LEADERS Redditch United will have to do without the services of suspended centre back Jim Mutton and striker Jazz Luckie for Saturday’s crunch Southern League Premier Division promotion tussle against Leamington at the Valley Stadium.
The pair were handed extra two-game bans for their red cards at King’s Lynn Town and, having missed Monday’s 2-1 defeat at Merthyr Town, will have missed five games each by the time they have sat out the battle against the third placed Brakes.
Liam McDonald’s Reds were convincing 4-1 home winners against Bideford on Saturday thanks to goals from George Carline, Rob Thompson-Brown, debutant Sam Merson and Luke Shearer (penalty) and looked set to maintain a four-point advantage at the top of the Southern League Premier Division when Merson – son of former Arsenal and England star Paul and signed from Biggleswade Town – gave them a 31st minute lead in Wales.
However, two sloppy goals were conceded before the break and the visitors returned empty-handed despite creating plenty of chances.
“It was a disappointing outcome for us because it was probably a better performance than in the previous three games in which we took seven points,” said McDonald.
“It’s unlike us to concede sloppy goals and we’ll have to be much better than that if we want to beat Leamington.
“However, we have proved our ability to bounce back before and I believe the players will respond in the right way. We’re urging the fans to get right behind us again and also on Monday when we welcome Dunstable Town to the Valley on Monday.”
