Football
Reds bid to maintain momentum

By Liam Moakes Thursday 18 October 2012 Updated: 18/10 14:13

REDDITCH UNITED head into tomorrow's visit to Frome Town with some excellent momentum behind them after Saturday's hard fought victory over visitors AFC Totton made it successive Southern League Premier Division wins for the first time this season.

The 2-1 victory was sweet for two reasons in particular as it was the Reds' first on home soil this season and was earned despite Simon Redhead's side having to play with ten men for 50 minutes.

Redhead will now hope his troops - up to a season highest 11th place - can begin to look upwards and target an assault on the play-off places as opposed to looking over their shoulders and, on the evidence of Saturday's showing, this is a real possibility.

The hosts were full value for a victory which looked on the cards from the outset as in-form striker Connor Deards went close before Stuart Hendrie's firm strike was pushed away by Totton's Gareth Barfoot.

Totton's Richard Gillespie almost added to his recent goal blitz but James Wren in the home goal saved bravely at his feet and the hosts took full advantage of this reprieve by taking a 36th minute lead when skilful play on the left from Hendrie set up midfielder Jack Cresswell to convert with aplomb at the near post.

However, the match threatened to be turned on its head when shortly before the break United midfielder Alex Price was shown a second yellow card for a firm challenge.

The home team found resilience in abundance though and doubled their lead just before the hour when Liam McDonald crashed a 30-yard thunderbolt high into the net.

Deards was then thwarted by an offside flag when he thought he had made it 3-0 as the hosts played largely on the counter-attack.

Chris Mason struck to reduce the visitors' arrears in the closing stages, but Totton's three-minute search for an equaliser proved fruitless and Redhead's side were able to celebrate a victory which was extremely well earned.

UNITED RESERVES defeated hosts Stratford Town 6-0 in the Challenge Trophy on Saturday before earning a 2-2 draw in Midland Combination Reserve Division One at leaders Chasetown on Tuesday thanks to goals from Knight and Hylton.

The U21s beat hosts Shipston Excelsior 6-1 on Saturday in Stratford Alliance Division One and the U18s won 6-2 at Evesham United on Tuesday in the Midland Floodlit Youth League Southern Division.