Redditch Hockey Club

Redditch Ladies Twos lost for the second week running on Saturday, but will again feel aggrieved not to have secured at least a point from the game against Bournville.

The visitors were strong going forwards, the first signs of threat coming in the third minute with goalkeeper Stacey Cowley doing well to make a save.

Redditch could have gone ahead two minutes later, Fran Evans doing well down the right wing before crossing to Karen Buckthorpe.

Buckthorpe, already in the thick of the action had another opportunity a minute later, only to shoot wide under pressure.

Becky Butler then had an opportunity from a short corner, but shot wide.

Then, in the 16^th minute, almost out of nothing, Butler put Redditch ahead with a powerful reverse stick drive from a narrow angle.

The lead installed some much needed confidence, Becky Brookes and Buckthorpe combining well in midfield, while Julie Jones did well to break down a Bournville attack with a solid tackle.

Buckthorpe was unlucky not to extend Redditch’s lead in the 27^th minute, with the visiting keeper equal to her shot, and Kate Knightingale also saw a shot parried away.

All the good work was very nearly thrown away with four minutes remaining in the first half after a defensive error allowed Bournville to break through, and Cowley was unable to reach the ball.

But the Bournville attack weren’t able to capitalise and the ball rolled out of play.

Redditch were made to pay for their misses though, and Bournville were level four minutes after half time after a series of goalmouth scrambles that eventually saw Cowley off her line trying to win the ball back, giving the Bournville attacker and empty net to shoot at.

Two minutes later and the game was on its head, Bournville won a short corner, and although Cowley was able to keep the shot out, the ball deflected to another Bournville attacker who had the easiest of shots into an empty net.

But Redditch showed determination, and again Becky Brookes did well to keep attackers off the ball, while Fran Evans was breaking down several advances.

Cowley was also keeping Redditch in the game, and was twice called into action in the 52^nd minute.

The game was almost even in the 55^th minute, Phil Williams doing really well on the wing finding Knightingale who crossed to Libby Skinner only for Skinner to be heavily tackled in the D, winning a short corner in the process.

Bournville then went back up the other end, and again Cowley did well to keep out a shot, Brookes backing her up well to clear another.

But while the defence were working well, Phil Williams was on fire on the wing, with a brilliant solo run from midfield right into the D, only to be stopped by the goalkeeper.

The resulting short corner gave Knightingale a shooting opportunity, but her shot was deflected wide.

With time running down, Sue Ellis made two crucial tackles and clearances with Bournville players clear on goal.

This spurred Redditch on, and with seconds to spare they won a short corner which was played around to Jones, who with the last hit of the game sent her shot agonizingly wide.