HOCKEY: The men at Stourport Hockey Club had a successful season despite a traumatic end for the firsts who only avoided relegation on the last day.

The club now runs a record-breaking seven regular Saturday sides and has a thriving junior section.

Stourport's first team achieved some good results before Christmas with their limited squad as Welsh international Laith El Khatib crashed 11 goals.

But they fell away badly and it was only two fine performances at the end of the season which prevented a relegation play-off.

Coming back from 2-0 down against Firebrands and 3-1 against champions St Albans on the last day, Stourport secured four crucial points from the two matches.

Captain Phil Lashford returned from injury in the new year and scored six goals but, along with hard-working manager Holly Tromans and coach Martin Lindley, he does not want to go through a season like this again.

Former National League striker captain Tom White led the way for the seconds with 25 goals.

White was well supported by David Knott with 21 goals as well as other regular scorers Nick Chambers and Andy Pocknell.

The team again proved the best in the Midlands alongside Cannock, apart from the outstanding Loughborough Students.

They lost twice to Beeston due to slack defending but their goal-scoring record was phenomenal.

For the last three seasons, the thirds have been consistently successful under captain Lee Baron, establishing themselves in the Midlands top three.

They narrowly lost twice to Nottingham and Cannock but inflicted the only defeat in two years on Loughborough Students.

The team regularly included youngsters Chris Perry, Ian Lye, Marcus Hyde Finn, Josh Tomlinson, Matt Jenks and Ben Taylor.

The re-structuring of the league did not help Stourport's powerful fourths to maintain the right level of competition.

In two matches against Harborne, Stourport amassed 22 goals in one-sided contests.

Captain Jon Shacklton led the team to again push Cannock close to the title with their only defeats narrow ones to the eventual champions.

Steve Taylor and Godfrey Lamb played well but there were also several teenagers playing.

The re-structuring did most damage to Stourport fifths who were placed in the same league as the fourths.

Rob Claris' side had two fine wins over Bournville and one over Worcester but generally struggled with not enough quality seniors and youngsters not yet ready for the standard.

Rob Farmer did well in goal, supported by Steve Hopkins and Alistair McIntyre, but only when Robin Conway and Peter Mills came into the side did results improve.

Sixths captain Kevin Hughes established a solid team in it's first season of hockey.

Hughes was well supported by veterans Conway, Mills, Frank Colwill and David Read but the rich supply of youngsters from the Badgers was the greatest source of satisfaction.

James Terry, Alisdair Rosie, Gareth Pritchard, Ben Kenyon, Mark Edwards, Gareth Whale, Luke Martin, Michael Willetts and Alex Vale can expect to play a higher level next season.

The Badgers are driven by Peter Terry with the new team only allowed to field three adults.

They at times only fielded one senior and enjoyed a notable 5-4 win over Worcester with Nick Lewis and Steve Li among the stars.