REDDITCH United visit Royston Town on Saturday hurting from a frustrating 1-0 defeat at fellow play-off hopefuls Tiverton Town last time out.
Darren Byfield’s Reds were dominant for long spells in Devon, but their recent barren run in front of goal continued as the lack of killer instinct and three outstanding saves denied the visitors at least a fully deserved share of the spoils, with Levi Landricombe netting the only goal in the 25th minute.
United have scored just twice in their past five Southern League Premier games – none of which have been won – although the points haul from a testing run of fixtures does not do justice to the performance levels.
Redditch, now eighth and five points outside the play-off places having played more games than all but one of the sides in the zone, now face another tricky fixture in Hertfordshire against a Royston side who, despite sitting 15th, are just five points behind United with two games in hand.
Despite being satisfied by his side’s recent efforts, Byfield revealed he was considering changing the formation in a bid to return to the goal trail and may seek to add to the recent on-loan addition of Stafford Rangers winger/striker Joe Thomas, who was on the bench at Tiverton.
Another key game then awaits the Reds on Tuesday when Somerset outfit Frome Town, currently seventh, visit the Trico Stadium.
Meanwhile, Redditch will visit Slough Town on Tuesday, November 28. The match had been moved to December 5 but has reverted to its original date.
STUDLEY will bid to return to winning ways when they host lowly Brocton at the Beehive on Saturday.
The Staffordshire side will arrive on the back of a 6-0 home thrashing at the hands of Walsall Wood on Tuesday, whilst the Bees go into the game on the back of a frustrating past week.
Keith Draper’s side saw their 15-match unbeaten Midland League Division One run brought to an end at fellow promotion hopefuls Leicester Road on Saturday as Luke Kingsley-Smith converted Nuno Gomes’ cross to bag the only goal in the 66th minute.
Then, in midweek, Studley forfeited Tuesday’s scheduled Worcester Royal Infirmary Cup tie at Premier Division outfit Stourport Swifts. The Bees’ squad has been beset by illness and injuries and, after originally conceding the fixture, the visitors attempted to get the game back on again a day before kick-off, but to no avail.
The table-topping Bees are two points above second placed Walsall Wood, who have three games in hand.
