A HARD-FOUGHT showing from Solihull Blossomfield’s first team did not reap any reward in a 4-1 defeat to Redditch in the Midland Men’s Hockey League.
Second-placed Redditch had their expert finishing to thank for helping them past hosts Blossomfield, who were right to feel hard done by at the final whistle in the West Midlands Premier encounter.
After conceding first, Bloss responded through Aamer Chaudhry to go into half-time level.
A second go-ahead goal from the visitors proved the turning point midway through the half, as two further goals followed in the final five minutes to condemn tenth-placed Solihull to defeat.
Bloss were on the losing end against Redditch once more in a battle of the Seconds in South West Division One.
A fast start by Redditch led to the opening goal, only for the visitors’ Harry Mowat to punish a defensive mistake a minute later.
Redditch were rewarded for their positive second-half showing and saw out their 3-1 victory to go level on points with ninth-placed Bloss.
The ladies first team were downed 3-0 by Leek in Midlands Premier Division One in the battle of fifth versus second at Lode Heath School.
Leek demonstrated their title credentials and started the strongest of the two teams, eventually going ahead after a swift counter-attack from a Bloss corner.
That advantage was extended further in the second half, despite Solihull making positive inroads to finding a leveller.
Bloss Seconds were unable to lift the fortunes of the club, going down 2-0 to Khalsa Leamington Seconds in Division One of the Warwickshire Womens League.
The basement side were always up against it facing the runaway leaders, but put in a respectable showing and at times threatened to find a way past KL’s netminder.
ELSEWHERE, Olton & West Warwick’s first teams suffered frustration at the weekend.
The men’s team saw their home game with Peterborough in Division One North postponed, while the women were involved in a 0-0 stalemate away to Belper in Division One North of the Investec Women’s League.
In a game in which both sides had more than enough chances to break the deadlock, the scoreline ended as it had started, leaving Bloss fourth in the table.
Olton ladies’ second XI edged Telford & Wrekin 4-2 in Division One of the Midland Women’s League, while the Thirds fell to a 7-2 defeat against University of Warwick’s first team in Warwickshire League Division One.
A 3-1 win for the Fourths away to Sutton Coldfield Fifths in Division Two was a positive highlight, as was the Fifths’ 14-1 thrashing of City of Birmingham Seconds in Division Four.
Table-topping Olton Seconds downed Khalsa Leamington Seconds 5-0 in Men’s Midlands Division Two, although the Thirds fell to a 2-1 defeat despite a brave battle against Cannock’s first XI in West Midlands Premier.
In South West Division One, the battle of the Fourths was edged by Olton & WW against Harborne 3-2, though the Fifths were far more convincing in their 6-0 dismantling of Old Halesonians Fourths in South West Division Three.
