Redditch Hockey Club

Redditch Hockey Club Mens 1^st XI have given themselves a real chance of survival in the MRHA West Midlands Premier after a hard fought 4-4 draw at high flyers Stone but a win was a real possibility.

Leading 4-2 with just five minutes remaining, the Reds looked to have pulled off one of the shocks of the season. But Stone scored from a late penalty flick, and grabbed an equaliser right at the death to secure what was in the end a fair result.

Stone took the early initiative, going 1-0 up within two minutes, and with the 6-0 win over Redditch in November still fresh in their minds, it seemed another drubbing was on the cards.

But Redditch responded immediately, with Dan Waite on his return to first team action winning a free hit. The resulting play saw Steve Dawes unmarked at the far post to fire home and equalise.

The Kingfishers then took control of the midfield, with Steve Cook creating havoc with a run into the D and winning a short corner. Skipper Andy Brookes fierce shot from the resulting play forced the Stone keeper into making a save.

Moments later it was Redditch stopper Scott Paul who was called into action with a top drawer one-handed save following a Stone short corner.

But it was the Stone keeper who was the busier of the two, and both Chris Thomas and Steve Dawes saw efforts heading towards goal, only to see the keeper get to the ball.

Controversy came in the 21^st minute though. Scott Paul looked to have made a fine save on the line following a Stone shot, but after a moments hesitation the umpire deemed the ball to have crossed the line, to the disgust of the Redditch players.

But unlike in previous weeks, Redditch kept their heads up, and replied through Pete Dawson in the 32^nd minute. A short corner was delivered to Dawson, who fired home with a thunderous drive from the edge of the D, despite carrying a niggling ankle injury.

Redditch could have fallen behind again right at the end of the half, but had Paul Markham to thank after his last ditch tackle prevented Stone from a clear sight of goal.

Once again, coach Wayne Beard waved his magic at half time, and Redditch came out all guns firing after the interval.

Within 4 minutes of the break, Redditch were ahead again. Andy Brookes won a short corner and Steve Cook was on hand to fire the Kingfishers ahead.

By now Stone were clearly wound up both on and off the pitch, and had one player sin-binned for throwing his stick away in sheer frustration at not winning a ball.

Redditch made the most of their numerical advantage, and went two goals clear in the 58^th minute. Steve Cook won a short corner, and slammed home for the 14^th time this season, becoming Redditch’s leading scorer in the current campaign.

But when Anthony Brooks was carded with 15 minutes remaining, Redditch began to wear the game down. With just five minutes remaining and with the win seemingly in the bag, a stroke of misfortune saw a stray ball hit Andy Thomas in the chest inside the Redditch D and the umpire pointed to the penalty spot. The odds were stacked against Paul in goal, and Stone scored to leave a nervy final few minutes.

And with Redditch’s record of conceding goals in the dying moments, it was a case of déjà vu after Stone scored from a free hit to draw level with just seconds left on the clock.

Desperate for the win that seemed certain just five minutes earlier, Steve Cook ran into the Stone D, released Steve Dawes but agonisingly saw his shot saved by the Stone keeper, right on the final whistle.

Wayne Beard’s boys will see it as a point gained rather than two points lost, but with a two-goal cushion with minutes to go, only to let it go once more, you have to wonder how many opportunities will need to be offered before Redditch grab that all important victory.