SKIPPER Rob Riddell hailed sharp-shooting forward Tom Schubert after Worcester Hockey Club maintained their promotion push with a 6-1 battering of Edgbaston.

Schubert snapped up four goals for visiting Worcester, who are six points clear of Loughborough at the top of Warwick Printing Men’s Midlands Division One.

Riddell also praised the influence of teenage central midfielder Sam Langston and former captain John Spragg, who is coaching the side.

Worcester have won 11 of their 13 league matches and host third-from-bottom Coventry and North Warwick at Nunnery Wood Sports Centre on Saturday (noon).

Riddell said: “We have got a good attitude towards each other, the club and towards the opposition and officials.

“We are playing entertaining hockey and have a group of players who really want to make an impact and secure promotion.

“Tom has already hit 20-odd goals and he’s a goal-machine at the moment who can’t stop scoring. He’s our leading scorer but his main target is to finish as the division’s top scorer and I can’t see anyone getting in his way.”

The early stages at Edgbaston belonged to the hosts but keeper James Gerrish made several saves before Worcester drew first blood.

Dave Westhead began an attack and Chris Perry drove forward before cutting back for Schubert, who flicked the ball high into the net.

Worcester’s Matt Brace and James Cosh were kept busy in central defence.

After Schubert was brought down in the Edgbaston D, he converted the penalty corner with a fine drag-flick.

He completed his hat-trick before half-time from another penalty corner.

Worcester started the second half cautiously but could not stop Edgbaston pulling a goal back.

The visitors started to dominate and Oliver Davis made it three goals in three games after an assist from Joe Schubert, who then scored from open play.

Man-of-the-match Tom Schubert completed his four-goal salvo with a simple tap-in.

Riddell added: “I have been playing hockey for Worcester for around 10 years and when I started I remember them playing in the league above. But they got relegated quite quickly and lost some key players.

“We have a full squad of 15 available for Saturday and everyone is raring to go.”