Reserves V Great Barr Unity

This was the first ever meeting between these two clubs, and it produced a win off the last ball of the game for Ansley reserves. With Andy Morgan unavailable, Steve Gosling took over as skipper of what was a team of reasonable strength. In the eleven were Mick Hubbard, nursing himself back to fitness after a thigh injury, his first appearance in the reserve team since 10th July 1993 v Lanchester Polytechnic. Richard Kay was unable to travel with the senior side, and he was to have a big say in the outcome of this fixture. Batting first, Great Barr Unity never quite got going against the three- pronged attack of Hubbard, Beamish and Kay. They were all out for 121 in 43.4 overs, Beamish and Kay both picking up four wickets, and Hubbard, who tied up one end for 21 overs, picking up two. The major batsmen for Unity were B. Boyd, who threatened with 37 before being bowled by Beamish, and Edwards, who made 21 before he was caught by Kay, again off Beamish. Given 56 overs to make 122 to win, Ansley lost Pearson, Ray Emery and Richard Evans on the way to 26 for 3. Beamish (25) Gosling (26) and Andy Walkden (22) pushed ever nearer to the target, the 8th wicket falling with the scores tied. Richard Kay crowned his afternoon by hitting the winning runs off the last ball of the game, Ansley’s first win this season. With the influx of new talent into the senior side, there seems every chance that results will improve.