Redditch Mens Firsts were finally beaten for the first time in the MRHA West Midlands Division One after a bitterly disappointing performance at home to second placed Streetly.
Redditch, having looked so good in their campaign to bounce back immediately from relegation have hit the rocks recently with some troubled performances, and were barely given a sniff on Saturday, succumbing to a 5-0 defeat, as the visitors seemingly took the majority of their chances to move ahead of Redditch to top the table at the Christmas break.
A tough game for Redditch was made apparent almost immediately after Streetly made a quick start out of the blocks delivering a ball right across the face of goal in the opening seconds.
It was Redditch who had the first meaningful chance on goal though, Andy Brooks seeing a shot from a penalty corner saved in the 7th minute.
A minute later and Streetly took the lead after counter attacking from a Redditch free hit. Goalkeeper Scott Paul was on hand to save the intial strike, but the rebound fell kindly to another attacker who put the visitors ahead.
Streetly doubled their lead in the 17th minute after cutting through the Redditch midfield before passing to an attacker who took the ball around Paul to hit home.
There was no respite for Redditch and they were on the back foot for much of the remainder of the half with Streetly hitting one shot over the bar, seeing several go wide and forcing Paul into action on more than one occasion.
It was more of the same after the break, and Streetly moved further ahead in the 38th minute after scoring from a short corner.
Steve Cook and Ben Husband were then both on hand to break down further Streetly advances before the visitors moved 4-0 ahead in the 50th minute after working the ball around well.
Redditch had their first real effort from open play two minutes later, a frustrated Antony Brookes delivering a fierce drive from the edge of the D straight at the Streetly goalkeeper.
Despite some pressure from Redditch with several penalty corners it was Streetly who were to score again with ten minutes remaining to seal an easy win.
And the upcoming Christmas break seems to have come at the right time for Redditch who seem to have tired of late, and will now hope to regroup over the festive period in order to kick start their campaign.
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