Reds Outclassed At Telford .....

Saturday 13th February 2010

AFC Telford 3 vs 0 Redditch United

The loss of key players to other clubs finally took it's toll on a youthful Redditch side on

Saturday as they were brushed aside by Telford inside 23 first half minutes.

Gary Whld's men lined up 4-5-1 with skipper Asa Charlton joining midfielders Joe Clarke,

Michael McGrath and the returning Danny Scheppel in defence, Jozef Jakab ploughed a

lone furrow up front.

The Reds appeared to have settled well but simple defensive errors soon cost United.

Andy Brown's lofted ball wasn't dealt with by Asa Charlton letting Damien Reeves in

behind on six minutes.

A poor first touch gave Scheppel the opportunity to clear but as he searched for a pass Reeves retrieved the ball and blasted low to Danny Lewis' right for the opening goal.

The visitors were clearly shaken, Steve Thompson's cross set up Reeves shortly after but Scheppel's deflection denied the Bucks hitman a second, however with the pressure building Telford's lead was soon doubled on 19 minutes.

McGrath scythed Reeves down and from the resulting free kick David Bridgwater sent a bullet header beyond the despairing dive of Lewis under pressure from Shane Killock.

The Reds succumbed to their fate too easily as the half dragged on, a lifeless midfield didn't help a creaking backline and the third goal came as no surprise, another simple long ball from Killock was not dealt with efficiently.

Reeves again found himself in acres of space to roll a simple finish beyond the on rushing Lewis on 23 minutes leaving visiting fans fearing a repeat of the 8-0 defeat at Fleetwood.

Thankfully it wasn't to be. Telford took their foot off the gas with Redditch looking a spent force.

Thompson rode three challenges before unleashing a wayward shot and Lewis had to scramble clear following Charlton's poor backpass before half time, with Redditch relieved to get to the break.

Redditch did show more composure after the interval, Thompson's shot from an acute angle on 61 minutes was as close as the home side came to rubbing salt into the Reds wounds in a second half of tit-for-tat, niggly fouls, most of which involved Telford captain Lee Vaughan.

He was lucky to stay on the pitch following a deliberate barge on Blair, sending the Reds wideman flying into the away dugout having already been booked.

Whild's young substitutes carried the fight late on with teenage prodigy Dan Carter coming close, finding the side netting and hitting the roof of the crossbar in the closing stages but it was all too little too late in a match that was truly men against boys from the off.

After the game Reds boss Gary Whild pointed to the lack of central defenders at the club as the biggest factor behind their rapid collapse at play-off chasing Telford.

"The game was over after 20 minutes." said the United boss, "Having a makeshift defence is difficult and the lack of a recognised cenre half cost us.

"I thought we did well after that, the lads applied themselves well but once your two or three down it's game over really."

The gaps at the back weren't helped by the departure of Liam Francis to Hednesford Town this week and Whild spoke of his disappointment of losing the fans favourite to a Zamaretto Premier Division club.

"By all accounts he's gone there for double the money which is disappointing if money is your motivation.

"This season he has proven himself in the Blue Square North and if he was going to go anywhere you'd have thought it would be to a bigger club in our league or somewhere even higher.

"But he's done ever so well for us and good luck to him."

Reds: Lewis, Clarke, Charlton, Bridgwater, Scheppel, Bullimore,Byrne, Semper, Jakab, Blair, McGrath

Subs:  Carter (for Bullimore), Jackson (for Semper),  Moraka (for Jakab)  Not Used: Turner, Birch

Goals:

Referee: J.Hull

Attendance: 1522

Match report provided courtesy of The Redditch Advertiser

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