BOSS Gary Barrell refused to be downbeat after watching Redditch United Ladies exit the Birmingham FA Women’s County Cup at the semi-final stage – and believes a little bit more ‘know-how’ will take his players to the next level.
The Reds were beaten 2-0 at higher ranked Birmingham & West Midlands in Tuesday’s rearranged last four tie, which had been rescheduled following Sunday’s postponement due to snow.
The winners knew a final against either West Bromwich Albion or Coventry United – both of The FA Women’s Premier League – awaited and it was the home side of two levels higher than United who had enough in the tank to progress.
The visitors, inspired by the vision of Georgia Harris, began brightly but fell behind following a defensive mix-up and gradually the hosts gained the ascendancy.
Redditch demonstrated admirable battling qualities in the second period but the home side showed their class with an assured display and, following a number of saves from United keeper Kirsty Grigg, doubled their lead midway through the second half.
Barrell said of his side’s efforts: “Despite a change in shape and applying some additional pressure in the final third, we could not find an opening to get ourselves back into the game and will have to take this one on the chin.
“Our opponents showed in the key moments the difference between a team that competes at West Midland Regional League standard and one that competes at The FA Women’s Premier League level.
“It was a good, but also slightly deflating, experience to reach the semi-final of a cup and not to progress. However, to be able to reach this stage of the bigger cups such as the Birmingham FA Women’s County Cup and the SSE FA Women’s Cup first round proper shows how far this team has progressed.
“We are perhaps currently falling short with that little bit of know-how in the key moments in terms of our football experience, but we are certainly learning fast and will continue to kick on.
“We now return our attention to our five remaining West Midlands Regional Women’s League Division One South fixtures and a League Cup semi-final as we look to close our 2017/18 campaign in style.”
The Reds return to league action at home to Kidderminster Harriers on Sunday, April 8. This weekend title rivals Gornal – two points behind United having played a game more – visit a Stourbridge side who inflicted a 4-1 defeat on Gornal a fortnight ago.
