Photo by George Arghir
By Jack Underwood
Redditch United suffered their first defeat in the league since mid-September, as they lost 2-1 away at Kettering Town. Blaine Rowe and Eddie Panter put the hosts ahead, before Tyler Bruck brought one back in the second half.
There were three changes to the lineup as Aram Soleman, Dan Sweeney and Jack Willow all returned to the starting XI. Szhem Whyte-Hall missed out on the squad with a hamstring injury.
It was a bright start for the Reds, as Dan Sweeney found himself in behind. He cut inside and was brought down in the box, which the referee awarded a penalty.
Sweeney stepped up, but Paul White dived to his left and saved the spot kick, denying an early Redditch lead.
The man in-form got into a similar position, this time getting his shot away, and White parried it away into the air, which was eventually cleared.
Joel Shambrook drove forward and crossed from deep towards the back post. The Kettering goalkeeper left the cross and fell to Danny King at the back, but his flick could only hit the post.
Kettering however would go in front in the 35th minute, after Blaine Rowe turned his man, found himself through on goal and finished into the back of the net to make it 1-0.
The ball came in from the left and fell to King in the box, who shot first time, but it rolled just wide. Minutes later, Redditch won the ball back high before Aram Soleman found Sweeney over the top. He took a touch but fired just over.
HALF-TIME: Kettering Town 1-0 Redditch United
It was a bad start to the second half for Redditch, as Eddie Panter was played in down the left, and finished into the top corner to double Kettering’s lead.
Tyler Bruck had an effort from close range and forced White into a low diving save.
Robbie Bunn drove forward, beating a number of men before playing Bruck in behind, and the striker finished cooly into the back of the net to bring one back.
Tai Fleming’s header then smashed off the underside of the crossbar, before eventually being cleared.
The rest of the game saw Kettering hold off well until the final whistle, ending the game in defeat for Redditch.
FULL-TIME: Kettering Town 2-1 Redditch United
Redditch United XI: Brown (GK); Shambrook, Straw, Owen; Fielding, Willow, King, Soleman, Bunn (C); Bruck, Sweeney.
Subs: Mafuta (83’), Hazard (66’), Da Silva (76’), Johnson.
Attendance: 908
