REDDITCH United Ladies’ West Midlands League Division One South title challenge faces a potentially pivotal weekend as fellow challengers Coventry Sphinx visit the Trico Stadium on Sunday (2pm, free entry).
Gary Barrell’s side go into the match buoyed by a 6-1 victory at Coventry Development on Sunday which, coupled with Sphinx’s 3-2 home win over leaders Gornal, has almost certainly made it a two-way fight for the crown.
Gornal remain top but have now finished their campaign and lead the second-placed Reds and third-placed Sphinx by just one and three points respectively. However, Redditch have two matches remaining – including a trip to Sphinx on Sunday, May 27 – and the Coventry side have three games left.
The importance of this weekend’s game is therefore clear for all to see but Redditch, who have lost just one league game this season and recently won the Division One South League Cup, will go into the contest in good heart after a convincing victory last time out.
Ellie Gerhold’s first half brace gave a dominant Reds side a 2-0 half-time lead and their advantage was increased in the second period when Erin Riden skipped past a couple of challenges before lobbing the keeper.
The prolific Gerhold then completed her hat-trick before Coventry reduced their arrears, but Redditch had the final say as Rebekka Langhammer reacted first to a rebound to get her name on the scoresheet before in-form Georgia Harris thumped home the visitors’ sixth.
