Match: League Match 16 – Redditch Utd 2 vs 1 Cadbury Athletic

Date: Sunday 9th March 2008

Report: (By Tim Delaney)

After the disappointment of a 6 match winning run being ended by close rivals Sutton Coldfield Town in their last match, it was time for the lads to pick themselves up and dust themselves down in another battle against close rivals Cadbury Athletic. The Reds won the toss & as usual Captain Sam chose to do the hard work first, kicking uphill & into the strong wind. Within 2mins of the kick off the Reds earned a free kick just inside their own half which Matt took but the wind held the ball up & Cadbury cleared, the Reds midfield of Sam, George & Dan battled hard to win back the ball & move forward but again the visitors defence cleared. On 4mins Cadbury won a free kick of their own after a decent spell of pressure, they lofted the ball into the box but fortunately a decent effort flew just wide. On 7mins great wing play from Brad down the right forced a throw in deep in the visitors half, Dan took & Sam flicked on but again Cadbury cleared. More Cadbury pressure on 9mins was dealt with admirably at the back with Ben Mc, Matt, Nick & Charlie all tackling hard to clear the danger but with the wind it was hard to get the ball up field far enough to give the Reds back line a break & on 10mins Cadbury won a corner, which was curled into the box with the aid of the wind & a late run from a Cadbury player went unchecked & was headed, unchallenged into the net to make it 0 vs 1. The lads did not let this set back deter them & the Cadbury lead lasted just 2mins as a long clearance by Ross was flicked on in midfield to Max who drove powerfully through the Cadbury defence & as the keeper came out to narrow the angle he played the ball across the goal into the far corner of the net in text book fashion to make it 1 vs 1. The reds were beginning to come to adapt to the conditions & were doing their best to play the ball on the floor & on 15mins a great move down the right involving first Brad then Dan who turned his man neatly forced & drove the ball into the box to force a corner. The ball was whipped in by Brad & an almighty scramble ensued with legs flying in from both teams but miraculously the ball was cleared to the edge of the box where Nick struck a powerful shot which the keeper saved well. Ross was the busier of the two keepers understandably considering the conditions & on 17mins he had to be alert to make a fine double save to maintain the status quo & keep the scores level. On 20mins a great ball over the top from Sam released Brad who passed to Dan who again turned his man & played the ball square for Sam to shoot with his weaker right foot but the keeper saved. Dan was working hard both going forward & defending & on 23mins great tackling back won the ball for the reds & released Brad who drove down the right wing again before the ball was cleared for a throw in, which was taken quickly just as the half time whistle blew.

Half Time Score:  Redditch Utd 1 vs 1 Cadbury Athletic

The 2nd half started controversially with what looked a definite penalty for Cadbury being waved away by the referee & as play continued & switched to the opposite end Max was upended as he turned his marker in the box & again the referee waved play on. On 28mins Jack replaced George down the left after George had worked tirelessly in midfield & he was straight into the thick of the action with his trade mark tough tackling. On 30mins a free kick was awarded to the reds on the half way line & Matt lofted the ball towards the Cadbury box but the wind carried it straight through to the keeper & the chance had gone. With the game becoming a midfield battle of attrition Cadbury broke at pace & as their striker was clean through & 1 on 1 with Ross he raced off his line & made a great save but the ball deflected towards the empty net & as a goal looked certain Huddy appeared on the goal line to clear from under his own crossbar. In a bizarre piece of play Cadbury nearly extended their lead as what looked a clear offside wasn't given & the reds stood still awaiting the whistle which never came, Cadbury played on & again Ross made a good save to deny them with Ben Mc on hand to clear the loose ball away. On 35mins Ben N replaced Dan, who had run himself into the ground & he himself was called into action immediately to clear a loose ball as Cadbury looked to attack again. Cadbury were looking the more likely to score as they put together a sustained period of pressure & Nick was on hand to deny them again as he superbly cleared another good chance as a Cadbury striker rounded Ross & shot on goal. The lads were digging deep to keep a lively Cadbury team at bay with every single player doing their bit for the team, from Ben Mc, Matt, Nick & Huddy at the back shored up by Ross in goal, through the battling midfield of Ben N, Sam & Jack to the tireless front runners of Charlie, Max & Brad & on 42mins their dogged determination was rewarded after a long ball over the top deceived the Cadbury defence & Max gambled to run onto the bouncing ball & deftly lob over the onrushing keeper to make it 2 vs 1. Cadbury looked shell shocked & with only 7mins left on the clock the reds nearly extended their lead as a great cross from Max across the box was met well by the onrushing Brad but again the keeper denied. Sam dropped back to play just in front of the defence in an effort to shut out any further Cadbury attacks but on 44mins only great defending from Huddy denied them another opportunity. On 45mins the pressure was eased slightly as the reds earned a succession of throw ins as Sam worked the line neatly but with just 2mins remaining a quick counter from Cadbury saw them force a corner, the ball was whipped in dangerously but a superb defensive header from Max deep in his own box averted the danger. Max was hurt as he cleared & play was stopped but after brief treatment he picked himself up to see the game out, the resultant drop ball was cleared up field & before anymore play ensued the final whistle blew to end this keenly fought contest between 2 totally committed teams.

Full Time Score:  Redditch Utd 2 vs 1 Cadbury Athletic

Reds Goals/Scorers: 1st half: Max – powerful penetrating run through defence then clinical finish into far corner.

  2nd half: Max - gambled on a long ball over the top then deftly lobbed on rushing keeper.

Man of the Match: Max – excellent all round team play with 2 quality goals and solid defending.

ROSS

BEN Mc

HUDDY

NICK

MATT

GEORGE

DAN

SAM

CHARLIE

MAX

BRAD