Redditch Hockey Club

Redditch’s junior sides both exited their cup competitions on Sunday with some heartbreaking results despite some thoroughly positive performances.

Redditch Girls Under 16’s lost 3-1 to Sutton Coldfield, despite matching their stronger opponents for much of the game.

The visitors were goalkeeper-less for the first fifteen minutes, not that it mattered as they based themselves firmly in the Redditch half, winning several short corners.

But Beth Vincent and Danni Nevitt were demonstrating a master class in defence, demonstrating why they were featuring regularly in the ladies teams by breaking down many attacks.

On the rare occasions Nevitt and Vincent were beaten, goalkeeper Stacey Cowley was well placed to make some good saves.

Then, in the 10^th minute and against the run of play, Phil Williams won the ball in the Sutton Coldfield half, running in, evading tackles to shoot into the empty net, with the visiting goalkeeper still padding-up on the sidelines.

But Sutton Coldfield were still pressing forward, continuing to win short corners, and again Nevitt and Vincent were breaking down the attacks well, with Kate Racki showing her worth as well.

The defence was eventually breached in the 18^th minute though, a shot from a short corner initially cleared on the line by Nevitt, but was unable to clear the second shot.

But Redditch weren’t giving up, and buoyed by a spirited atmosphere among the large gathering of supporters on the sideline, Libby Skinner made a break into the Sutton Coldfield D, only to be tackled well when otherwise clear on goal.

Redditch started the second half strongly, and were every bit a match for their opponents, though Nevitt and Vincent were still having to work hard, with Cowley still the busier of the two goalkeepers.

But Williams was combative in midfield, and creating chances.

But with 12 minutes remaining, Sutton Coldfield made a break and created a three-on-one situation, moving past Nevitt before crossing across the D to put the ball past Cowley to put the visitors 2-1 ahead.

Redditch still refused to give up, and a good ball through midfield saw Redditch clear on goal, but were slightly lacking on pace and the visiting defenders were able to catch up with play.

Kirsty Williams then sensed an opportunity, given clear chance to make a run into the Sutton Coldfield D before shooting only to see her shot saved by the goalkeeper.

The visitors retaliated, and Olivia Laxton was twice called upon to make vital tackles to break down clear chances.

But the game was over when four minutes from time, Sutton Coldfield made a break before crossing across the D allowing the attacker an easy tap in at the post.

However, the girls defeat was nowhere near as heart-breaking as the Boys Under 18’s who crashed out of the cup to Yate on penalty flicks, despite leading 3-0 at half time.

It had all started so well, John Manison working well on the left side of the D, crossing to Tom Newton putting Redditch ahead in the eighth minute.

Some good play then from Ben Hyde and Andy Billingham created an opportunity before being broken down, while Dan Jakeman, Dan Spires and Matt Grubb were all passing around well.

An unwell Dave Pilkington was also putting in a solid effort, and won a short corner in the 22nd minute after some excellent play.

The resulting corner saw Manison put the Reds two ahead with an unstoppable drive from the edge of the D that quite literally broke the net.

Then, in the 26^th minute, Redditch could have been forgiven for thinking the game was won after Jakeman crossed to Newton who duly scored his second of the match, giving the youngsters a virtually untroubled three goal lead at the break.

Little did they realise things were about to rapidly change.

Yate pulled one back four minutes after half time following a short corner, with Redditch goalkeeper Jake Smith unable to reach the ball.

Four minutes later it became clear that all was not well with Smith, going down in his area with an apparent injury to his leg.

A minute later and it was nightmare-scenario time, the ball hitting Jakeman in the hand inside the D, leaving the umpire little choice but to award Yate a penalty flick.

With an injured goalkeeper, coach Adrian Young would have been begging for a touch of luck, and he got just that with the Yate attacker sending the ball wide from the flick.

But that joy was short-lived and a minute later a Yate short corner was well worked around the still-struggling Smith to put the visitors firmly back in the game.

Smith showed signs of recovery with a couple of clearances, but by now Young was taking no chances, and Spires, equally adept at goalkeeping as he is in defence was padding up on the sidelines.

Jakeman was doing his best to keep Redditch ahead and was making several crucial tackles in the D, with Redditch now under heavy pressure from Yate.

But in the 53^rd minute, Yate equalised from another short corner.

That turned out to be Smith’s last involvement in the game as he hobbled off to be replaced by Spires.

Redditch then began to show signs of their first half form, some great play between Manison and Hyde allowing Manison to get a shot in, only to see his effort saved.

Yate were still pressuring, and although the Kingfishers were trying to make breaks, they constantly found themselves being pegged back.

But neither side were unable to find a way through and the game ended level, leaving the tie to be decided on the lottery of penalty flicks.

Both sides scored their first three flicks, Pilkington, Dean Farmer and Manison each taking their flicks well, and Spires in the Redditch goal was close to two of the three Yate flicks.

Ben McFarland was next up for Redditch, and saw his flick saved by the Yate keeper.

Yate now had the upper hand, but their fourth flick was very poor, and Spires was easily able to keep it out.

Jakeman, such a force throughout the game then stepped up for the crucial fifth Redditch flick, but under extreme pressure the flick wasn’t strong and the Yate keeper gathered it up.

Yate then buried their final flick to send them through to the next round, leaving a distraught Redditch side out of the cup for another season.