Harrison cup tied having played in this year’s competition with Worcester City.
Stourport spurned a glorious early chance to take the lead when keeper Josh Bishop’s kick bounced all the way through to Lee Chilton who shot over when one-on-one with Newey.
Goalmouth action was at a premium thereafter as the swirling wing caused difficulties for both teams.
However, Quentin Townsend’s side remained in the ascendancy as Lewis Hudson made a last ditch challenge to deflect Annear’s shot behind for a corner.
And Newey then made a sensational acrobatic save to tip Chilton’s powerful 30-yard striker over the crossbar diving his to his right.
From the resulting corner, Redditch survived another scare when Ben Tilbury somehow headed over from a couple of yards out.
Redditch had their first meaningful sight of goal in the early stages of the second period as Riley O’Sullivan placed a shot a couple of yards over the crossbar.
However, Stourport took the lead on 51 minutes when Annear beat Newey to Ben Jevons’ floated ball which trickled into the bottom left corner.
And Swifts doubled their lead on 65 minutes when Tilbury’s shot went through Newey and into the net after Chilton’s pass deflected into the scorer’s path.
The Reds were handed a reprieve soon after when Ryan Wollacott pulled down a Stourport player when already booked as the referee opted to keep his cards in his pocket.
And Redditch were then denied a certain goal when Harvey Gregson squared to Max Sheaf only for Joe Hanson to make a heroic goalline clearance with the Reds midfielder six-yards from goal.
Stourport almost sealed the win when Annear burst into the box and powered a shot through Newey only for Wollacott to clear off the line.
Time eventually ran out for the Reds who failed to claim a seventh Senior Cup title having last won the trophy in 2013/14.
