Friday, May 18th, 2012
Home > Match Reports > Saturday 17th December 2011 – Bedford Town 0 vs 1 REDS
The REDS took on Bedford Town looking to continue their impressive recent run of results against a Bedford team who possess the league’s leading goalscorer in Drew Roberts.
It was the same eleven for the REDS that played against Banbury, who took to the field against Bedford.
On a fantastic playing surface it was the REDS who settled into a passing game, with Jimmy Deabill holding the ball up well bringing Osborne and Grandison into play. It was Grandison on the right who was proving to be the outlet for the visitors, following a strong run on 20 minutes his shot flew comfortably over the crossbar.
A snapshot from Berwick after a knockdown by Deabill failed to trouble Brown in the Bedford goal.
The deadlock was broken on 30 minutes, a good pass by skipper Warmer released Deabill down the right wing, and he set the ball back to Berwick whose low cross was decisively swept in by Osborne from about 10 yards out.
The biggest threat the home team possessed came from the long throw of York down the right hand side, but was superbly dealt with by the strong defensive unit the REDS now have.
2nd Half
The second half saw the REDS defending very deep, and not able to get out of their own half to mount any sustained pressure on the Bedford goal.
Defensively the REDS needed to be on their game as they were forced to defend a number of corners from Bedford’s right hand side, but with the visitors having a clear height advantage, any potential danger was dealt with by Grimes, Hickman Robinson and Deabill.
With Thorne and Beech in the centre of midfield dictating play, it was difficult for the REDS to get a grip of the game.
The movement of Bedford’s front two, Hall and Roberts was excellent finding space down the side of Hickman and Grimes, only to find Coleman in fantastic form, with his reading of the game and excellent handling when required.
A fierce free kick 25 yards out by the prolific goalscorer Roberts was expertly held by Coleman, with Hall and Lewis following up for the rebound.
Grandison and Berwick were the players that broke to good effect on the counter attack for the visitors both having shots well saved by Brown.
It was the spirit and never say die attitude of the Redditch players that proved to be the main reason the points went back to the Valley, with five league wins from the last six games, the mouth watering prospect of three derby games in an eight day period over Christmas would surely be a test to see how far this young Redditch team has come.
Report by the
LEE Osborne’s first half strike ensured Redditch kept their impressive run going in the Southern League Premier Division as a battling display ensured all three points at the The Eyrie on Saturday.
United more than deserved their 1-0 lead after a dominant display in the first half, but then had to survive heavy pressure from the home side after the break to make it five league wins out of six.
Redditch had chances to double their lead in an end-to-end second period but were also thankful to a combination of solid defending and alert keeping by Dean Coleman.
There was lots of effort in the game’s opening stages but the visitors slowly began to impose themselves on the hosts.
Their first chance came in the 15th minute, when Tom Berwick was first to the loose ball and lashed a wayward shot wide.
Joel Grandison was on the end of a neat Reds move two minutes later but sent a right-footed effort from the angle over the bar.
Berwick was looking lively and he was set-up by James Deabill’s pass but he cut in from the left and curled an effort off target.
United took the lead their enterprising play deserved on the half hour mark. Berkwick created the opening with a low cross from the right, which the unmarked Osborne turned in smartly near the far post.
Town dangerman Roberts nearly levelled the scores in spectacular fashion in the 36th minute but blazed his effort from the edge of the box just wide.
Strapping centre back Gavin Hoyte came even closer for the hosts in the 42nd minute when he fired in a low left-footed shot, which deflected off Tesfa Robinson for a corner.
Bedford started the second half with more intent and Roberts lashed in a fierce right-footed effort which flew across the face of goal in the 50th minute.
Joel Grandison tried his luck moments later with a 30-yard chip which keeper Ian Brown took comfortably.
Robinson was in the right place in the 56th minute, blocking Josh Beech’s close range effort after Redditch had struggled to clear a corner from Max York.
Bedford were starting to dictate to play and Redditch suffered a set back when Alex Hickman limped off after a 50-50 tackle with Beech in the 59th minute.
As the home side pushed, Bedford came close but a vital challenge by substitute Jake Jones denied the luckless Hall.
United looked dangerous on the break and Berwick saw a snapshot saved by Brown.
Reds shot-stopper Coleman kept the away side’s lead intact in the 72nd minute, racing out to deny Hall’s right-footed shot, after good work by Ollie Thorne had created the scoring chance.
Joe Halsall then tried a curling shot from the edge of the area which the Bedford custodian took comfortably.
Coleman had to be alert and tipped over Roberts’ swerving 25-yard free-kick in the 80th minute. Two minutes later, he then did well to hold onto a powerful hit by the Eagles’ dangerman.
The away side then survived an 85th minute scare. Coleman could not get contact with a York free-kick through a crowded box and with the goal at his mercy, Hall scooped a first-time effort over the bar.
United’s keeper was the busier of the two custodians and he did well to smother a Roberts snap-shot in the 87th minute as Graham Hyde’s troops ensured they go into the Christmas fixtures in fine form.
Redditch: Coleman; Stringfellow; Robinson; Warmer; Hickman (Jones, 61); Grimes; Grandison; Halsall; Deabill; Berwick; Osborne (Moses-Garvey, 76).
Unused substitutes: O’Callaghan; Clarke; Payne.
Bedford: Brown; York; Simpson; Darby; Hoyte; Thorne (Cole, 83); Hatch; Beech; Hall; Roberts; Lewis (Price, 28).
Unused substitutes: Ivy; Damon; Kavanagh.
Referee: Anthony Serrano. Attendance: 217
