Match: Midland Junior Premier League Match 7 – Redditch Utd 1 vs 0 Stamford

Date: Saturday 1st November 2008

Report: (By Darran Ward)

Reds lined up with Ant in goal, Max, Huddy, Sam and Robbie making up the back line. Nick and Charlie to marshal the midfield, with Dan and George taking up the wide berths and Ben N partnering Brad in the centre forward positions. Within a few minutes from the start Redditch created a sweeping move, the ball pushed wide to Danny who after driving towards the box then held it up with Brad arriving first to shoot on goal, only just failing to beat the diving keeper. The boys had started brightly after a ‘grown up’ pre match discussion by the manager of how today’s opposition would be here with a view to take something from the game, both teams lying side by side in the league. Another strong drive by Danny down the right forced a corner, which was defended with Max picking up the 2nd ball and flicking it back into the box for Danny to attempt an extravagant overhead kick, which was pushed back out by the goalie for Nick to try a snap header just going wide of the post. The opposition were accomplished and settled on the ball and were passing it neatly across their backline, looking for opportunities to break through the resolute Reds defence. Matty had started on the bench as the only outfield substitute with a couple of the lads away over the half term break and replaced Ben N through the 1st half after he had made run after run through Stamford’s back line, playing neat and intelligent passes along the way. The game had settled into a stalemate, with both teams eager to preserve their own goals in the hope that a goal at the other end would give them a chance of their first 3 points of the season and the play became largely restricted to the midfield third, cancelling each other out. Redditch showed little of their brightness seen in the last couple of games and Stamford were seeing plenty of possession. The half finished without score

Half Time Score:  Redditch Utd 0 vs 0 Stamford

The second half saw Rossy swap with Ant in goal after a faultless display and was called into early action as a Stamford striker tried his luck from the inside right position after good approach work, Rossy equal to it though, saving at full stretch. The scrappy midfield encounters continued, Redditch pushing hard with their strength and forcing some free kicks just inside the opposition half. The first of which was played neatly to the far post by Matty but cleared, too many attackers the wrong side of defenders to get to the ball first. A second free kick, swung in neatly again by Matty, swirling the ball to the far post, where the 2nd ball was not cleared and although the offside flag was raised, unseen by a flying Sam who collided with the keeper, ending up injured and requiring treatment. Earlier in the game Nick too had required treatment for a cut on his knee following a challenge, hi-lighting the slightly scrappy nature of the game. Stamford worked the ball down their right from the goalie but excellent pressure from Charlie and Robbie combined, forced the away team back and in typical style played the ball across their backline and out of trouble, or so it seemed until an alert Brad intercepted the 3rd pass and raced into the box, clean through and neatly slid the ball passed the keeper to notch the Reds a goal, 1vs0. Immediately from the re-start Stamford attacked and only the quick thinking Huddy saved a potential equaliser with a headed clearance just in front of his goal. The game then reverted to a midfield battle with Stamford pressing hard for a goal without delivering a killer punch with the Reds playing on the counter. A slight shame for the boys at full time having achieved their first win but without any real pzazz, taking the gloss of what should have been a joyful occasion. No man of the match was awarded, especially as there had been two awards in the game previously, but when asked in the dressing room who deserved it, the lads replied that no-one did, except cheekily, maybe, I heard Robbie offering himself up for it!!!!!!!!!!!

Full Time Score:  Redditch Utd 1 vs 0 Stamford

Reds Goalscorer:  Brad

Man of the Match: Not Awarded.

ANT

MAX

ROBBIE

HUDDY

SAM

NICK

GEORGE

DAN

CHARLIE

BRAD

BEN N