Ten-man Reds bag first home win (From Redditch Advertiser)

Ten-man Reds bag first home win

11:55am Sunday 14th October 2012 in Sport By David Lawrence

Redditch United 2, AFC Totton 1

Redditch wrapped up their first home win of the season, producing a battling display to bring Totton’s dazzling run to a halt.

But they had to play nearly an hour with just ten men after midfielder Alex Price was sent off five minutes before the break.

The south coast side had won seven of their last eight games – a series of victories that had also seen striker Richard Gillespie net 11 goals.

But with Reds assistant manager Asa Charlton producing an outstanding display in the heart of defence, the Totton hotshot struggled to create anything other than a couple of half chances.

In contrast, Redditch looked sharp in front of goal with Connor Deards forcing a save from Gareth Barfoot on ten minutes before Stuart Hendrie was denied when the keeper palmed his angled shot away from the resulting corner.

Gillespie did manage to get in behind the Redditch defence six minutes later but James Wren in the home goal saved bravely at his feet.

The opening goal came on 36 minutes. Hendrie’s good work on the left resulted in a low cross and Jack Cresswell neatly turned the ball home at the near post.

But the celebrations were tempered somewhat four minutes later when Price collected a second yellow for a challenge. There were few complaints about the booking but his earlier yellow – one of six shown by referee Marvyn Amphlett – had been harsh.

Yet it was Redditch who still continued to create the better chances with Cresswell sending a free-kick just too high deep in first half injury time.

Gillespie’s best chance of the game came on 55 minutes when he sent a diving header over the crossbar.

But any hopes the visitors had of extending their unbeaten run were truly dashed on 58 minutes when Liam McDonald let fly with a 30-yard shot that soared into the roof of the Totton net.

Deards turned home a third midway through the half only to be flagged offside as the Reds looked to catch their visitors on the break.

Totton substitutes Chris Mason and Luke Roberts injected some urgency into the flagging Stags and the former struck what turned out to be a consolation three minutes from time.

Reds: Wren 7, Moran 8, Quaynor 8, Flanagan 7, CHARLTON 9, Price 3, Hendrie 7, Richards 8, Cresswell 7, Deards 7 (Grandison 87), McDonald 7. Subs (not used): Bridgewater, Oshungbure