Redditch United earned their first win of the season against Halesowen Town on Bank Holiday Monday in a highly heated fixture. Szhem Whyte-Hall completed a hat-trick, whilst Milan Butterfield brought one back for the visitors.
There were three changed to the lineup from the defeat to Leiston as Danny King, Billy Fielding and Robbie Bunn came into the starting XI to replace Charlie Knowles, Tyler Bruck and Jenson Sumnall, who picked up an injury in the last game. Aram Soleman was able to start, despite his red card, due to the seven-day suspension rule.
Redditch started the game positively with an effort from Cameron coming close, before Szhem Whyte-Hall shot just over the bar.
Former Reds defender Ryan Wollacott was booked early on for bringing down Harrison Hazard. Then Robbie Bunn had an effort from range held by Daniel Platt.
Our first-half dominance eventually paid off, when Whyte-Hall picked up the ball inside the box and finished home to give us a well-deserved lead heading into the break.
Shortly after the break, Whyte-Hall attempted to dribble past Ryan Wynter on the left-hand side, and the Yeltz defender brought him down inside the box and the referee awarded a penalty. The goalscorer stepped up and slotted it away for his second of the day. There was a stoppage in play as crowd trouble followed the goal, which increased the tension in the game.
Halesowen later pulled one back when Milan Butterfield received the ball, turned and slotted one into the top corner to bring his side back into the game. There then was a small brawl, which saw the referee hand out a number of bookings.
The visitors began to apply pressure and Jason Cowley was inches away from equalising as he curled an effort which hit the post.
Shortly after, Morgan Owen was on the receiving end of a bad challenge, which led to another brawl by the dugout, and Alex Cameron was sent off by the referee.
Despite having 10 men, Redditch continued to battle with determination, and their spirit paid off in the end, when Danny King laid off Whyte-Hall and he made no mistake in finishing home to earn his hat-trick and seal the first win of the season.
Redditch United XI: R. Brown; Shambrook, Foreshaw, Owen, King; Bunn, Soleman, Fielding; Whyte-Hall, Hazard; Cameron (C).
Subs: Grewal-Pollard (74’), Murchison, Bruck (74’), Knowles (90’), O. Brown (90’).
Attendance: 1,130
