SPORTING CLUB INKBERROW 0-3 REDDITCH UNITED: THE INDEPENDENT GAME REPORT + SCREENSHOTS...

 Second Period Strikes Foil Inkberrow Resistance…

Sporting Club Inkberrow 0-3 Redditch United…

The Mowdog’s thoughts…

Just three days before this Tuesday evening match, I stood in the same spot to film highlights of Inkberrow’s 1pm game against Rushall. It was hot then, almost unbearably so, with barely a breeze to relieve the discomfort. However, for this 7.45pm Redditch United workout, the English weather behaved differently…

After light rain in Solihull for much of the day, evening Inkberrow was rather windy and the sky was a daunting mixture of threatening charcoal grey clouds, which eventually hosed the stadium with gusts of harassing rain. The sky was a landscape artist’s dream…

At one point, I stood clutching a wind-blown, shaking umbrella with my left hand to try to keep my hand-held bridge camera out of the rain, whilst simultaneously trying to wipe the wet spots off the lens, film the action and commentate on the game. My clothing had become quite damp and as the evening wore on, the dampness became cold, became shivering…

And then I thought of the previous Saturday…

Anyway, Redditch won this pre-season encounter comfortably, despite the hard work, energy and commitment displayed by their hosts. United fashioned at least fourteen goal attempts but Inkberrow failed to worry the Reds’ ‘keeper Flahaven at all and apart from rare shots from distance  being blocked, Roberts and Hull in the visiting defence were coasting for much of the contest.

Once again, I had no identification of Inkberrow’s players to work with but a Redditch United official was kind enough to offer me a copy of his teamsheet which he had already handed to the referee. At least I had some names to work with, albeit only the visitors’ starting eleven… 

Oh, I did know Benson and Tolley of Inkberrow too but apologies to the other lads for having to refer to their numbers only… At least I didn’t resort to ‘the scrawny number 37’ or ‘the zombie-like number 666’, if my meaning is clear… 

Those goal chances created by Redditch…

Other than the three goals, skipper Flanagan fired a fine shot from downtown just over the target early on, then he curled another effort wide before the break, King poked an effort across the face of goal, Loughlan’s low shot was claimed by the goalie, Bruck’s header was straight at the gloveman and a fine lob by the winger was superbly tipped away by the busy goalminder.

FLANAGAN'S EFFORT WOULD JUST CLEAR THE CROSSBAR...

LOUGHLAN'S LOW SHOT IS SAVED...

BRUCK'S LOB IS TIPPED ASIDE...

After half-time, a low kick by the ‘keeper was fastened onto by Flanagan, whose attempted clipped shot from distance was splendidly tipped to safety by the custodian. The falling replacement McNulty nodded past the near post, left-back Dudley-Toole headed too high and a McNulty drive was blocked, before his next attempt was smartly saved, low to his right by the gloveman.

FLANAGAN'S CLIPPED SHOT...

...IS SOMEHOW TIPPED ASIDE BY THE FLYING 'KEEPER...

MCNULTY'S EFFORT IS SAVED LOW...

The three goals…

In effect, after managing to preserve parity before half-time, a few minutes after the recess, ‘Berrow lapsed when King’s low right-side centre from the byeline was met at the near post with a lifted right-footer by Bruck and the ball rose high into the net…  

KING'S CENTRE...

...BRUCK'S FLICK...

...& IT'S 0-1...

The second goal was all Robbie Bunn’s doing, when he intercepted a lax ‘Berrow pass and strode forth, lashing in a knee-high drive from 18 yards. No messing, no fanfare, just direct and effective…

BUNN'S SHOT FLIES PAST THE GOALKEEPER FOR 0-2...

The final goal was a deserved reward for the lively Loughlan, who benefited from a rebound after the ‘keeper had parried a low Bunn effort. The slick forward shoved a rising shot into the net from 13 yards, after ‘Berrow’s number 4 was unable to clear the loose ball in time.

THE 'KEEPER STOPS BUNN'S SHOT...

...BUT LOUGHLAN FASTENS ONTO THE BALL...

...& SHOOTS GOAL 3...

The final words…

The final third of the pitch was where Inkberrow were unable to benefit in both the Rushall and Redditch run-outs but some of their movement, pace, passing, eagerness and promise deserved better.

Midfielders Benson and 4 worked really hard, the forwards weaved patterns of movement, the wide players made useful rushes and the defence, although not big bruising types, completed their jobs with some confidence.

The ‘keeper again made crucial saves but there was a slight problem when the defence as a whole attempted to pass the ball away from their 18 yard box, often resulting in scurries and inaccuracies.

Certainly Loughlan and Bruck looked dangerous on occasions for the guests but the calm, commanding role of skipper Flanagan was instrumental in his team’s performance, whilst Bunn was allowed a good deal of space to work in, which he relished. Good support from full-backs Shambrook and Dudley-Toole was evident on the night and even the expected multi-substitutions failed to weaken the team’s resolve.

Subsequently, it wasn’t to be again for the hosts, although their commitment could not be faulted…

The best moment of the match was when United striker Cameron trod on the ball and fell to the ground like an inexperienced ice-skater. He was awarded a free-kick by the referee…

Ah, a humorous moment to take home with me, still damp and shivering…

Even the strong coffee in the lounge failed to revive me…