Match: League Match 1 – Redditch Utd 0 vs 5 Chelmsley Town

Date: Sunday 9th September 2007

Report: (By Tim Delaney)

After a great pre-season it was time for the real thing in the first league game of the season at home to newly promoted Chelmsley Town & it was Chelmsley Town who started the brighter forcing Huddy to clear well inside the 1st min. The reds were shocked by this early attack & replied just a minute later after good work between Charlie & Max saw the ball fed through to Nick but the keeper was off his line quickly to clear. Brad was fouled on 3mins & Sam lofted the free kick into the box but the defence cleared & the chance had gone. On 6mins the reds mounted another good attack after Matt won a throw in, he knocked the ball through for Max who flicked on a decent header to Jack but the keeper was quickly off his line to clear, just 2mins later, Sam cleared down the line to Brad who played a neat pass inside to Max but unfortunately he was crowded out. On 9mins another long ball from Chelmsley looked dangerous but Ross was off his line to clear on his 18yard line. Sam got in a good tackle to break up another Chelmsley attack & played the ball neatly down the flank to Matt who controlled it well then played a great ball in to Brad but he dragged his shot just wide. The reds were in control of this game now & the Chelmsley attacks were mainly long hopeful punts forward which were dealt with comfortably by the solid reds back four. On 11mins another great passing, driving move involving Jack & Charlie saw the ball through to Nick but he shot inches past the post, within a minute Max played another quality ball in to Brad who whipped in a decent cross but the ball was cleared for a reds throw. Chelmsley huffed & puffed & on 13mins attacked again but Ross & the defence stood strong to deny & George dribbled the ball confidently out of his area & passed to Charlie who drove at the Chelmsley defence before crossing for Brad, the ball was neatly laid back for Jack who drove a powerful shot just over. On 15mins a great piece of quick thinking saw Max take a short corner to Charlie who laid it back to Max to drive the ball across the face of goal but no-one could get a touch on it to force it home & Chelmsley cleared. George won a free kick just inside the opposition half after great tackling but again it came to nothing. With 5mins to half time & the reds looking dominant the unthinkable happened, yet another long ball down the reds left was crossed into the box where the striker was waiting, Ross made a tremendous double save but unfortunately the rebound was put in from close range to give Chelmsley an undeserved lead 0 vs 1. The reds were shell shocked but rallied & forced 2 corners in quick succession after a great run down the right from Huddy. From the second corner Chelmsley counter attacked, Ross cleared the initial shot but a speculative long range effort flew over him to make it 0 vs 2 & on the stroke of half time only neat footwork from Sam denied Chelmsley a third.

Half Time Score: Redditch Utd 0 vs 2 Chelmsley Town

Dan replaced Matt & Rob replaced Huddy for the start of the 2nd half & within 2 mins a long throw from Rob found Max in space but the ball just wouldn't sit down & the defence cleared. On 29mins Chelmsley attacked but Rob tackled back well to clear. With the reds now pushing forward in search of that vital goal to give them a lifeline it was inevitable that gaps would appear & on 30mins it was Sam who was called on again to clear, unfortunately his clearance was knocked straight back into the reds box & a low shot beat Ross to make it 0 vs 3. The reds were now utterly deflated & try as they might nothing was going their way, every loose ball fell to a Chelmsley player & every clearance just came straight back at them. On 42mins Charlie did his best to brighten the day with a great driving run down the left, skipping over lunging tackles before whipping in a fantastic cross to Max who made great contact with it but unfortunately too good & the ball flew over the bar. With 15mins remaining the reds managed to force a corner. Max took it but Chelmsley had now pulled almost all their players back to defend & they cleared comfortably. On 39mins & with the reds committed forward the inevitable happened & yet another long hopeful punt forward was crossed into the box & headed home from close range to make it 0 vs 4 & kill off any remaining fight the reds had left. With the clock running down & the contest over the reds another forward ball from the Chelmsley midfield split the reds defence wide open, George did his utmost to tackle back but the ball broke kindly for the attacker & rebounded off him past the onrushing Ross who was left helpless & stranded as the ball was prodded home from a yard out to make it 0 vs 5. Brad was replaced by Ben N & Jack by Reece to give them both a well deserved rest & the 2 replacements were straight into the thick of the action in an effort to try & lift their team mates but despite some decent passing & moving the reds looked a beaten team & struck forlorn figures on the pitch as they saw out the final few mins. The final whistle couldn't come quick enough for the lads & they trudged off the field dejected & down. It was not what any of us had expected & certainly not what the lads performance deserved but that's football & as the great Jimmy Greaves once said 'it's a funny old game' how true that is, the lads certainly didn't deserve to be beaten by such a score line & knowing them as we do I doubt they will allow it to happen again !!

Full Time Score: Redditch Utd 0 vs 5 Chelmsley Town

Man of the Match: Nick (chosen by the Referee)

Formation:  4 - 4 - 2

Colours:  Red/White Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks

Substitutes:  BEN N, MATT, REECE, ROB