Redditch’s four other teams had poor days on Saturday, no side managing to secure a win.
A brace from Anna Stafford wasn’t enough as Redditch Ladies Firsts were defeated 3-2 away at Badsey, while the Ladies Seconds lost 2-0 at home Ludlow.
Redditch Mens Thirds slipped up in their promotion campaign on Saturday losing 3-2 at home to Old Silhillians.
Goals from Tim Oscroft and Jason Abbotts had put Barry Fitzpatrick’s men 2-1 ahead at half time, but the visitors left it late to score twice to steal the game.
A Pete Dawson hat trick was the highlight for the Mens Seconds on Saturday, but even that couldn’t prevent a 4-3 defeat away at Finchfield.
But Adrian Young’s second string made amends on Sunday with a tight 3-1 victory in their rearranged fixture at home to Berkswell and Balsall Common.
Things started off shakily, Young in goal called upon as early as the second minute to make a save after the visitors carved out a decent opportunity before hitting the post from the rebound.
Redditch recovered and had a chance to grab the lead almost immediately after with Pete Dawson’s shot from a well worked penalty corner saved by the visiting goalkeeper, Bryan Melliard also going close from a penalty corner in the seventh minute.
And it was Melliard who put Redditch ahead a minute later after the Kingfishers broke through the Berkswell defence.
A superb ball from defender Rob Markham gave Alan Povey the chance to double the lead in the 14th minute after, only to shoot wide.
Berkswell were still a threat though and looked to draw level after breaking in the 25th minute, but Young was equal to the shot and pulled off a save.
But Young was beaten a minute later as Berkswell scored from a penalty corner, Young saving the initial shot before the rebound was fired in.
Redditch re-took the lead soon after though, Povey winning a penalty corner in the 33rd minute, from which Tim Gibbs switched left to Dawson who coolly hit the backboard.
The second half was a quieter affair, with both Melliard and Povey seeing chances wasted, Povey going closest seeing a shot saved from a penalty corner in the 60th minute, Gibbs also in the thick of it with an effort from a penalty corner also saved two minutes later.
But Povey made up for his earlier misses when with three minutes remaining a nicely crafted Redditch move saw Povey deflect in at the near post to wrap up proceedings and keep Redditch top of the MRHA Second Team League West Midlands Division One.
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