Friday, May 18th, 2012
With 4 wins out of 4 on their pre-season travels to date, the next stop was the picturesque village of Heather in the Leicestershire countryside on Thursday evening (July 21st) as the Reds looked to continue their unbeaten run away at Midland Alliance League new boys, Heather St.Johns, following their Midland Combination Premier Division title last campaign.
The match was slow to start but it was the Reds who settled into their neat passing game first and they were causing the home defence problems from the15th min when the lively Cameron Jones worked his magic down the right wing to cross for Tom Willmore who dragged his shot just wide. However the visitors did take the lead just a minute later with a beautifully executed, ‘lobbed’ finish off the underside of the bar by LEI BROWN.
The home side came close to an equaliser on 20 mins when a cross from the left was flicked clear by Alex Hickman to prevent a simple tap in at the far post but the Reds attacked at pace again and forced 2 corners in quick succession, the first following neat interplay between Lee Osbourne and David Blenkinsopp and the second following more great wing play from Cameron Jones. Jones took the corner himself and the home defence could only half clear to the edge of the 18 yard box where centre back, GREG ELLARD, was on hand to finish neatly into the top corner to give the Reds a comfortable 0 vs 2 advantage on 25 mins.
A move of great quality followed on 26 mins with the ball being played from right full back, Nick Heath across the back line to Craig Milligan at left full back who then played the ball in to the feet of David Blenkinsopp who played a neat 1 – 2 with Elliot Nash before playing in Tom Willmore down the left wing who drilled his shot from the edge of the box against the stanchion.
On 36 mins and with the Reds in total ascendancy, picking off their opponents at will, Martin Sockett made 2 changes due to slight injuries with Phil Green and Joe Harris replacing Blenkinsopp and Osbourne respectively.
Two goal hero and Man Of The Match - Joe Harris
The home side were thrown a lifeline just before the half time interval when on 40 mins a clumsy challenge from Ellard tripped Hart just inside the box, the penalty was dispatched in the right hand bottom corner by LEWIS giving Jake Bedford in the Reds goal no chance. The Reds regained their 2 goal cushion and made the half time score a comfortable 1 vs 3, on 43 mins when the ever willing and impressive, JOE HARRIS, scored his first of the game with a rasping drive after Osbourne’s powerful shot was parried by the home keeper.
The second half saw a glut of changes to both sides which upset the rhythm and flow of the game somewhat and it was Heather St.Johns that took the early initiative following neat play in midfield which culminated with LEWIS scoring his 2nd of the game on 47 mins with a low drive past the onrushing Bedford. The visitors responded almost immediately when on 53 mins Joe Harris headed in from an Elliot Nash cross but the striker had strayed just offside and the goal was ruled out.
On 54 mins a corner from the right was played short to Robbie Ager whose pacey cross was met with a deft header by Osbourne and looked goal bound but for a tremendous save from the home keeper tipping it just over the bar. Man of The Match, Joe Harris was involved again just a minute later when his dogged determination saw him chase down a lost cause and win the ball before he turned the defender in the box and squared for Green to tap home from just 6 yards out but Green got his feet tangled and dragged the ball agonisingly wide.
More changes followed for both teams and the Reds huffed and puffed but the shape, penetration and cutting edge had been somewhat lost and although they did manage sporadic attacks on the home goal it was Heather St.Johns who were enjoying their best spell of the game creating decent opportunities of their own on numerous occasion with only the linesman’s flag and the reliable Bedford in the Reds goal denying them from scoring more goals.
Ii fact it wasn’t until the last quarter of the match that the Reds began to get back on top of their spirited hosts and with 75 mins gone a great break down the left wing by Robbie Ager saw him deliver a great cross into the box where JOE HARRIS made no mistake side footing home for his much deserved 2nd goal of the game to make it 2 vs 4 to the Reds. The final few minutes were short on real quality as both sides looked to have settled for the score line as it was but Phil Green made it 2 vs 5 on 81 mins when that man again, Joe Harris, flicked a header into the box which caused confusion in the home defence, the ball was only half cleared and fell kindly to GREEN inside the box who made no mistake this time finishing neatly into the bottom corner past the helpless keeper.
Reds Man of the Match - Joe Harris
(Match report courtesy of Tim Delaney – RUFC)
