WARWICK Hockey Club’s men’s third side claimed a 3-1 win over Kings Heath to avenge their defeat in the return fixture, but there were losses for the men’s second and fifth sides on Saturday.
Warwick 3s were dominant in their game, largely in part to Ian Best’s dynamic display midfield, as they enjoyed large periods of possession in Kings Heath’s defensive third.
The forwards were unable to get the better of the Kings Heath keeper early on, but Jack Bennett’s solid defensive display repeatedly allowed Warwick to go on the offensive time and again.
An opener finally came when Chris Langley’s shot was well saved, but James Allison lifted the rebound over the keeper and in for a half-time lead.
Warwick proved more clinical in the second-half as their grip on the game continued in the same vein.
Freddie Herd fed the ball to Will Walker for a chance – which he tucked away on the rebound after his initial shot was saved.
Walker then turned provider to slide the ball to Herd, who raced to the back post to fire home via a deflection.
Kings Heath finally advanced forward as Warwick’s game slowed, managing to score a consolation from a break-away, but a consolation was all it proved as Warwick ran out 3-1 winners.
Warwick 2nd’s lost a pulsating 4-3 game to Sikh Union Coventry, in which the tide repeatedly looked like turning in favour of either side.
Warwick’s Tom Booker hit a rebound goal to give his side the lead, but from there, the visitors struck four times without reply to stun the hosts.
Two hits down the middle of the pitch opened up Warwick’s defence with some fortune, reaping goals on both occasions, whilst conceding twice more after the break when chasing a route back into the game.
At 4-1 down, Warwick controlled the play and pulled one back through Taylor before a first goal for English meant the contest was very much back on.
From there, the 2’s looked like rescuing at least a point, but a yellow card against the hosts followed by Tom Selby’s broken hand ultimately ended any hope of a fight back.
Elsewhere, the men’s fifth’s lost a more straightforward battle to Hampton in Arden 5’s.
Martin Reeves claimed man-of-the-match, personifying Warwick’s fighting spirit on the day, but it would ultimately come to no avail on a gloomy, wet evening.
