REDDITCH United Ladies will aim to bounce back from their heavy Birmingham County Cup defeat to Coventry United when they visit Rubery in the league on Sunday.
The Reds found their illustrious FA Women’s Premier League South opponents Coventry too hot to handle on Sunday and were beaten 13-0 in the second round by a team who ply their trade three levels higher.
However, United head coach Gary Barrell and his side will turn their attentions to league duty this weekend as they attempt to extend their winning league run to seven matches.
“This is a great opportunity for us to learn from Coventry United, who we can use as a benchmark of where we would like to be as a club,” said Barrell.
“It is now a case of building upon our positive start to the season and taking the lessons learned against a top team into the rest of our season to enable us to continue to progress as a club.
“Against one of the strongest teams in the country, the girls competed and worked their socks off for each other, but the gulf between the two teams was visible in the opening stages as quick, incisive through balls from the Coventry United midfielders caused our back line significant problems from the outset.
“In what was a role reversal for the girls, who have been used to being the dominant team in recent weeks, they showed a lot of character to continue to compete all the way up to the final whistle, showing class and humility throughout.”
Redditch, for whom Kellie Smith was voted opposition player of the match on Sunday, have a four-point lead at the top of West Midlands League Division One South but face a big challenge from third placed Worcester United who are eight points adrift with five games in hand.
Meanwhile, Reds Ladies have been boosted by the news Adrian Clements has become Director of Football.
Clements, the chairman of Birmingham City Ladies Regional Talent Club, will bring valuable football and commercial experience to the club.
He said: “Following on from the redevelopment of Redditch United’s facilities, it is the right time to push forward with the ladies section.
“Worcestershire has always produced strong, competitive, women footballers and it is our aim to provide more opportunities to girls within Worcestershire to further pursue their footballing dreams.”
