Redditch Mens Firsts produced a mesmerising fight back on Saturday, overcoming a vastly improved Kidderminster side 3-2 at Bromsgrove Road,
It was a far from convincing performance, and with several key players missing, including captain Andy Brooks, it was a threadbare squad available to coach Wayne Beard, and after falling behind to two first half Kidderminster goals it looked as if the game would be too much for the Kingfishers.
But a stirring final 15 minutes saw Redditch overcome the odds to secure an unlikely victory.
Redditch began the game strongly, a nice move in the fourth minute from Dave Smith and Antony Brookes finding Dave Pilkington in the D, who was just unable to make the most of the opportunity.
Dan Jakeman then created an opening for Richard Sellors, but a lack of control saw a chance go begging.
Sellors almost made amends five minutes later, seeing his shot saved by the goalkeeper, with Steve Cook also denied by the visiting keeper moments later.
But Kidderminster counter attacked well in the 13th minute, and took the lead with their first attack of the game.
The goal shocked Redditch, and Kidderminster were soon threatening again, this time with a penalty corner that was well saved by stand in goalkeeper Adrian Young.
But the lead was doubled in the 15th minute after the visitors were awarded a penalty flick, scoring despite Young guessing the right way.
Kidderminster proceeded to finish the half the strongest with several more chances to further extend their lead, though Redditch showed signs of promise with a couple of half decent opportunities, including a penalty corner that saw Brookes first have a shot saved and then put one wide.
The second half began with a flurry of missed opportunities for Redditch with the Kidderminster goalkeeper making four saves in four minutes to deny Redditch a pathway back into the game.
And when Cook was yellowed in the 50th minute and thus enduring a ten-minute sin bin, the game looked as good as lost.
But despite being a man down, it was still Redditch controlling play and creating chances.
Pilkington won a penalty corner from which Brookes saw another shot saved, while a brilliantly crafted move moments later, with Sellors, Jason Ellis-Woodley and stand in captain Chris Thomas all involved saw Thomas in with a chance of putting his team back into the game, only for his fierce drive from the edge of the D to be saved by the goalkeeper.
Brookes then had more chances from two penalty corners in succession, one shot meeting the goalkeepers’ gloves with the other spooning over the bar.
But it was Cook’s return to the pitch that seemed to give the added spark Redditch needed, Cook almost scoring within seconds of rejoining play, only to shoot wide.
Three minutes later, Cook found Brookes on the P-spot who took a decent first touch before a composed finish into the roof of the net to get the comeback rolling.
And two minutes later a trademark set piece from a penalty corner saw Brookes return the favour, with Cook firing home from his cross.
Then, when a Kidderminster player was yellowed with less than five minutes remaining, Redditch moved in for the kill.
With little more than three minutes remaining, a Redditch shot hit a Kidderminster body on the goal line, leaving the umpires with no choice but to award a penalty flick.
Brookes stepped up and fired into the back of the net to put the Kingfishers ahead for the first time in the game.
But Redditch had goalkeeper Young to thank, when with moments to spare, and the game seemingly won, Kidderminster made a last gasp break for a point and had two players clear of the Redditch defence.
Young narrowed the angle before sliding out to claim the ball for the home side.
And with the ball cleared away and the last moments counted down, Redditch were able to celebrate a dramatic and eventually deserved win.
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