Highfield 2 Redditch 2

Redditch, forced to field a changed side, stormed into a 2-0 lead only to be pegged back to a draw after two match-turning decisions.

Kim Wheeler put the visitors 1-0 up from the edge of the circle early on but Highfields were strong on the attack and caused the rearranged defence problems.

On one ocassion Jo Stafford made up yards to put in an excellent saving tackle.

Redditch went 2-0 up when Angela Taylor finished a flowing move down the right involving Anna Stafford and Emma Manders.

Highfields clawed one back before half time when they got in behind the Redditch defence.

And the hosts came at Redditch early in the second half forcing Di Teraud in goal to make a sharp reaction save and dive full length to smother.

Redditch were struggling to put their passing game together but battling, epitomised by midfielder Stafford.

The turning point came 10 minutes after the break, both sides had been unhappy at the umpiring and when Angela Taylor thought she had fired Redditch into a comfortable 3-1 lead with a raised penalty corner the goal was initially awarded by the neutral umpire at that end.

However the goal was disallowed after the Highfields official consulted with the neutral and the ball was ajudged to have been too high when it crossed the line.

Worse was to come with Highfields battling and equalising when poor marking allowed a shot from long range.

In the dying seconds a long through ball was pounced on by Anna Stafford who rounded the keeper and was two yards out when she was sent crashing into the post from a challenge from behind but appeals for a penalty stroke fell on deaf ears.