Friday, May 18th, 2012
An excellent Connor Deards strike wasn’t enough to take Redditch through to the next round of the FA Trophy.
The on loan Walsall striker capped an impressive display with a goal midway through the first half but it was United’s league rivals Stourbridge who went into the draw for the second qualifying round thanks to goals either side of the break.
The Reds began with striker Lee Osborne alongside Deards but the latter soon dropped back into midfield to counter the home side’s five-man midfield.
That ensured space was at a premium and chances were also few and far between.
Osborne forced Lewis Solly into a save on 20 minutes while Dean Coleman was at full stretch to turn away an Aaron Drake effort moments later.
Deards’ goal came on 28 minutes and followed some impressive work from youngster Jermaine Hilton.
The teenager, a product of the U21s side, neatly flicked the ball down the left flank for Deards who scorched past former Redditch defender Paul McClone before firing home from the left-hand side of the area.
Tesfa Robinson showed good footwork to jink his way into the box five minutes later but his final shot failed to match his approach work.
It looked as though the visitors would take their lead into the break but shoddy defending in injury time allowed Stourbridge defender Sam Smith to rise unchallenged and head home a Sean Geddes corner.
The Glassboys struck again 11 minutes into the second half when a mistake by Aaron Moses-Garvey allowed Ryan Rowe to pounce. The striker rolled the ball to skipper Ben Billingham and he made no mistake from close range.
The goal seemed to knock the fight out of the Reds who failed to trouble the Stourbridge keeper until the final 15 minutes when he had to dive on the loose ball following a goalmouth scramble that almost saw Alex Hickman turn home a corner.
Central defender Jamie Grimes was pushed forward late on in search of an equaliser but it was the Glassboys who went closest when, in injury time, substitute John Grffin forced Coleman into a smart save.
Reds: Coleman 6, Stringfellow 6, Robinson 7, Warmer 6, HICKMAN 8, Grimes 8, Jones 6, Moses-Garvey 5, Osborne 6, Hilton 6 (Williams 61, 6), Deards 7 (Wood 84). Subs (not used): Hynes, Clarke, Bedford.
Click HERE for pictures from the game
