Match: League Match 15 – Redditch Utd 1 vs 2 Sutton Coldfield Town

Date: Sunday 24th February 2008

Report: (By Darran Ward)

After the comprehensive victory for the Reds away at Sutton only a couple of weeks earlier the team were expecting a backlash and from the kick off Sutton showed that they were keen on taking points off Redditch for this return fixture. The first few midfield tussles were fought with Sam looking to gain the ascendancy in the middle of the park supported by Jack and George. Soon a ball from Sam was slid in towards the corner and Max chased it down to force a corner. At the other end Sutton also forced a corner which was smartly cleared by Max to find Charlie, he combined well with Brad on the right as they swiftly converted defence into attack, Brads shot though was saved by the keeper. In another midfield battling scenario, Brad worked hard to win the ball and cleverly found George, he in turn rode a challenge and then calmly looked up for his pass and neatly laid it off to Huddy who dinked the ball down the left to Max who dribbled all the way to the dead ball line before being tackled. With Ben Mc, Matty, Nick and Huddy across the back, Sutton were finding it hard to get through to get a final shot on goal, especially due to the superb block tackles being meted out in the box. The problem was however, in the midfield as Sutton were playing five across and swamping the Reds before exerting the pressure on the defence, too many times. This led the manager to alter the formation to a traditional 4-4-2 to bolster the numbers in the middle of the pitch. As play continued, Sam was deemed to have hand balled inside the area and a penalty was given to the travelling team. A harsh decision given that Sam’s arms were by his side as he attempted to clear the shot. The ball was hit from the spot and Ross stretched to push the ball away and very nearly succeeded, the pace carrying the ball into the roof of the net and leaving Sutton 0vs1 up. Play switched to the left and George, who was putting in a tremendous display, won several throws along the line, the last of which Sam found Max in the wide left, who turned his marker and played a neat cross to the near post to find Charlie bursting through the defence, his first shot saved and parried but the 2nd shot was definitely not as he beat the keeper and found the back of the net, 1vs1. Soon after, however, and Sutton regained the lead after poor defensive work from a corner allowed Sutton to capitalise and put the score at 1vs2 to the team in blue at half time.

Half Time Score:  Redditch Utd 1 vs 2 Sutton Coldfield Town

Soon after the re-start and Charlie ran clean through the defence after good work by his team mates had won the ball, as he ran towards goal he let fly with a thunderous dipping shot from distance which the keeper could only push wide. Again from just outside the area, Sam found Max who tried to worm his way through a whole group of defenders in the box, to be tackled as he was about to pull the trigger. Shortly after, and only after superb running and tackling and passing from George and Jack, they were replaced by Ben N and Dan who got stuck straight in. With the wind behind them the boys were winning the ball well and getting plenty of pacey passes in behind the Sutton defence. Unfortunately though the linesman appeared to be very keen to get his flag in the air at every opportunity and certainly appeared not to understand the “not involved in play” rule as tired legs were carrying lads back from previous attacks as others broke forward and not off side. A ball that was crossed into the box after good work from Dan and Brad hit an up-stretched blue shirted hand and was deflected away and an obvious penalty was remarkably not given. As the game entered the last few minutes the Reds pressed forward in greater numbers with Nick working hard supporting crosses and corners and sprinting back at pace to support his defensive team mates. The battle continued to full time with neither goal being found again to leave the boys facing their first loss for many weeks and so ended a 6 match unbeaten run.

Full Time Score:  Redditch Utd 1 vs 2 Sutton Coldfield Town

Reds Goals/Scorers: 1st half: Charlie – followed up his own shot after cross from Max on left.

Man of the Match: Huddy – excellent defending and clever link up play.

ROSS

BEN Mc

HUDDY

NICK

MATT

GEORGE

JACK

SAM

CHARLIE

MAX

BRAD