Football
Valley encounters important to Reds

REDDITCH UNITED are seeking home comforts as they bid to ensure they are not sucked back towards the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division danger zone.

The Reds were convincingly beaten 4-0 at leaders Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday and now sit in 17th place - just four spots and five points above the drop zone - as they prepare to welcome high-flying Cambridge City to the Valley Stadium tomorrow before hosting mid-table Bashley in a rearranged encounter on Tuesday.

Boss Simon Redhead has already seen his side go on winning and losing streaks already this season and knows the festive period is no time to suffer a slump in form as the league prepares to enter its second half in 2013.

"We have played in fits and starts for large parts of the season so far, but we know now that successive home games gives us the chance to get back to winning ways and put some real daylight between ourselves and the bottom sides," said Redhead.

"It's an extremely competitive league and a couple of positive results could see us talking about the top ten again soon and then you have to see where your form takes you from there."

Tomorrow's encounter will see striker Jake Reid play his final match on loan from AFC Telford United and Redhead is expected to keep faith with 18-year-old keeper Bradley Catlow, who was in excellent form on Saturday when he deputised for the injured James Wren, who has suffered a thigh problem.

One player who will definitely be missing is assistant manager Asa Charlton who sits out the next two matches through suspension.

Regional sport »