It’s commonly said that the signs of a good team is one that wins despite playing below their best, and Redditch Mens Firsts did just that on Saturday, eventually seeing off Old Silhillians 2-1 in a feisty encounter at Bromsgrove Road.
A high scoring game it may not have been, but that did not detract from the spectacle of a match with more twists and turns than the streets of Monte Carlo.
Redditch goalkeeper Scott Paul was the hero for the home side, showing fantastic reflexes to deny Old Silhillians on several occasions.
But it could have been so much easier for the Kingfishers, and they should have gone ahead within two minutes.
Antony Brookes won the ball in midfield before crossing to Andy Brooks whose cross in front of the goal was narrowly missed by Richard Sellors.
Paul was forced into action for the first time in the 12th minute after the visitors made a break from midfield, the Redditch stopper saving acrobatically to deny Old Silhillians the lead.
Redditch weren’t without their chances, Brooks driving forward from a free hit and passing to Cook whose shot was saved by the goalkeeper, Dave Smith seeing his effort from the rebound saved as well.
The visitors were looking the more dangerous side though, and Paul was again in action, this time denying the visitors with a brilliant double save after they had carved through the Redditch back line.
Old Silhillians were clear on goal again in the 29th minute, Paul coming out of his goal and forcing the attacker wide leaving him unable to unleash a shot.
But an Old Silhillians penalty corner saw them eventually take the lead in the 32nd minute, with a powerful shot from the edge of the D.
Redditch had a penalty corner of their own a minute later, raising hopes of an instant comeback, but Brooks’ shot went wide.
After a severe half-time rollicking from coach Wayne Beard, the Kingfishers made an energetic start to the second half and won a penalty corner in the 39th minute after Pete Dawson was fouled in the D-but this time Brooks’ shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
The visitors were looking to build on their lead and continued to look dangerous.
But Chris Thomas was a workhorse in the Redditch midfield, battling hard to get a cross through the D, but again no-one was able to get on the end of it.
By now tempers were beginning to flare and confrontations were becoming more frequent with both sides lucky not to see players sin-binned.
But in the 57th minute Sellors was on hand to equalise for the Kingfishers with a shot from a penalty corner.
The game was at its most competitive by now, with the ball rushing from end to end with regular abandon.
A good attacking run from Dawson was immediately broken down and turned into an Old Silhillians offensive, with Paul again saving Redditch’s blushes.
Then with five minutes remaining and a draw looking the favourite result, Redditch played a penalty corner around well to Jason Ellis-Woodley who fired home to put the home side ahead for the first time in the game.
From there on in it should have been a case of keeping hold the ball, but this is Redditch and occasionally the simple things don’t seem so easy, and with seconds remaining Paul saved the day with a superb save after the visitors made a last gasp break.
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