Danico delight for Reds boss Byfield - The Redditch Standard

Danico delight for Reds boss Byfield

Redditch Editorial 29th Sep, 2016 Updated: 18th Oct, 2016   0

REDDITCH United manager Darren Byfield hailed the form of striker Danico Johnson after his 73rd-minute goal secured an impressive 1-0 victory over high-flying Dunstable Town on Tuesday.

The second placed Bedfordshire outfit arrived at the Valley Stadium having won eight of their opening ten Southern League Premier Division matches but went home empty-handed having barely tested Reds keeper Brad Catlow.

United’s hard fought victory, which followed Saturday’s 2-1 home win against Frome Town – a success more convincing than the scoreline suggests – lifted Byfield’s men into seventh place and level on 18 points with fifth placed Hitchin Town in the final play-off place.

Byfield was delighted with the efforts of his squad as they bounced back from three successive defeats in all competitions and believes the talismanic Johnson is playing a key role up front.




“Danico has scored in both of our wins over the past week and he’s deserved that success because he’s been tremendous for us,” said Byfield.

“If there’s a better striker than him in our division then I’ve yet to see him.


“If he keeps working hard and taking on board the advice we are giving him then he can become a top player with a great future.”

However, whilst recognising the efforts of Johnson, who has stepped up to the plate following the departure of Jazz Luckie to Rushall Olympic, Byfield said the team as a whole had impressed him in the successive victories.

“We were largely dominant on Saturday but got punished for a mistake and it looked like it might be one of those days but we showed great character to hit straight back and Duane Courtney’s header to win us the game was fully deserved,” added Byfield.

“Clearcut chances were harder to come by on Tuesday but we stuck to our plans well and could have won by a more comfortable margin, whilst we restricted a Dunstable side who arrived here on the back of five straight league wins to virtually nothing.

“We are trying to work on our game management and make sure we hang in there during tough periods of games and keep ourselves in contention, whilst trying to be ruthless when we are on top.

“I’m still learning about this league, my players and formations, but I’m loving it, I really am.”

Byfield, who this week allowed young striker Jason Cowley to join Midland League Division One title favourites Bromsgrove Sporting on a dual registration basis, continues to search for new recruits but revealed he has not yet found the players he wants.

“I don’t want to rock the boat for the sake of it,” said the manager. “We will need reinforcements no doubt and I have looked at players and had plenty offered to me.

“A few things could happen soon and I’ll know when the players I want become available.”

The Reds have a clean bill of health heading into Saturday’s game at Biggleswade Town, which is followed by Tuesday’s League Challenge Cup first round tie at home to Stratford Town.

REDDITCH Borough enjoyed a 4-0 victory at Castle Vale Town in the Les James Challenge Cup on Saturday thanks to a hat-trick from Liam Fullerton and strike from Oliver Saunders.

Sixth placed Borough resume their Midland League Division Two campaign at Sutton United on Saturday.

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