Match: League Match 13 – Sutton Coldfield Town 1 vs 4 Redditch Utd

Date: Sunday 10th February 2008

Report: (By Tim Delaney)

After a tremendous run of results extending back to before Christmas, the lads were looking to build on 4 straight league victories against a confident Sutton side who themselves were on a good run of form. From the kick off the Reds were on the attack after good work from Ben N saw the ball fed to Charlie whos near post cross was headed narrowly over by Dan. On 4mins a long Sam throw was controlled well by Jack who turned his marker & played in Charlie yet again with a neat pass, Charlie crossed but unfortunately the on rushing Max was narrowly beaten to the ball by the Sutton keeper. The home side looked to have weathered the early Reds onslaught & created a decent attack of their own on 5mins but the solid back line of Ben Mc, Matt, Nick & Huddy marshalled well & a long range effort was no trouble for the confident Ross in goal. On 7mins Sam drove forward into the Sutton half but was brought down mid run, Matt stepped up to deliver a great free kick into the box where the ball was desperately dispatched upfield by a Sutton defender. With the Reds looking like the quality team they had become over recent weeks & games, more fantastic interplay between Sam & Max saw Max break towards the Sutton box but the ball was again hacked clear to deny him. Finally the deadlock was broken on 12mins when the first of many 'exquisite' passages of play created the opening. Sam received the ball & drove into the Sutton half, as he crossed the half way line he played a pinpoint pass into the run of Max who took a touch, accelerated past his marker with ease, then delivered a curling, pacy cross into the path of Charlie who had timed his run to perfection & despatched the ball past the Sutton keeper with a deft first touch to make it 0 vs 1 & send the visiting supporters wild. On 14mins the Reds extended their lead further when tremendous battling work down the right by Dan earned the lads a throw in, Sam took & threw to Jack on the edge of the Sutton 18 yard line, Jack turned his marker, took a couple of touches into the box before unleashing an unstoppable curling shot into the net with the outside of his right boot to make it 0 vs 2. The team work was truly magical to watch & the improvement in technical ability & positional play this great team of players have made since the start of the season was clear for all to see, with players talking to each other, organising, encouraging, marking & decision making that belied their tender years. Sutton to their credit had not given up on this game & were pushing forward when they could but again with the Reds working so hard for each other they were going to find it a difficult day & on 20mins the game was effectively over for them as another tremendous piece of 'sexy' football had the travelling fans in raptures as undoubtedly the move of the match that involved just about every player in a red shirt saw the ball moved with skill, precision & quality from the edge of their own box into the opponents box where another superb cross from Max was met by Jack with another quality finish to make it 0 vs 3. There was still time for Max to rifle in a powerful shot after yet more great work from Dan down the right but this time the Sutton keeper did well to save low down to his right.

Half Time Score:  Sutton Coldfield Town 0 vs 3 Redditch United

The second half started with Sutton determined to get back in this game & credit to them as they threw everything at the Reds in the early exchanges, the Reds had to be on their toes to keep their lead intact & solid working back from Dan coupled with strong tackling from Ben Mc & Matt denied them an opportunity down the right & eventually the ball was cleared. On 27mins though a goal looked certain as yet another Sutton attack saw their striker played through neatly & '1 on 1' with Ross but as we have come to expect from the Reds number 1 he raced off his line and dived bravely at the feet of the striker as he shot to beat the ball away superbly. It was the turn of the Reds to weather the early pressure & eventually on 29mins great footwork & brave play by Nick on the edge of his own box released Max away down the left wing where he forced a corner. Charlie whipped the ball into the box but Sutton defended it well & counter attacked at pace, good work in midfield by Ben N & Jack slowed them up but on 31mins they managed to force a corner of their own & as it was delivered into the box the Reds failed to clear the ball completely & a speculative shot from a Sutton player saw the ball nestle in the back of the Reds net to make the score 1 vs 3. The goal was no more than Sutton deserved for their efforts at the start of the 2nd half & it acted as a bit of a wake up call to the Reds who had probably thought they had the game won & maybe took their 'foot off the gas' a little & they raised their game again. On 32mins good work from the bouyant Max again forced a corner on the far side of the pitch & yet again Charlie delivered another quality ball but Sutton cleared with a decent header. On 35mins Brad replaced Dan down the right after an excellent performance & immediately Brad was involved in the action as Jack played agreat ball into his path, Brad showed his quality & skills as he turned 2 of his markers inside out before laying a precision ball in to Charlie on the edge of the 18 yard box but unfortunately his first time shot flew just wide of the upright. Sutton again pressed when possible & forced yet another corner on 36mins, this time as the ball bobbled about in the box Ross raced off his line and smothered it to end the danger. Brad had another chance to extend the lead further after another move involving the majority of the team but again the keeper denied him. On 40mins a free kick to the Reds was again delivered dangerously into the box by Matt but Sutton held firm & cleared their lines. George joined the fray with fresh legs to run at the Sutton defence replacing the hard working Ben N who had run himself into the ground. George, like Brad before him, was straight into the thick of the action exchanging passes with Jack who played a great ball over the top for Brad to run on to, again a decent save from the keeper denied Brad a goal which he deserved for his efforts. On 46mins it looked like the Reds had put the game well & truly to bed as the Reds showed their fitness & stamina to break at pace, Nick played a great pass to Brad who in turn played in Charlie, he turned & cooly slotted the ball through the Sutton defence for Sam to race clear but his shot grazed the outside of the post & went out for a goal kick. The contest was finally ended on 47mins as Max again played his part setting Charlie free with a neat pass & yet another quality finish into the far corner made the score 1vs 4.

Full Time Score:  Sutton Coldfield Town 1 vs 4 Redditch United

Reds Goals/Scorers: 1st half: Charlie - deft side foot finish from Max cross after great interplay between Sam & Max.

  Jack - powerful curling shot with outside of boot after turning marker.

  Jack - neat finish from Max cross after delightful, flowing move involving majority of team.

2nd half: Charlie – curled ball into bottom corner after precision Max pass.

Man of the Match: Charlie – quality finishing and good all round play, even after feeling ill all night !!

ROSS

BEN Mc

HUDDY

NICK

MATT

BEN N

JACK

SAM

CHARLIE

MAX

DAN