Match: League Match 17 – Coleshill Utd 3 vs 2 Redditch Utd

Date: Sunday 13th April 2008

Report: (By Darran Ward)

After what seems an age without a competitive game, with the Easter break, lack of fixtures and heavy snowfalls, Redditch were back into league action against table toppers Coleshill Utd. The home team had had a few wobbles over recent games, their impressive run of results from the beginning of the season coming to an end. But we have come to expect some hard fought encounters between the two teams over the last few seasons and today’s match would prove no different. From kick off it was the home team applying all the pressure and for several minutes the strong and pacy no.10 winger worked the ball well giving Huddy plenty to do at left back and Charlie was pulled back to support the defensive play. The boys playing in their blue away kit then forced successive throw ins down the left, Sam’s long throws causing panic to the Coleshill players and forcing further throw ins as Sam coolly worked the line upto the edge of the home team’s area, his last throw finding the energetic Jack who turned his marker and shot narrowly wide across the face of goal. However, the defensive back line were soon back into action after a searching cross field ball was played out of the Coleshill midfield to their left winger who attacked at pace, Nick charged across the pitch to smother the danger with a superb tackle at speed. The 2nd ball was hit goal wards and Rossy pulled off a super diving save to force a corner. The Reds were certainly not playing anywhere near to their collective ability and were allowing the home team too much time and space; perhaps the elongated break and the constrictive pitch size hampering. A corner for the Reds was well defended and Coleshill broke the length of the pitch to notch the 1st goal, 1vs0 to the home team. From the re-start the boys won a throw in on the left, Max received and was ‘pushed’ off the ball but managed to slide a ball through to Jack to break onto but as he cleared the back line he was scythed down, requiring treatment. Huddy then had a free kick awarded against him for a ridiculous handball decision, the ball clearly striking him on top of the shoulder with his arm by his side. The ball was driven in, hitting the underside of the bar, dropping over the line and extending the home team’s lead to 2vs0.

Half Time Score:  Coleshill Utd 2 vs 0 Redditch Utd

The second half started with Brad on for George having worked hard up and down the line. The game followed a similar pattern to the first, this time the left-winger seeing plenty of ball and Ben Mc was running himself into the ground with the tackles flying in. Ben N came on to give Chopper a well-earned rest. Coleshill extended their lead to 3vs0 after overloading the box early in the 2nd half. This last goal appeared to spur the boys into action and so began a super fight back, every player stepping up to be counted and flying in with challenges. Suddenly Coleshill were on the back foot with no answer to the Redditch pressure with wave after wave of attack. The boys pulled a goal back after pressure in midfield forced a throw in on the right. Ben N took it quickly, finding Sam in the inside right to deftly flick on to Jack to twist and turn in the box before shooting across the keeper, the ball hitting the back of the net in the far corner, 3vs1. More Redditch pressure followed as Coleshill rocked back, neat balls were being played out to the wide players to get crosses in. Players were linking up well in all areas of the pitch and the home team attacks were almost nullified now as they were pinned back into their last third. Brad broke smartly down the right and was pulled back as he cleared the defensive back line, just managing to keep his shirt on! Matty placed the ball and floated in a trademark free kick, finding Jack rising at the near post, he flicked the ball on past the keeper to Max, unmarked at the back post to nod in for 3vs2. The game continued at a frantic pace, still all Redditch pushing Coleshill back and forcing desperate tackles. The clock ticked down with the boys unable to find another goal in the time remaining and the final result was to be 3vs2. If the game had progressed then the Reds would surely have found the equaliser if not gone on to win the game but that’s football!

Full Time Score:  Coleshill Utd 3 vs 2 Redditch Utd

Reds Goals/Scorers: 2nd half: Jack - shot across keeper from Sam's flick header.

  Max - far post header from Jack's flick on.

Man of the Match: Sam – for his totally commited captains performance in the 2nd half.

ROSS

BEN Mc

HUDDY

NICK

MATT

GEORGE

DAN

CHARLIE

SAM

JACK

MAX