Griffiths bags brace to ensure survival (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Griffiths bags brace to ensure survival

1:00pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in Sportsview

HOCKEY: Kidderminster men secured their place in the West Midlands Division One with a 2-1 victory over relegation battling Whitchurch.

The Wyre Forest outfit bounced back from successive defeats to league front-runners Market Drayton and Wednesbury with a hard fought win.

Victory means Kidderminster are eighth in the table, four points ahead of the bottom two.

With a place in the division the prize for the winners, Kidderminster started well and with James Talbot returning to the heart of the midfield, they controlled play and denied Whitchurch possession.

The hosts’ pressure built throughout the half, resulting in the side’s top-scorer Andy Griffiths keeping his composure in a crowded area to slot the ball home.

In the second-half, Whitchurch’s nerves allowed the hosts a little more space and Griffiths was once again on hand to net his second of the match with another well taken lifted goal.

Despite conceding a goal from a penalty corner midway through the period, Kidderminster’s defence were rarely troubled with yet another solid performance from Ryan Field, though a magnificent goal-line clearance from skipper Danny Mazurek helped to ensure the win.

Kidderminster end their campaign on Saturday at struggling Stafford.