Match: League Match 18 – Redditch Utd 2 vs 1 Bourneville Warriors 'A'

Date: Sunday 20th April 2008

Report: (By Kevin McGarry)

Super Sam Delaney netted a brace for the Reds to secure 3 points in their final league game of the campaign which could be enough to secure runners up spot in the league. Dan was absent leaving the Reds with just 12 players available. Ben N started as substitute. On a cold windy afternoon not condusive to good football it was the visitors who looked the more confident from the off. With only a couple of minutes played a great effort looked goal bound from the edge of the box but thundered back off the crossbar. The rebound was fired home by an onrushing Bourneville striker who was flagged just offside. The slow starting Reds finally managed to find their feet and from their first attack of note Max broke through on goal and shot just wide. Brad was next to threaten with a good right wing run ending with a good cross which reached Max who had just strayed offside. Bourneville then grabbed the lead out of nothing when a midfield melee ended with a long range effort looping high over Ross into the net. 1 v 0. The Reds were struggling to find any fluency and much of the scrappy game was now being confined to midfield areas with few chances being created. Max cleverly played a ball forward to Jack which the keeper just managed to cut out before Ross similarly gathered well from a quick Bourneville break. Charlie showed great determination and quality to chase through a long ball into the corner before beating a defender and crossing over but unfortunately nobody was on hand supporting his breakout. Bourneville continued to look the more dangerous and first Ben, then Nick, made good saving tackles to prevent chances to extend the lead. George in particular was trying to push the lads forward as the half drew to a close with the visitors deservedly ahead.

Half Time Score:  Redditch Utd 0 vs 1 Bourneville Warriors 'A'

Manager Delaney showed his displeasure in the half-time team talk but the second period started little better and from a Bourneville break a great cross flashed across goal before another attack ended with a shot just over Ross’s goal. Jack and Huddy were increasingly involved in good strong challenges down the left hand side and Matt and Nick were now getting the better of the visiting forwards down the middle of the park. Brad and Charlie were getting more freedom down the flanks and forced a number of corners in quick succession. As the Reds pressed for an equaliser Bourneville continued to look dangerous on the counter attack and looked to have broken free before a superb last ditch tackle by Huddy saved the day. Ben N replaced the energetic George and was quickly involved starting a move down the right hand flank which ended in a corner. Matt swung over a good ball but the Reds could not create a clear cut chance. From the visitors next break Ross gathered a shot well and brightly despatched the ball quickly. Brad was alert to feed Sam who took the ball on past a defender before delicately dinking the ball over the onrushing keeper right footed to grab a great equaliser. 1 v 1. The Reds tails were up now and they grew in confidence feeling they could now win with just over 10 minutes remaining. Huddy ran fully 40 yards down the left wing to win a throw before Max burst through and the ball unluckily bounced off him and the keeper to safety. Bourneville still sought to attack and twice nearly broke through only to be halted by very close offside decisions. The lads could not be faulted for effort even if they weren’t their usual fluent selves. Charlie and Sam combined well to send Sam into the box where he twisted and turned a defender before brilliantly rifling an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to make it 2 v 1 to the Reds. With just a few minutes to go this was a body blow to Bourneville and try as they did they could not fashion another significant opening. Reds won a corner late on which came out to Huddy who fired a speculative long range effort wide. The referee blew for full time shortly afterwards to bring the season to a close with a somewhat lucky victory for the Reds in an unspectacular evenly fought match. The boys must now wait for other games in the coming weeks to see if they hold on to second place which would be a wonderful achievement in this first 11-a-side season.

Full Time Score:  Redditch Utd 2 vs 1 Bourneville Warriors 'A'

Reds Goals/Scorers: 2nd half: Sam – Great quick move involving Ross & Brad ending with clever delicate lob over the keeper.

Sam – Super solo effort bemusing defender before thunderbolt finish into roof of net.

Man of the Match: Charlie – super wing play, tackling and all round effort never giving up any lost cause.

ROSS

BEN Mc

HUDDY

MATT

NICK

JACK

CHARLIE

SAM

GEORGE

BRAD

MAX