CAPTAIN Tom Boden hailed Kidderminster Hockey Club's first league title in 20-years and paid credit to the team’s spirit.

Kidderminster have savoured a season to remember in the Midlands Division Two, winning the title and promotion to Division One with games to spare and going unbeaten.

It’s a change around from recent seasons, when the first team had suffered back-to-back relegations.

Boden, who scored 17 goals for Kidderminster this season, believes a renewed spirit among the team and a rock solid defence made the difference.

He said: “It’s just brilliant to win the league and promotion.

“We’ve suffered a couple of relegations but we wanted to bounce back and win the league.

“But to win the league and earn promotion with four games to go was brilliant. The team spirit was amazing, all the lads did a great job.

“We’ve defended very well all season and that was the secret of our success, we didn’t hammer teams seven or eight nil like Bloxwich have been doing.

“This is the club’s first title in 20-years. Teams have came second and won promotion before, so this is very special for Kidderminster.”

Under the new partnership of Boden and coach Phil Williams, Kidderminster started the season positively with an expansive style of hockey.

They got off to a good start with wins over Kynoch and Ludlow and then pulled of a significant win as they edged out big-scoring Bloxwich 5-2.

Kidderminster won their first 10 league games to put themselves in a strong position, a run which included an 8-0 thrashing of bottom side Aston University.

They dropped their first points of the season in a draw at Bloxwich but continued to be hard to beat, seeing off Oswestry.

On Saturday, Andy Griffiths and Dave Sorrell scored as Kidderminster drew 2-2 with Rugeley.

Danny Mazurek, who scored some vital goals, keeper John Millership and youngsters Chris Harler and Griffiths also had fine seasons.

Kidderminster go to Bromsgrove in the league on Saturday.

Champions: Kidderminster men have won the Midlands Division Two title. Back row (left to right): Phil Williams, Chris Page, Dave Sorrell, Chris Brazier, Tom Boden, John Paul Wilson, Simon Burkes, Dan Mazurek. Front row: Ian Moss, Chris Harler, Jon Millership, Nick Hemmings, Andy Griffiths, Neil Jackson.