A BUSY weekend of football awaits at the newly-named Trico Stadium as Redditch United’s men’s and ladies’ teams return to action.
Darren Byfield’s men’s team play their first match since Boxing Day when King’s Lynn Town visit on Saturday, with United desperately needing maximum points to maintain their outside chance of making a push for the Southern League Premier Division play-offs.
Ninth placed Redditch, who saw their scheduled January 2 fixture at Merthyr Town postponed due to a frozen pitch, had to settle for a 0-0 draw against fellow top five hopefuls Banbury United on Boxing Day.
It was the Oxfordshire side who came closest to claiming all three points as they squandered a host of good chances, although striker Luke Keen did go close for Redditch.
Midfielder Ahmed Ali has departed United to return to former club Bromsgrove Sporting.
Sunday (2pm, free entry) brings a key fixture in the Reds Ladies’ hunt for the West Midlands Division One South title when they host fellow promotion hopefuls Worcester United.
Gary Barrell’s table-topping Reds have an eight-point lead over second placed Worcester, who have five games in hand on the leaders in what is now almost certainly a two-horse race for the sole promotion place.
Redditch have won seven league matches in succession and been beaten just once in the league this season – 1-0 at Worcester in their opening game – although Barrell’s side earned an impressive 3-2 victory at the same opposition in their recent League Cup quarter-final.
