Barlaston 0 Redditch 5
West Midlands Division One
REDDITCH started life in West Midlands Division One with a dominant performance at Barlaston on Saturday.
The hosts were never really in the game and Jacob Beard had already gone close to creating the breakthrough before the visitors did take the lead in the eighth minute when they won a short corner which was injected by Will Moss to Harry Capewell at the top of the D and Capewell beat the first player and shot at goal where Moss was on hand to tap in from very close range.
It took 15 minutes for Barlaston to threaten the Redditch goal after a Redditch short corner broke down and the home side were able to counter-attack, but visting keeper Ben Bryant was on hand to make the save.
Moments later, Bryant was again made to work for his first league clean sheet as he made a superb double save from a Barlaston short corner.
After this spell of defending Redditch resumed a more attacking role, leaving the back three of Pete Dawson, Tom Dunkley and Ben Haresign with very little to do.
Hardworking John Styzaker won the ball in midfield and found Dawson who struck to make it 2-0 and approaching the half hour mark Beard was fouled and took the free hit early, finding Capewell in the D who fired home a fantastic reverse stick shot to make it 3-0.
Youngster Connor Adams – making his league debut for the 1st XI – was twice unfortunate not to open his account before in the dying seconds of the first half veteran Dan Waite showed some silky skills in an attacking area and Dan Jakeman – playing in a central midfield role – made a brilliant run to make space for Capewell to score his second goal of the game with another brilliant reverse stick shot.
In the second half man of the match Waite capped a fine display with a superb individual strike into the bottom corner and the hosts were then reduced to ten men for a period of time when they saw a player green-carded for a bad tackle.
On Saturday Redditch host Droitwich.
Redditch 2nds 3 Bromsgrove 2nds 2
West Midlands 2nd Team League Division Two
REDDITCH’S second string started the season well by beating local rivals Bromsgrove in a thrilling match.
Bromsgrove took the lead midway through the first half but Redditch were back on level terms on the stroke of half time as Andrew Brooks – who has come out of retirement – converted a short corner.
Lee Beedon and Matt Walton fired in well worked goals in the second half before a late surge from Bromsgrove resulted in a goal and a tense final five minutes, but Redditch defended well and held on to take maximum points.
Redditch visit Droitwich on Saturday.
Droitwich 3rds 1 Redditch 3rds 2
West Midlands 3rd Team League Division One
THE 3rds made a flying start at Droitwich and never looked back.
They opened the scoring after just 90 seconds as Josh Brown worked his way down the right before pulling the ball back to the top of the circle where a waiting Harry Williams took a touch to control before firing the ball home into the bottom left-hand corner from long range.
Redditch keeper Lee ‘Dutch’ Wickersham made several spectacular saves to keep his side ahead and the lead was doubled when Tim Gibbs struck from long range to make it 2-0 at half time.
Droitwich reduced their deficit ten minutes from time despite solid defending from Tim Oscroft and Paul Cowley but the visitors were not to be denied victory.
Redditch host Market Drayton on Saturday.
Reports compiled by Amy Youster.
