HOCKEY: Injury-hit Kidderminster firsts played host to a Telford and Shifnal side with an international flavour on Saturday.
Two South African players made their presence felt by scoring six goals between them as Telford battled to win 7-1 in the West Midlands League Premier Division.
The high-flying Shropshire club left Kidderminster to rue missing five clear-cut scoring opportunities.
Telford started strongly, immediately pressing the home side back inside their own half, and their dominance began to wear down the home side.
Despite Kidderminster's best efforts and a brave performance from stand-in goalkeeper Norman Lamb, Telford began to score from open play.
And after two wide efforts early on, powerful short-corner drag-flicks gave Lamb and defenders Simon Burkes and Paul Edwards on the line no chance.
Kidderminster did create some chances with Andy Pocknell, Paul Grummitt, Huw Grummitt, Simon Burkes and Rupert Upshon unlucky not to score.
It was not until late in the second half Kidderminster managed to regain some pride with Will Good again finding the net with a well-finished short corner to make the score 7-1.
The return of two senior players at the weekend should bolster the town side as they travel to Warwick for the last league game before the Christmas break.
Evesham 1 Kidderminster Ladies 2
The ladies attacked from the start, despite having only 10 players, and the pressure paid off.
Kidderminster were unlucky not to be a goal up in the opening 10 minutes but Kate McGowan was soon on the scoresheet with a shot from just inside the area.
Evesham almost grabbed the equaliser from distance and then finally beat new Kidderminster goalkeeper Tiege Grube.
She had made several good saves to keep the scores level at the interval.
Kidderminster re-took the lead late in the second half after another good strike by McGowan and Evesham then failed to break down the visitors' defence.
Stand-in sweeper and player-of-the-match Rachael Fidoe, Lucy Hancocks, Claire Brandon-White and Rebecca Weaver all gave outstanding displays.
Fixture, Saturday: Warwick v Kidderminster.
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