REDDITCH Hockey Club’s women’s first team battled to an impressive 3-0 win against City of Birmingham.
Redditch goalkeeper Melanie Vaughan made a fine early save to keep the scores level before Marie-Anne Irons broke the deadlock after good work from Phoebe Kershaw.
And this was quickly followed by a second Redditch goal as Jo Reaney scored over the head of the Birmingham goalkeeper in what is likely to be a goal of the season contender.
Redditch sealed the win with their third goal as Teagan Guilfoyle lashed the ball home after Jo Cook and Reaney controlled the game throughout.
The home team maintained their dominance in the second half as defenders Leanne Styzaker and Claire Humphries ensured three Birmingham short corners came to nothing.
Elsewhere, the women’s second team were beaten 8-0 by Old Halesonians who have previously played in the league above.
Redditch fielded a strong side with a mix of experience and young legs and two substitutes.
However, Old Halesonians proved too strong for Redditch on the day with a series of sharp strikes and short corner goals left the visitors frustrated.
Redditch trailed by four goals at the break and also lost their goalkeeper, who was forced to take herself off, as they played the remainder of the game with 11 outfield players.
The visitors showed good team spirit and pulled together in the second period although Old Halesonians were still able to score four further goals despite the best efforts of defender Emma Wheeler.
Redditch Badgers beat Droitwich Badgers 4-1 as several players were handed debuts including Spencer McKenna, Grace Evans and Hayden Bourne.
And Redditch made a quick start as Ava Goodman’s bursting run upfield saw her meet Elsie Simpson’s cross to score the first goal of the game in the opening minutes.
Simpson then scored a goal herself as she ran down the right and opted to shoot to double Redditch’s lead.
Droitwich halved the deficit on the stroke of half time after Redditch had made several crucial blocks and saves beforehand.
However, Goodman grabbed her second goal with a tap in to restore Redditch’s two-goal lead before Harry Brookes showed great technique to seal the win from Hayden Bourne’s pass after Katie Young had made a superb goalline clearance earlier in the half.
Lastly, Redditch men’s third team were edged out 2-1 by Harborne 6’s as the home side were punished for a slow start as the visitors took an early lead from a well-worked short corner.
Redditch equalised when Alex Ward converted a penalty flick just before the break only for Harborne to snatch the win in the closing stages from a penalty corner that took two deflections and trickled over the line.
Elsewhere, Redditch men’s first team lost 3-0 against local rivals Bromsgrove whilst the men’s second team were beaten 8-1 away at Worcester with the men’s 4s game cancelled.
