Players are giving their all in tricky circumstances says Reds manager Byfield - The Redditch Standard

Players are giving their all in tricky circumstances says Reds manager Byfield

Redditch Editorial 21st Dec, 2016   0

DARREN BYFIELD hailed the ‘special togetherness’ of his Redditch United side after they returned to winning ways with a hard fought 1-0 victory at Basingstoke Town on Saturday.

The Reds had seen their bid to close on the Southern League Premier Division top five hampered by successive defeats but they produced a resilient performance to prevail in Hampshire.

Reece Hales bagged the winner in the 25th minute and seventh placed United are now set up for a key Boxing Day (3pm) home game against Banbury United in which both sides will be going all out for a victory which will boost their chances of gatecrashing the play-off places.

Byfield was at pains to point out how difficult it has been for his side to perform consistently well given that they have been unable to train together regularly this season.




At the start of the campaign, some administrative teething problems at the revamped Valley Stadium meant the Reds were left without a first team training slot on the new 3G pitch, meaning Byfield’s side have often gone weeks on end without training.

A slot has now been found on Tuesdays when the club’s under 18 are not in action but, with Redditch having played many midweek matches recently, it has often meant that match days are the players’ only time together.


“I’ve really got to commend my team. For a side which has been unable to train together many weeks this season, I think the boys have really done well overall,” said Byfield.

“They have never lost confidence, by and large we have always competed, and there’s a special togetherness about a side which has spent hardly any time together.

“The lads dug in on Saturday against a full-time outfit, whose obvious greater fitness began to tell in the second half, but we showed a lack of character and our hard work paid off.

“We shaded the first half before Basingstoke began to put more pressure on us as the match wore on, but we deserved our clean sheet, capped off by Brad Catlow saving a penalty in the second half.”

Byfield was keen to praise the efforts of new attacking arrivals Luke Keen, Gurjit Singh and Dior Angus, whilst he also thanked departed midfielder Liam Spink for his efforts.

“Luke Keen has made a big jump in standard coming to Redditch but he’s been superb. He’s scored goals, knits the team together well and is a real leader for the team, so I’m delighted with the start he’s made,” added Byfield.

“Gaz (Singh) has missed the last couple of matches through illness but he has looked sharp when he’s played and there’s lots more to come from him, likewise Dior (Angus) who is a talented player and really keen to make a good impression.

“Spinky is a great lad and he’s done well for us in the games he’s played, but he wanted more game time so he’s gone back to Bromsgrove Sporting where I am sure he will do a great job.”

After the Boxing Day visit of Banbury, the Reds face another vital fixture on January 2 (3pm) when they visit Merthyr Town who are currently fifth, five points above United with a game in hand.

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