✍️ Jack Underwood
Redditch United returned to winning ways in the Southern Premier Central, after beating Bishop’s Stortford 3-1 at home. Tyrone Baker gave the visitors an early lead, before goals from Szhem Whyte-Hall, Billy Fielding and Harrison Hazard secured three goals and three points for the Reds.
There was only one change to the lineup from the defeat in the FA Cup, as Billy Fielding replaced Jack Willow, who picked up an injury.
The first chance of the game fell the way of the Reds, as Harrison Hazard dribbled forward and delivered a cross to Szhem Wyte-Hall, but his effort was blocked. Straight down the other end, Tyrone Baker was played in behind, but Rory Brown did well to save low to his right.
In the 25th minute, Baker drove down the left and cut inside, before firing into the bottom left corner from outside the box to put his side ahead.
Set pieces seemed to be dominating the game, as Jake Thompson’s header hit the post from a freekick, just before Aram Soleman’s freekick was palmed off the line by the Bishop’s Stortford goalkeeper.
The resulting corner was delivered in by Hazard which looped over towards the back post and was smashed in by Whyte-Hall to equalise.
It was a frantic end to the first-half, as the visitors hit the woodwork again from a freekick, before Stan Straw hit the post from a corner down the other end.
HALF-TIME: Redditch United 1-1 Bishop’s Stortford.
Both goalkeepers were called into action early on after the break, having saved efforts from close range at either end with their feet.
Redditch then saw two efforts blocked on the line and were pushing for a winner.
Eventually it would come, when Hazard’s corner was whipped in and he earned his second assist of the game after Billy Fielding headed in at the far post.
Three minutes later, Danny King found Tyler Bruck down the right hand side, who played a ball across goal to Hazard, who tapped in to seal the game and a man of the match performance.
FULL-TIME: Redditch United 3-1 Bishop’s Stortford.
Redditch United XI: Brown; Shambrook, Straw, Owen; Hazard, Soleman, Bunn (C), Fielding, King; Whyte-Hall, Bruck.
Subs: Cutler, Foreshaw (87’), Thompson-McKenzie (81’), Fry, Johnson (90’).
Attendance: 318
