The TRICO Stadium, home of Redditch United based in Worcestershire and they play their football in Step 3 of the non league pyramid in the Southern Football League Premier Division Central. A little trip to the midlands is in order along with Match Days Joe! Walsall Wood are the visitors today for this pre-season friendly, a team I have seen in the past back in the 2012/13 against Shirebrook Town in the FA Vase. A brilliant first leg at Langwith Road finishing in a 3-3 score line AET. One of the best games I ever saw down at Langwith Road!! As for the second leg replay… Forget it…
The train to Nottingham and now the train to Birmingham New Street. £14 to get there from Nottingham!! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: “RAILCARD!!” Arrival into Birmingham New Street and now we play the waiting game… Match Days Joe is here! And now we move for Redditch!
Just around the corner from the station and here we are! Free Entry to this game! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! Pin badge acquired! £3.50! Redditch normally play in Red but for today will be rocking a pink kit.
Kick Off! 5 minutes in and Redditch come forward down the left, it’s crossed in, headed away by Walsall but only to Rahis Nabi on the edge of the box on the volley… Tipped over by the keeper! Corner for Redditch, in it comes, it goes to the far post and it’s headed back across goal, number 5 jumps for it… He can’t get there and it goes wide for a goal kick.
11th minute now and Redditch have another corner, in it comes, it’s flicked up in the air, who’s going to get on that…? Walsall head out for another corner, in it comes again… Walsall clear. Not much action happening at the moment with none of the sides carving out big chances, it’s becoming a game of last ditch defending.
22 minutes on the clock and Redditch come forward with number 12, he plays it to number 11 on the right, he cuts inside, he needs to play it!! He’s taken too long and he’s intercepted but it falls to Rahis Nabi on the edge of the box again and he goes for the curler… Great save by the keeper there! It’s a corner for Redditch again, in it comes… Cleared.
It’s 2 good defences going at it so far today! Let’s hope the attacks step up soon! 33rd minute and Redditch have another corner, in it comes… Number 5 with the header… Over! Goal kick. 38 minutes now and Walsall have the ball in their own half, it’s a great ball through for number 10 to run onto, he gets to it and shoots from the edge of the box… Straight at the keeper.
Good spell for Walsall now who are starting to take the game to Redditch. 44th minute and Walsall have a throw in on the right, they work it across to number 11 on the left, he cuts inside on the edge of the box and he fires at goal… But it’s a comfortable save for the keeper. At half time the score remains 0-0… Come on lads! Don’t let me down!
Second half, Redditch looking the stronger of the 2 teams now. 53 minutes on the clock and Redditch have a corner, in it comes… Headed away by Walsall to the edge of the box, It falls to Curtis Hudson on the volley… He scuffs it… But he gets it back and plays it out to the right, it’s crossed in, it’s Dan Sweeney with the header… IT’S THERE!!!! He finds the bottom corner! And it’s 1-0 to Redditch and the famous Chelsea Dagger by the Fratellis echoes around the ground!!
56 minutes and Redditch come down the left with Curtis Hudson, he pulls it back for Dan Sweeney in the box on the left and he shoots… It’s wide!! Big chance! 59 minutes now and Redditch come again, long ball into the box, it’s brought down and played across goal to Dan Sweeney!! OH! He’s blazed it high, wide and not very handsome… Sitter! Should be 2-0!
67 minutes on the clock and Redditch come forward again, Dennis Digie with the ball on the right in the Walsall half, he plays a long ball forward looking for Dan Sweeney in the box, good control! What a finish!!! Fantastic control and finish there from Sweeney!! And Redditch do have their second goal now!! 2-0! Here’s that Chelsea Dagger again!!
78th minute now and Redditch have a free kick on the right hand side of the edge of the box, Rahis Nabi steps up… Good save by the Walsall keeper there! 86 minutes on the watch and Walsall get the ball in midfield, it comes to number 16 on the edge of the box, he goes for goal… Just wide!
90th minute and Redditch have the ball in midfield, Curtis Hudson has the ball in space about 30 yards from goal, he shoots… HE SCORES!!! 3-0!! A great hit right into the bottom corner to emphasize a fantastic second half performance from Redditch today! “CHELSEA CHELSEA I’M A… I don’t know the lyrics…
Into stoppage time and number 3 is played forward down the left, he cuts inside the box and shoots… Off the line by Walsall’s number 5! That would be the last action of the game and Redditch would not find number 4…
FT: Redditch United 3-0 Walsall Wood
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 3/10 – A fair few here on this free day that the club put on for everyone and you could tell there was a crowd there! Not any chanting as such and I especially love the goal song!!
- The Ground: 9/10 – I’m a huge fan of this ground!! Very unique in a good way!! For me, it’s one stand behind the far goal away from being a 10…
- Expense: 10/10 – Free entry for 3 goals!! It’s never in doubt!!
- Overall Experience: 8.5/10 – It’s another great day out with Match Days Joe! Great to meet some Redditch fans here in the first half too!! A great day all in all!
30.5/40
Watch Match Days Joe’s video here