Tamworth FC v Redditch United
Tamworth FC
1-3
Redditch United
Match Report
Ed Mackey talks us through a disappointing afternoon for The Lambs.
A lacklustre second-half performance from Tamworth saw them squander a one-goal lead against Redditch who hadn’t won a point away from home all season.
However, the Lambs flew out the blocks and could have quite easily been ahead inside 10 minutes. A lot of the action was going down the visitors’ right-hand side as smart link-up play between Kyle Finn and Jordan Gough led to the former flashing the ball across the six-yard box, just missing a goalbound touch.
A couple of Tamworth corners followed and both had to be cleared off the line by Redditch defenders before Aman Verma saw his header comfortably saved. Kristian Green will have been disappointed that he failed to hit the target from 20 yards after being given the freedom of the pitch to maraud forward from right-back.
Just as the high intensity started to fizzle out, the hosts went in front. Green picked out Finn’s run down the left-hand side and he spotted Gough making an overlapping run. The left-back had time to pull the ball back into the box where it sat up nicely for Ryan Beswick to roll into the bottom corner.
Less than 10 minutes after the opening goal, Tamworth looked as though they might have been pegged back but after bringing the ball down perfectly, Shaquille Leachman-Whittingham fired well over the crossbar. Verma then sent a 30-yard drive inches wide of the top corner for the home side after managing to wriggle past his opposite number.
Redditch, playing in their vibrant yellow away shirt, were denied a penalty following a heavy challenge from Green on David Reynolds who had raced through on goal. The referee waved away the protests instantly when it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see him point to the spot.
Tamworth went into the break deservedly in front but the scoreline didn’t reflect their first-half dominance.
HT: TAMWORTH 1 0 REDDITCH UNITED
They were made to rue their missed chances within just six minutes of the restart as the away side found an equaliser through Max Loveridge.
Redditch caught the mid-table side napping with a rapid counter-attack and the space opened up for Jamie Ashmore on the right-hand side, he picked out the half-time substitute who fired an emphatic finish past Singh courtesy of the crossbar.
That goal gave the visitors a way back into the match as they began to enjoy the lion share of possession. They were unlucky not to take the lead 12 minutes after the equaliser, Leachman-Whittingham showed Gough some great skill and a clean pair of heels before rattling a rocket of a strike off the near post, one which had left Singh rooted to the spot.
However, just five minutes later, Redditch got themselves in front. Tamworth failed to deal with a corner which led to the ball bouncing around in their penalty area and as it fell to the feet of debutant Andy Parsons, he got it out of his feet and sent a low strike into the bottom corner off the woodwork.
After going behind, Tamworth heads seemed to have dropped and it took almost 25 minutes for them to have their next shot on target. A lofted ball from Beswick landed at the feet of Finn who unleashed a 30-yard shot that was very easily caught by Francis.
Michael Nelson then nearly became the second Redditch player to come off the bench and score as he latched onto a loose ball and raced into the box before curling a strike just wide of the far post. However, the youngster didn’t waste his second chance, sending an unstoppable strike into the top corner from all of 25 yards, putting the icing on the cake for a vital Redditch win, only their second in the league this term.
It was a very good victory for the away side, especially after going a goal down and being under severe pressure for large parts but it was an afternoon to forget for the hosts. They should’ve taken more of their first-half chances and were punished in the second-half by a side that certainly didn’t look as relegation-threatened as the table suggests.
Tamworth Team:
Singh, Green K, Gough, Beswick, Kettle, Jemson, Dunkley (Clement 68), Verma, Johnson (Ofori 56), Asante (Hayden 68), Finn
Unused: Green P, Moore
Redditch United Team:
Francis, Ashmore, Mills, Wagner, Parsons, Evans, Birch (Gibson 28), Bunn, Reynolds (Nelson 74), Leachman-Whittingham, Mulders (Loveridge 45)
Unused: Howards, Gibson, Keen
Attendance: 621
Referee: Mr. O. Mackey
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