Football
More new faces in at the Valley

SIMON REDHEAD this week continued to revamp the Redditch United team ahead of the new Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division season with two more additions to the Valley Stadium squad.

Midfielder Liam McDonald, who last season played for Tamworth in Blue Square Bet Premier, has joined on a two-year deal which will also see him help with club development including working with schoolchildren.

The Reds saw off competition from clubs in the Conference top flight to win McDonald’s signature and the 27-year-old will be joined by ex-Solihull Moors skipper, defender Phil Midworth.

Their arrivals, hot on the heels on the recent permanent capture of released Walsall striker Connor Deards, left boss Redhead saying: “It’s been a brilliant summer for us in terms of arrivals.

“We’ve had success in bringing in the players we wanted and we have lots of options for all positions now.

“It’s a case of myself and the managerial team doing the very best we can to get the team gelling as soon as possible and then we are confident we have the nucleus of a successful squad.”

Redditch continued their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 defeat at Sutton Coldfield Town on Tuesday - a scoreline which was harsh on the visitors.

Jordan Nadat volleyed just wide and Mark Danks and Deards also came close to scoring in the opening half hour.

However, it was the hosts who took a 32nd minute lead through Luke Chapman’s sensational strike.

McDonald went close with a free kick after the break and Nadat again fired wide before Sutton took a 2-0 lead 13 minutes from time through former Redditch man Scott Rickards’ penalty, awarded for a foul on Ben Lund by substitute keeper Bradley Cantlow.

United were intent on attacking and pulled a consolation back in the 90th minute through an own goal.

Danks had been the match-winner for the Reds on Saturday in a 1-0 home success over Chasetown.

His winner on the hour mark was reward for a tireless display and arrived when visiting keeper Lee Evans was slow off his line to Matt Johnson’s back pass and Danks charged down the stopper’s clearance before rolling the ball into an empty net.

Danks was close to scoring on two other second half occasions, as was Asa Charlton who headed just over.

Chasetown had shaded the opening period as former United players Gary Hay, Mark Hands and Chris Russell all came close to opening the scoring.

The Reds are in friendly action at Solihull Moors tomorrow.

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