Redditch 3 North Staffordshire 0

REDDITCH Hockey Club had a changed fixture when Bromsgrove had to cancel due to a member of their first team getting married.

Redditch therefore entertained a strong North Staffordshire first team, brimming with talent from a much higher league.

Redditch fielded a strong side with only Adrian Dudley missing from the previous week's winning side.

Hat-trick hero Hiles was out to prove that he was the first team striker the team had been missing for several years.

With the squad strengthened in depth with the inclusion of Ashley Freeman, Steve Andrews, Rob Leighton, Andrew Preston and Dave Baker, the squad all knew places were up for grabs.

Motivation through the first half from captain Jason Spyer saw the team progress with confidence to take the play to the opposition. A stalemate was held for the majority of the half and the opening came from a direct run from Brookes when he was fouled and a short corner awarded from which Hiles opened his account for the game.

The opposition responded with attack upon attack which was repelled. North Staffordshire were awarded a couple of short corners but Redditch withstood this pressure.

The score was increased when good build up play from Brookes, Cooke, Kimbles, and Field allowed Chris Thomas to put the finishing touch.

With minutes remaining the opposition pushed hard and forced keeper Shute to edge the advancing forward away from the goal. He was left stranded but Spyer was on hand to deflect the ball away illegally. This resulted in a penalty kick but the ball flew wide of the post.

The second half continued as the first. Changes were made to trial players and this resulted in Dave Baker's sending off for a clumsy tackle. The team was restructured and held firm for five minutes until a further card was issued to Andrew Preston for a tackle.

Now down to nine men, Redditch pulled all players back to defend and fortunately managed to do this until the two players were released and the team back to full strength.

The constant pressure from the opposition left the possibility of counter-attack and Redditch used this to good effect to finally seal the game with a further goal from Hiles.

Man of the match was Anthony Brookes.