REDDITCH United continue their preparations for the new Evo-Stik South Premier season with a home friendly against Romulus on Saturday (1.30pm).
The match will take place instead of this Sunday’s scheduled Worcestershire Senior Cup home semi-final against Evesham United. This game will now be played on Sunday, July 22 at 3pm.
The Reds’ friendlies against North Leigh and Worcester City on July 17 and 21 respectively are unaffected, but the trip to Banbury United on July 31 has been scrapped.
Redditch, who drew 3-3 at home to Studley in Tuesday’s friendly, welcomed back fans’ favourite Dior Angus to the Trico last Friday when they played out a 1-1 draw against League Two Port Vale.
Within four minutes Angus had the ball in the net, only to be denied by an offside flag.
Reds keeper Louis Connor made a series of excellent saves to keep his side level, with Angus in particular a constant menace.
Redditch grew into the game but Leam Howards and Luke Keen both spurned fine chances to put their side ahead, before further frustration on 40 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Max Beeston brought down Yohan Rutty-Smith, only for former United keeper Sam Hornby to deny Keen from the spot with a diving save.
Vale were then given a penalty of their own on the stroke of half-time as Joe Davis went down under a challenge from Keen and Angus tucked a finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
There was less goalmouth action in the second half, but the Reds netted an equaliser with the last touch of the game when Nyeko Sinclair headed home at the far post from an inswinging corner.
TOM BLAYMIRES has been unveiled as the new first team manager of Redditch United Ladies.
Blaymires joins from Leafield Athletic – where his predecessor Gary Barrell is now in position – after guiding the Shirley side to an unbeaten league campaign, only to miss out on promotion to the FA Women’s Premier League by one point. They did, however, win the Senior Cup title for the first time in the club’s history.
Blaymires’ pedigree and budding reputation in the women’s game is what attracted Redditch United Ladies director of football Craig Nicholls when searching for a new manager.
“Tom impressed me with his desire to build a team, not just for the present, but for the future. He comes with great experience at this level and everyone I spoke to couldn’t speak highly enough of him,” said Nicholls.
“I feel the ladies’ team is in safe hands with Tom at the helm and I look forward to supporting him in this role.
“His philosophy fits the model that I wanted for the club and one of the main things I was delighted with was the fact he wanted to bring the junior and senior sections closer together.”
Blaymires has a track record of building and developing a team. During his first season in charge of Leafield, he inherited a squad of just two senior players and an inexperienced group of girls, but his philosophy of attacking, attractive football and ability to get the best of the players returned a fourth-placed finish.
His brand of football and winning mentality is one he is confident will be injected into the squad ahead of their first ever fixture in the West Midlands Regional Women’s Premier League in August.
“The first season was tough but, slowly over time, the players gelled and started to understand my philosophy and how I wanted them to play. I was delighted for the players – what they accomplished and how they flew the flag for the women’s game was exemplary,” said Blaymires.
“The next season, we went agonisingly close to winning the title and completing the perfect season. Nevertheless, I was proud of everyone. I hope my qualities as a coach will result in even greater success for Redditch United Ladies.”
