Men's 1st Team Vs Redditch

Yardley’s spirited performance was not enough against a lively Redditch outfit in the Warwick Printing MRHA West Midlands Division 1

For various reasons, non-availability meant that Yardley were forced to play a number of youngsters for this game.  After an energetic start by both sides it was the visitors who settled into their game the quicker and soon edged into the lead through a somewhat scrappy goal.

Redditch began to force most of the pressure but to their great credit, the Yardley defence held firm and made life very difficult for the Redditch side that attacked at every opportunity but were unable to add to their slender lead which they kept throughout the rest of the first half. Zach Jarvis and Alex Makepeace had been working very hard helping out in the defence and prompting Yardley’s attacking play.

The start of the second period began as the first ended with Redditch forcing most of the pace but unable to capitalise against rugged opposition and unable to convert their chances. Yardley briefly gave themselves some hope when they stunned their guests by scoring an equaliser. A rapid break out from defence saw a cross into the D met by Noor Zaman who passed the ball back towards the centre of the goal where Usamah Iqbal calmly helped the ball into the goal. This gave the home side a brief period of confident approach-play, prompted from defence by the energetic Salim Hussain. However, soon Redditch forced their way back into the game to score two more goals from open play. Although the young Yardley side did not give up there was no way back really. The latter part of the game proved to be virtually one-way traffic towards the Yardley goal but a combination of good defence, good goalkeeping and wasteful finishing prevented the visitors from adding to their tally.

A spirited performance throughout from the young Yardley side was, in the end, not enough to match Redditch’s greater experience. This week Yardley face a tough task at home against Old Wulfrunians.