Friday, May 18th, 2012
The Reds continued their tremendous pre-season preparations with yet another win, this time it was a 2 vs 1 victory over higher level opposition in the form of Blue Square Bet North local rivals Solihull Moors.
It was a good late show by the Reds, who played against ten men for 62 minutes after Solihull goalscorer Simon Johnson was sent off for throwing a punch in a melee sparked by a Tom Warmer challenge. Warmer was booked for his part in the incident.
It was Redditch who should have gone ahead on only three minutes when Lei Brown should have done better than shoot wide from close range.
Mitch Fellows had an even easier chance to put Solihull ahead on eight minutes when Andre Francis played the ball into his path but somehow Fellows contrived to hit the bar.
It was all Solihull and two minutes later the visitors did take the lead when ex Leeds player Johnson finished well after taking a good pass from Fellows, however the main talking point of the half was the sending off of Johnson not his goal.
James McPike should have increased the vistor’s lead three minutes from half time but shot wide.
The second half saw the same pattern of play with Solihull mainly in control with Sam Adkins, Fellows and substitute Fabian Chambund all having shots which goalkeeper Dean Coleman easily dealt with.
Martin Sockett rang the changes on the hour mark and the change in personnel and formation saw the Reds now take the game to the visitors with Cameron Jones, Joe Harris and Phil Green adding extra impetus to the attacks and Greg Ellard and Brad Bullimore shoring up the defence.
Coleman did have to make a really good save from the same player on 70 minutes before Redditch equalised just 5 mins later after a neat turn and shot from the edge of the box by Lee Osborne.
The goal of the game came from Redditch captain Craig Milligan two minutes from time and it proved to be the winner. His swerving effort from 25 yards out left the Moors goalkeeper stranded as the ball flew past his despairing dive and ended up in the top corner of the net to give Redditch another friendly victory 2 vs 1.
Reds Star Man: Craig Milligan
(Match report courtesy of Paul Jenkins – Redditch Advertiser)
