STOURPORT SWIFTS 4-1 REDDITCH UNITED: THE MATCH REPORT & IMAGES...

 Robins Seen Off By Sniping Swifts

Stourport Swifts 4-1 Redditch United

This was a slightly bizarre evening at Walshes Meadow, where the funfair was in full swing just across the River Severn. Swifts rapped four goals past the Robins, three before the interval and thus Redditch had an awful lot to do during a second period which they dominated almost totally but managed only a single goal. On arrival, I was told that the grandstand was closed to spectators because the dugouts were being worked on and that the seats in the grandstand would be needed for the coaches and replacements of the two clubs. However, I was to be allowed to squeeze into one corner to film the action. But folks were already sitting in the grandstand, then more and more arrived and both teams’ coaches and substitutes, er, stood in front of the out of bounds dugouts… 

THE TOSS...

I was seated near Droitwich Spa’s manager, whose team is due to play against Stourport on Saturday, so we were huddled (but distanced) close to the far edge of the grandstand. At half-time though, the other spectators were cleared from the seats, so that they could be used by the two clubs, leaving just the Droitwich manager, his companion and myself in a corner of the grandstand. Neither club used the facility though… All very odd on a windy evening, sprayed by the odd light shower of rain… 

HANDS ON HIPS, ABOUT TO DANCE TO MUD'S 'TIGER FEET'......

Stourport’s kit is extremely likeable, although the numbers on the shirts can appear like they were made as optical illusions, or had been painted on by a Cubist artist, but the players were down to business quickly, creating more offense than their higher ranked guests during that opening period. Surely, Dua Lipa’s ‘Let’s Get Physical’ had been played in the Swifts’ dressing-room, for as the second period wore on, more and more fouls were committed by the hosts and indeed, one scuffle was noted in front of the dugouts and a couple of players were yellow-carded, as was Stourport’s really effective left-back Matty Jackson, whose biting tackling reminded me of Leeds United legend Norman Hunter’s… His effort, skill and commitment were absolutely laudable and it was all good to witness…

SWIFTS: BONDING AS A TEAM...

The visitors really found attacking tough, as home skipper Ryan Wollacott and sidekick James Timmins, whose occasional fearsome expressions would have held back the tide in North Cornwall, made numerous clearances, especially after the break. Adam Garmson miscued a cross by Trialist 11, who was tussling with Jackson throughout much of the match but the Redditch man did cut inside once and shot low at the near post, only to be denied by home ‘keeper Ryan Smith’s right boot. Trialist 11 also struck Stourport’s defensive wall with a free-kick and thought he should have been awarded a spot-kick when he was challenged by Swifts’ Kirk Layton. On reflection, maybe the lunge was just slightly outside the penalty-box but surely at least a free-kick was due… No offence was considered worthy though, by either the referee or his assistant, who were both well positioned…

NO PENALTY, THEN...

Tom Rankin drove too high and the tricky, lively Taylor (the Robins’ 10) was close to scoring when he shoved a low 12 yard effort against the inside of the right stick from inside-right and the rebound bounced off someone else across the face of goal. Otherwise, before the break, much of the offense stemmed from the Swifts’ number 11, Bailey Fuller, whose left-boot looked threatening on the right flank of the attack. Early on, Timmins won possession, sent Joe Phillips rushing on the left-wing and his cross was knocked back into the middle by Fuller from the right byeline, from where Jack Watts sniped a low shot past Ollie Taylor to open the scoring…

1+1 = RESILIENCE...

Fuller drove too high after one surging run, then curled another effort for Ollie Taylor to leap at and turn over the crossbar in spectacular fashion. Timmins nodded too high from a corner, the industrious Nick MacPherson struck the base of the left upright and Swifts claimed a penalty when Watts plunged over Ollie Taylor, who was attempting to grab the rebound. No spot-kick had been awarded for a second time… 

SLEVIN (LEFT): "ANY SCRAPPIN' & I'LL BE THERE..."

Phillips then lost marker Dan Sweeney (if he was wearing 7 for the Robins) and nodded a simple second goal from Fuller’s left-booted near-post right-side flag-kick and before the recess, Watts struck again.

This time Fuller sent the overlapping right-back Taylor Cordell to the byeline and Watts was too alive and predatory for the United defence, as he turned the ball into the net at the near post. A late Martin Slevin free-kick slammed into shins in the Redditch protective wall as the break neared and Slevin was just the kind of scrapper Stourport needed after the rest period, well backed by Layton and Phillips. (Not Villa’s famous Welshman Leighton Phillips, I hasten to add…) 

YEP, HE'S THERE...

Redditch needed to improve, at least to recover their pride and they did so during a second-half  which saw Swifts forced back and resort to fouling when it seemed that their opponents were threatening. That United failed to capitalise upon those set-pieces, bar one, was interesting but fair play to Swifts, they ground out their victory with a stout second period display. Robust replacement 17 for Redditch (was that Cameron?) struck a free-kick into the Swifts’ defensive wall, Trialist 11 drove the rebound wide, then wasted another free-kick by shooting way too high. 17 was unable to reach a fortunately deflected right-side centre, Taylor (10) clipped the crossbar with a power drive from 16 yards, following a melee, then drove another effort too high and forced a low save by Smith too.

CAUTION FOR THE IMMENSE JACKSON...

However, another Trialist, wearing 5, did score from a smart free-kick, 22 yards out, inside-right area, which curled inside the near post, leaving Smith gloving the breeze. Trialist 5 was also denied by a block from I think Jim Hanson at the right post later in the half, before the same United man drove a chance well wide from 21 yards. Thus, despite a lot of possession for Redditch, despite some lively rushes from Hendricks (12), also some hard, often slick work in defence by number 18 (was that Harrison?) and also Ioan Richards, the visitors were suckered into conceding a fourth goal in the closing moments, courtesy of replacement Jonny Johnston.

18: DEFENDED RESOLUTELY...

11: LOOKED DANGEROUS ON OCCASIONS...

The young player raced onto an assist by Slevin, rounded the advanced goalie and expertly planted the ball into an empty net. Slevin’s assist? A slide-rule, grass-scraping beauty of a feed? Er, well, perhaps a Rugby League half-back would have loved his accurate, lofted, punted pass, the kind a scampering winger chases after and scores a breathtaking try from… No, Slev, sorry, just kidding, it wasn’t a pressure clearance, it was a measured, Hoddle-like assist…

JOHNSTON...

JOHNSTON IS CONGRATULATED...

Jackson, having been cautioned (as was Johnston) for sniping at an opponent (again) planted a long centre from downtown onto the roof of the Robins’ net but there was little else to report from the home attack, as the team held onto their well earned lead. 

SLEVIN REALISES THAT HE NEEDS HELP TO TIE HIS BOOTLACES...

The fact that Smith in the home goal was so rarely forced to make saves reaffirms that Redditch struggled offensively, despite the ability deployed by Taylor. Stourport was a solid team, Redditch was a team of trialists with some regulars and little should be read into their defeat, in truth.

Subsequently though, Swifts will have learned confidence from the performance, from a stern defence, through a busy midfield, to a breaking attack, which featured the clever Fuller, the indefatigable MacPherson and the sniping of Watts…

Apologies for the background noise later in the second period on the commentary but an ex-referee chose to sit just in front of me for the final 20 minutes and converse loudly with the Droitwich manager to my right, rather than watch the game…

And don’t get me started on some of the parking outside the ground, presumably by latecomers… 

The new clubhouse looks smart and Swifts appear to be moving in the right direction… 

SQUADS:

STOURPORT SWIFTS:

Ryan Smith, Taylor Cordell, Matty Jackson, Kirk Layton, James Timmins, Ryan Wollacott (Capt), Joe Phillips, Martin Slevin, Nick MacPherson, Jack Watts, Bailey Fuller, Joe Hanson, Aaron Brett, Jim Hanson, Jonny Johnston, Mark Danks.

REDDITCH UNITED:

Ollie Taylor, 4 Trialists, Smith-Williams, Tom Rankin, Ioan Richards, Dan Sweeney, Heath, Adam Garmson, Taylor, Hendricks, Day, Kyle Perry, Cameron, Harrison, Morrison.