Friday, May 18th, 2012
The Reds got the Chris Swan era off to the perfect start with a comfortable win in this the first of their pre-season matches ahead of their assault on the Evo-Stik League (Southern) Premier Division as they ran out comfortable 1 vs 3 winners away at Midland Combination League, Premier Division side, Pershore Town.
'Man Of The Match' Mark Hands receives his award from Jeff Watson of the TRUST
With many new faces lining up alongside some more familiar ones, it inevitably took a while for Martin Sockett’s new look Reds to settle and play as a team but after just 15 minutes they began to gel and looked a threat every time they broke forward. With Josh McKenzie leading the line his height and strength caused problems for the home defence on numerous occasions and Cameron Jones was looking dangerous down the right wing crossing into the box for McKenzie at every opportunity. Skipper Mark Hands was putting in his customary hard shift in the heart of the Reds midfield and was breaking up the Pershore attacks at every opportunity.
Aaron Moses Garvey was working hard down the left and his link up play with Paul Dowsett was also a constant threat. On 19 mins the Reds deservedly took the lead when the dangerous CAMERON JONES cut inside from the right wing and finished neatly into the far corner. Just 4 mins later (23 mins) the Reds doubled their lead after they were awarded a penalty following a clumsy tackle in the box, Jones picked the ball up and looked to be taking the spot kick but PAUL DOWSETT had obviously been nominated as the penalty taker and quickly took it off him. Dowsett put the ball low to the keepers right and although he did well to get a strong hand on he could only watch in despair as the ball agonisingly trickled over the line to make it 0 vs 2 to the Reds.
Pershore played some good football of their own and created some decent half chances but Lewis Connor in the Reds goal was never really tested and with Tesfa Robinson and Bradley Bullimore marshalling the defence his goal was not really threatened and the Reds finished the half well on top as AARON MOSES-GARVEY finished off another neat move down the left, on 43 mins, to give the visitors a deserved 0 vs 3 interval lead.
The second half was a stark contrast to the first half from a Reds point of view in terms of quality football and fluidity as manager Sockett made a host of changes to give some of the other players a chance to show what they have to offer and also to afford those who had worked so hard in the first half a well deserved rest. Possession was largely Pershore Towns and the attacking play was mainly theirs and on 53 mins the Reds were caught napping from a short corner and the home side reduced the deficit to 1 vs 3 with a goal from ADAM WESTON.
The Reds did create a couple of decent opportunities with ‘Man of The Match’ Mark Hands having the pick of them trying his luck from distance twice but the home keeper saved well on both occasions. A particularly bright point from the second half was the performance of winger Elliot Nash whose tenacity and pace clearly unsettled the home side and he tormented them at times down the right flank creating space and supplying quality crosses into the danger areas which unfortunately the revamped front line could not turn into goal scoring chances, other players who caught the eye with their performances were right full back Alex Henry who was strong in the tackle and broke forward with pace and also Kyle Knott with his solid performance alongside Tesfa Robinson at the heart of the Reds defence.
The small but vocal possy of travelling Red’s fans were on the whole very encouraged by what they saw and although they were unsure of how they should feel after watching the Reds win a football match, everyone involved with the club can look forward to Tuesday’s game away at Coleshill Town with eager anticipation and a feeling of renewed enthusiasm.
Reds Man of the Match: Mark Hands
(Match report courtesy of Tim Delaney - Redditch Utd F.C.)
