GNP SPORTS 3-1 REDDITCH BOROUGH: REPORT & IMAGES...

Raiders Raid The Dark End, As Redditch Resolve Is Ruptured…

GNP Sports 3-1 Redditch Borough

This encounter was one which held the attention of most onlookers and some folks even looked up from their mobile phones to see what was happening on the pitch sometimes. In truth though there was also some untidy play, inaccuracy and increasingly there were some unruly challenges but they were probably caused by the earlier leniency of a referee who reminded me of Dennis the Menace’s goody-goody friend Walter. Maybe cautions for a couple of rash first period challenges would have avoided the two second-half flashpoints which culminated in Khurum Iqbal’s dismissal for Boro’ after the Raiders had surged into a late 3-1 lead. Iqbal’s superb first-half strike had put Boro’ ahead early on and with the misfiring GNP forwards slightly out of sorts, Redditch might have added further goals before half-time, if they had capitalised upon striker Jak Albutt’s long throws and other set-pieces which the lack of height in the home rearguard struggled at times to contend with.

STEPPIN' OUT WITH A LINESMAN...

HENDRIE REMOVES A BLADE OF GRASS FROM HIS KNEE...

There was a clear bias on right boots by the Raiders too, including corners being taken on both sides by right-footed left-back Luke Swinnerton but when the gloomy dusk began to sweep its dullness across Sphinx Drive, GNP managed an early second period equaliser by central defender Jin Dhaliwal and eventually won the game with a brace of goals by the previously unfortunate Tom Rawlings. Redditch were physical, true, but that’s the nature of Midland League 2 football, as well as its pace and tactical method but GNP’s slight forward Rajpal Virk, for all his ability on the ball, was often baulked by heavier opponents. However, it was only sometime after the interval that Sports succeeded in nullifying the visiting skipper Jamie Hatfield’s aerial prowess and also limited Albutt to a pair of skied shots from distance.

"IT'S LIKE BEN STOKES. I DON'T WANT TO CAUTION YOU..."

In the opening period though, Albutt did well to strike a volley from a deep pass which came from behind him but the ball flew too high from 16 yards. His throws though really did worry GNP and from one, Harry Rogers volleyed over the crossbar following a desperate Sports clearance and from another, Iqbal nodded wide from a really acceptable position, 5 yards out. Hatfield saw two headers saved too, one of them being patted out by home goalie James Wardle, although Boro’ subsequently retrieved the ball and Iqbal beat Swinnerton to the right byeline, only for Wardle to smother the striker’s kick behind for an unrewarding corner. Neither right-back Joe Denham, for a rash challenge on home winger Will Beach, nor central defender James Grady, for a cynical pull-back on Virk were cautioned.

HENDRIE CAN'T BEAR TO LOOK AT THE VACANT GOAL...

GNP had relied upon Stuart Hendrie for their main goal threats prior to the break for red wine, cheese and crackers but he was unable to register a goal. He had a shot spilled by visiting gloveman Josh Gandy but no Raider was raiding for the rebound, an 8 yard shot from Beach’s pass was deflected off target by Denham and after good work by Rawlings on the left, Beach nipped in front of the fallen Gandy and set up Hendrie for an open finish but to his dismay, the number 7 drove his shot over the unguarded target. Rawlings had worked tirelessly but had been well marshalled by Grady and Cameron Bennett for the guests, only managing a slight threat in the opening minute from Beach’s low near post centre and then an angled delivery which Gandy palmed away.

INGRAM, HALL, BROOKES & IQBAL...

GNP’s other efforts at goal were by Virk, whose shot was deflected to Gandy, elegant midfielder Torin Coleing, who received a pass from skipper Corey Jack Brookes and drove just wide from 28 yards and from central defender Kevin Ingram who jumped with Gandy for a Swinnerton corner, after which the ball dropped loose but once again there were no predatory Raiders lurking. Beach powered a dipping 16 yard volley too high also, from a delightful lifted pass by Hendrie.   

EVENING FALLS...

So, as the lights were switched on and the teams took their victuals in the dressing-rooms, it would be Boro’ who must have felt like their jobs had been done. Albutt’s size, throws and surprising pace had been real problems for GNP, Iqbal had impressed throughout the half, as had Hatfield, with Rogers and Phil Sargent hard workers in the trenches. Iqbal’s goal was excellent; taking a smart assist from Albutt, he controlled the ball 20 yards out, inside-left slot and looked up, saw Wardle slightly off his goal-line and clipped a fine, almost nonchalant left-boot shot over the ‘keeper and into the far corner of the net.  

0-1: EXCELLENT FROM IQBAL...

HATFIELD (8) CHALLENGES...

THE INTERVAL...

The Raiders had been so well served by Brookes and Coleing, Hendrie had had his moments and Rawlings had run the channels whenever possible. Beach’s speed was always a concern for the visitors but the balance would tip quickly in GNP’s favour soon after the restart.

2ND HALF...

At the dark, bogey-hole end of the ground, Gandy spilled an early drive from distance, again by Coleing but recovered to latch onto the ball, then a rapid rush by Beach on the left won a corner for the Raiders and then Beach left the field for attention. The corner was floated across by Swinnerton, Brookes won a header, centrally and as Gandy attempted to punch clear, Dhaliwal leapt in front of him to nod the ball past him and into the vacant net from 2 yards out.   

DOWN ON THE BEACH...

1-1: DHALIWAL...

Incredibly, Hatfield so nearly regained the lead for Boro’ when a left-flank corner found him unmarked at the far upright but his downward header flicked off a defender and Wardle fell rather like Ashley Young trying to win a penalty for Manchester United on his goal-line to grab the ball. Hatfield would fire a free-kick too high in the final moments of the match but really, that was the extent of Redditch’s offense during the second period. 

GRADY & HENDRIE...

And then Denham was cautioned for another foul on the sprinting Beach, before the possibility of a left foot arrived on the scene in place of Virk. Charlie ‘Barista’ Cook, coffeemaker extraordinaire was the substitute and this no doubt delighted his dad, dressed gloriously in sky blue from hoodie to shorts and brandishing a cool tan. Cook was to operate on the right and immediately sent Rawlings into a scoring position at inside-right with a fine left-boot pass. Rawlings though smacked his rising effort too high. So Cook repeated the dose and created another chance for Rawlings at inside-right but this time he overran the ball for a goal-kick. 

THE BARISTA'S RECIPE IS EAGERLY SOUGHT...

Tempers became frayed and unsurprisingly The Barista was involved but in fairness both he and Boro’ replacement George Westwood might be relieved that only yellow cards were drawn by the official. Soon Iqbal received a booking as well and that would be crucial for the talented forward. Hendrie was also freed by the creative Barista at inside-right but heaved his drive just too high and the ex-Montpellier man would clip a smart low shot against the inside of the right post too, helplessly watching as the ball rolled along the goal-line to safety. Swinnerton could find no power in a low shot following a fine GNP move but before he scored, Rawlings was denied by a brilliant defensive stop from, I believe, Bennett.

CAUTIONS...

Rawlings latched onto the ball in the middle of the 6 yard box from Beach’s low feed but somehow with a goal expected, Bennett threw himself right and blocked the ball. I thought that he had handled the ball at the time but I can’t be sure now. The goals arrived as time waned and the first came from a left-side throw which the driving force that was Brookes flicked on. The ball bounced as Gandy moved from goal to collect it but it somehow cleared him, causing a melee near the goal-line from whence Rawlings joyfully drove his team ahead from 2 yards.

2-1: RAWLINGS...

The third goal must have seemed cruel to Redditch but it was so well taken by Rawlings. Instigated by a break from The Barista, who exchanged passes with Hendrie, Rawlings received a pass from the right by The Coffeemaker, controlled the bouncing ball 20 yards out and settled his position to fire a great rising drive high into the right side of the net. Sadly though, more trouble ensued between the players, which I could barely make out in the gloom on the far side of the pitch. In truth, Westwood was putting himself about, as was home replacement Lewis Marston and the sparks flew when Marston must have clashed with Iqbal, the Raider receiving a first yellow card, Iqbal a second. The screams and profanities emanating from the two dugouts though were embarrassing for some, expected by me but probably shocking for some kids in the grandstand. 

3-1: RAWLINGS AGAIN...

It remained only for Hendrie to get inside the penalty-box onto a smart lay-off by the flourishing Rawlings but see his hard, low 12 yard drive superbly saved by the diving Gandy.

TROUBLE...

A decent encounter then but one which Redditch will not be able to wait to avenge. They were strong, they will be hard to beat and Hatfield, Albutt, Iqbal, full-backs Denham and Robert the Bruce, plus midfielder Sargent impressed during the match. Boro’s Callum Hall, like Raider Virk found the going tough at times. 

HANDSHAKES...

GNP missed a left-footer and were susceptible to high balls into their defensive zones at times, although both Ingram and Dhaliwal actually had decent matches. Right-back Tom Dyke, like Swinnerton, battled manfully but certainly, Hendrie, Rawlings, Beach and Coleing apart, real credit must go to skipper Brookes…

The Barista, Charlie Cook, flitted, fought, foraged and fashioned in a cameo performance and also found what GNP had too often been lacking: a left foot… 

TEAMS:

GNP SPORTS:

JAMES WARDLE, TOM DYKE, LUKE SWINNERTON, COREY JACK BROOKES (CAPT), JIN DHALIWAL, KEVIN INGRAM, STU HENDRIE, TORIN COLEING, TOM RAWLINGS, RAJPAL VIRK, WILL BEACH.

SUBS:

RHYS LYONS, LEWIS MARSTON, CHARLIE COOK, JASON EVANS.

REDDITCH BOROUGH:

JOSH GANDY, JOE DENHAM, ROB BRUCE, PHIL SARGENT, JAMES GRADY, CAMERON BENNETT, HARRY ROGERS, JAMIE HATFIELD (CAPT), JAK ALBUTT, KHURUM IQBAL, CALLUM HALL.

SUBS:

ALEX BIRCH, GEORGE WESTWOOD, JOE COLE.