Match: Midland Junior Premier League Match 2 – Redditch Utd 1 vs 4 Kidderminster Harriers

Date: Saturday 20th September 2008

Report: (By Darran Ward)

Reds first home game of the season in the new league saw a vastly improved performance over last weeks game with a final score line that flattered the opposition. In terms of overall play, barring a 10-15 minute spell early in the second half, much of the game was spent in the Harriers half of the pitch with plenty of possession by the Reds. The difference was shown in terms of capitalising on mistakes and speed of despatch in front of goal. Reds started brightly and pressured the away goal but on Harriers first foray into our last third, a slip at an inopportune moment allowed them a brief glimpse of Ross’s goal and as already mentioned, with a quickly taken snap shot gave Rossy no chance and put the visitors one up. Redditch continued to press and displayed great passing and guile for several minutes before another breakaway led to another quickly taken goal, 0vs2. The next chance was created by the home team, with Nick breaking into the area, a lesson to be learned from the opposition though, and to be repeated through the match, two touches inside the opposition’s area is one touch too many! And the ball was whipped off his toes before he could get his shot off. With both centre forwards Brad and Max, dropping back, when not in possession, into the midfield and combined with the midfield quartet, Harriers could not boss this area in stark contrast to last weeks game. Dan and Charlie linked up well with their full backs and got the ball forward down the channels well. In midfield Nick and George D were stopping Harriers getting forward and all protected the back line well. Next action was for Max to pick the ball up just inside the visitors half and with limited options drove at the heart of the defence before slipping the ball to Brad wide left, he crossed deftly to the edge of the area for Nick to charge the ball down into the area before again the ball was nicked off his toes. Seconds later and Charlie whipped in an identical ball to Nick again only to see the ball taken away again. Two games in, and the quality of this leagues defending and finishing, there to be seen.

Half Time Score:  Redditch Utd 0 vs 2 Kidderminster Harriers

The second half began brightly with Reds pressure on the Harriers goal, with Brad eventually firing just wide from a close angle. Similar to the first period though, Harriers added two more goals in quick succession to put the score line at 0v4. All the goals had given Rossy no chance of saves, particularly when fired in from distance, looping over him into the back of the full size nets, something the boys in Red should perhaps be attempting a bit more often when the opportunity arises. Indeed after Matty’s introduction for Brad, a flick on from Max found him in the inside right position, one touch and from just outside the area he curled a beautiful shot over the stranded keeper to notch Redditch’s 1st MJYPL goal of the season, and as he put it himself put him ‘Reds top scorer!’ 1v4. George S had also joined the fray and was covering plenty of ground breaking up Harriers attacks. The whole team were enjoying the encounter, as mentioned the full backs Robbie and Ben Mc covering wide runs. Sam and Huddy were relishing their partnership at the heart of defence. Sam especially was winning every ball in the air whilst also firing in many superb free kicks. Huddy’s pace shutting the doors firmly shut on many occasions. Impressively, both could be heard constantly throughout the match ‘marshalling’ the defensive back line and encouraging team mates. In some late action, with the Reds tails up after getting their goal, Sam fired in a free kick from 10 yards in the Harriers half, the first ball cleared but only for Nick to drill back in for George D to turn his marker on the edge of the box and under pressure fire marginally wide. If the scale of this improvement is matched every game, we’ll be top by Christmas! Reality bites and whilst its plain to see how much the boys are enjoying the new league and all it involves, it is incredibly important that they ALL individually continue to enjoy their football. They must not let results overcome them in the short term as they have demonstrated most ably today what improvements they can make just one week. Keep building lads.

Full Time Score:  Redditch Utd 1 vs 4 Kidderminster Harriers

Reds Goals/Scorers:  Matt

Man of the Match: Sam & Huddy – outstanding, impossible to split.

ROSS

BEN Mc

ROBBIE

HUDDY

SAM

CHARLIE

DAN

GEORGE

NICK

BRAD

MAX