Redditch Mens Firsts went clear at the top of the Bodykraft MRHA West Midlands Division One after a commanding 7-0 win at home to Wednesbury, and in the process secured their first clean sheet of the season.
The performance matched the score line, and the only grievance Redditch will have is that they didn’t score more.
After scoring within seconds of the start last week, Redditch tried to do the same this week, Antony Brookes seeing a shot saved by the visiting keeper with barely 30 seconds on the clock.
But the Kingfishers were ahead inside two minutes, Brookes passing to Steve Cook who evaded the goalkeeper to score from close range.
Two minutes later and captain Andy Brooks had a shot well saved by the keeper following a short corner, and Wednesbury were able to make a break, but their attacker was unable to reach the ball.
Cook then won a short corner in the sixth minute, the resulting shot by Ben Husband blocked by the Wednesbury defence.
Husband then linked up with Cook in the ninth minute to win a short corner, and Richard Sellors was on hand to deflect in Brooks’ shot to double the lead.
Good play in midfield from Chris Thomas and Jason Ellis-Woodley then unleashed Brookes whose mazy run was tackled to win a short corner.
Brooks’ shot from the corner was deflected out to Dave Smith who shot wide, and several other short corners saw shots wasted.
Ellis-Woodley saw his high shot saved well in the 17th minute after good work from Husband and Brooks, and Brooks had a goal disallowed in the 19th minute.
But a prolonged spell of attacking hockey towards the end of the first half saw Brookes slam the ball high into the back of the net to put Redditch three ahead.
Wednesbury began the second half strongly, but it wasn’t to last long, Dave Smith rolling out well close to the post, crossing the ball almost across the line allowing Brooks the easiest of tap-ins to put Redditch four ahead.
It was almost five in the 44th minute, Brooks seeing his shot stopped mid air on the line by a Wednesbury defender.
The Reds really should have added to their total in the 47th minute, Husband winning a tackle in midfield, crossing to Brooks who rolled out only to see his shot saved, the ball rebounding to Chris Thomas on the edge of the D, who saw his follow up saved again by the keeper.
But tempers seemed to flare up in the aftermath and Smith was yellow carded for hitting the ball away, resulting in a 10-minute spell on the sidelines.
Wednesbury sensed the opportunity to attack, but their advance was broken down and instead it was Redditch continuing to surge forward winning a short corner.
But tempers were not dying down, two Wednesbury players seemingly squaring up to Husband who did well to keep his cool and take the corner, from which Brooks again went close.
Then in the 58th minute Brookes won a short corner after good work in the D and Brooks’ shot from the corner put Redditch five ahead.
Brooks should have sewn up his hat trick in the 63rd minute, Andy Thomas running with the ball from defence to launch an attack, crossing to Brooks unmarked at the top of the D, only to shoot over the bar.
Things were made a lot easier for Redditch, when with five minutes remaining the same two players that had earlier squared up to Husband receiving yellows for continuous ill discipline.
Ellis-Woodley then put Redditch six ahead following a short corner from 10 yards out, before Brookes wrapped up proceedings with a goal in the last seconds of play.
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