Frustrating first game of the season for the reds, where actually we matched Redditch throughout but couldn’t find that goal to make them wobble.
With Sanders still out with a broken wrist, and now Rayyan on the sidelines with a fractured foot, the Reds were already up against it before we kicked a ball, with Jack struggling and Omar in the wrong kit… not the perfect preparation after all that rain last night!
However, the boys showed real maturity in agreeing to keep swapping a shirt with the substitutes, in order for Omar to play.
The game started with Hampton under some early pressure, with the Redditch winger looking lively against Mr consistent Josh M. A couple of half-chances but Hampton survived any early scares.
It was Redditch who would bag some fortune, with a through ball charged down by Harrison, but the power of his clearance rebounding off the Redditch players side-foot and looping over our stranded keeper. 1-0.
If they had the good luck, we had the bad…
It was like Rushy had just been dunked in an ice bucket, when he picked up the ball on the left wing and blitzed toward the Redditch box then playing across to Omar who hit it first time, but unfortunately hit the post and went wide. That would have been a wonderful response to bring us level but not this time.
The boys had woken up a bit and were scrapping for everything, but soon a through ball would find us in trouble, with the Redditch player slotting past Harrison. 2-0.
A few minutes later Redditch got another shot off which Harrison pushed wide with a good save.
Omar then found himself rushing through on goal, but pushed his shot wide of the far post.
Hampton would create one or two more chances in the first half, but the keeper not really having a save to make and we stayed solid to keep it 2-0 at the break, still plenty to play for.
Bringing Jack on at half time put Hampton on the front foot. The Redditch keeper was finally tested, albeit a comfortable save but the lads seemed to be galvanised. However, after some great footwork to win a foul in a dangerous area, Jack took the resulting free kick and hurt himself, so would miss the remainder of the game. Fingers crossed this isn’t too serious and the captains back firing next Sunday.
The Reds weren’t going to give up here though and on 3 occasions, Rushy burst down the wing in trademark fashion, firstly crossing but cleared by the defender, then cutting back inside and getting a shot off where the keeper saved comfortably, and then crossing again to Omar who would square but again Redditch scrambled away.
With the time ticking down and some tired legs setting in, Redditch carved out another couple of chances but a good block and another great save from Harrison kept them out.
FT: 2-0.
Redditch turning out to be a bogey team for us, with 3 losses out of 3, undeserved in at least 2 of the games but we can have no complaints today really, we need to get back in the goal scoring habit…
It’s not all doom and gloom though, the chances are being created and the effort simply can’t be faulted, it will be a tight division this season and there’s a long way to go.
On another day, Rushy gets a couple of goals, as does Omar, and Harrison’s clearance goes over the trees rather than dropping kindly on the opposition foot, but hey ho that’s football and we move on to the next one!
Some real effort today all over the pitch, and some tired boys no doubt. I’d like to mention everyone, but I’ll save those for the good days!
MOTM today was Omar, despite turning up in the wrong kit, he was absolutely everywhere, winning tackles, making runs, nearly scoring. Very much a nearly day, but absolutely terrific effort.
Well done Omar!
Now, let’s get these Reds firing again!!
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