TWO exciting loan signings could be on show for the hosts at the Valley Stadium on Saturday when Redditch United face Corby Town in a match crucial to both sides’ Southern League Premier Division promotion hopes.
The visitors arrive in second place but, having played three more games than leaders Poole Town, know victory is of paramount importance if they are to keep the pressure on the south coast side in the race for the title.
Liam McDonald’s seventh placed Reds – now unbeaten in seven league games thanks to Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Dorchester Town courtesy of Ashley Sammons’ stunning 30-yard first half strike – know victory, or possibly just a point, could catapult them into the play-off places.
In a bid to add more firepower to his side, McDonald was bidding to secure the services of two strikers on loan – one from a Premier League club and the other a Football League player – in time for the game and to remain at the club for the Reds’ six remaining fixtures after Saturday.
“If I can get these two players through the door they could make a crucial difference, both for Saturday and onwards,” said McDonald.
“I am hopeful we can do so and I am sure they are players who will excite the fans. Both have got raw pace and will really boost our options at this important time.”
McDonald has backed his side to do themselves justice against a strong Corby side who he believes have to take the game to the Reds in a bid to secure the victory they need to maintain their outside chance of pipping Poole to the title.
“It should be a competitive and exciting match and a good test for both teams,” added a buoyant McDonald.
“We can make it difficult for them and I am anticipating an end to end match.
“We’ve got every respect for Corby. They are a good side with a manager who knows his stuff and they are second in the league for a reason.
“However, we’ve been to their place twice this season, not conceded a goal and knocked them out of the FA Trophy, so we know what we can do. We’ve been to Poole and won so know we have the players to hurt Corby.”
McDonald, whose side have conceded just one goal in their past five encounters, was keen to defend his team’s performance in the crucial victory at Dorchester and praised the players for “sticking to the game plan well”.
“I’ve read and heard a few comments saying we didn’t play well and were not particularly convincing, etc,” added the manager.
“However, I asked the players to implement a certain style and they did it very well. It wasn’t our usual style and we did let Dorchester have possession at certain times, as we tried to pick them off on the break.
“I looked at the opposition and thought that was the way we needed to go and our players did what I asked of them. We are playing cup final football at the moment and the result is the biggest thing.
“It was a good away performance and I thought we could have won more comfortably. We missed a few other good chances and should have had a penalty.
“It was a crucial three points and, if we can get another positive result this weekend, it will set us up really nicely for the trip to Histon the following weekend.
“Teams around us have games against each other to come so points will be dropped. If we could have our play-off destiny in our own hands going into the final four or five matches I would be delighted.”
