HEAD coach Gary Barrell says Redditch United Ladies are well aware of the threat posed to them by fellow promotion-chasers Droitwich ahead of Sunday’s (2pm) clash at the Valley Stadium.
The Reds bounced back from their Birmingham County FA Cup defeat to FA Women’s Premier League South outfit Coventry City at the first time of asking as they secured a 3-1 victory at Rubery on Sunday to cement their place at the top of the West Midlands Division One South table.
However, Droitwich, along with Worcester United who have numerous games in hand, remain firmly in the hunt for the title and sole promotion place and can put a big dent in the Reds’ hopes by taking something away from the Valley Stadium.
“We are expecting a stern test from Droitwich and have been working very hard in training this week to prepare for the test,” said Barrell.
Redditch won their seventh league match in a row as they saw off Rubery thanks to three goals inside the opening quarter of the match.
On a difficult pitch, the visitors made early inroads thanks to the lively trio of Ellie Gerhold, Lauren Pearson and Sam Tayler who provided options for Redditch to penetrate and create goalscoring opportunities.
The width provided by Lucy Dovey and Suz Banni enabled Redditch to score three early goals through Sofi Liperis, Tayler and Pearson which gave them a comfortable half time advantage.
At the other end, debutant goalkeeper and opposition player of the match Sophie Charlotte Hayward made some great reflex saves whilst the calm and assured nature of Val Margerum and Bex Ankcorn ensured United played out from the back where possible.
Conditions worsened on a mudbath of a pitch in the second period, although the willingness of United’s Jessika Lingham to put good deliveries into the box almost led to a goal when Amy Kendall made a superb run and finished with aplomb before being ruled to have been offside.
A direct Rubery side which looked to increasingly bypass the midfield made the Redditch back line work increasingly hard to maintain their shape and secure a clean sheet.
A goalline block and last-ditch clearance from a shot which cannoned back off the crossbar, showed that a lapse in concentration could allow Rubery to get on the scoresheet and they did just that late on with a well placed free kick.
Barrell added: “The girls showed great character to bounce back from the disappointment of the cup defeat to maintain their terrific league form.”
The Reds are seven points above second placed Droitwich who have played two games fewer, whilst third placed Worcester United are 11 points adrift of Redditch but have six matches in hand. Entry to Sunday’s match is free and the bar will be open.
