Written by Dan Keley, Images by Maisie Taylor.
The Reds went into Sunday’s league fixture at Droitwich Spa Ladies having not played for a considerable amount of time following an extended Christmas and New Year break due to postponements which frustratingly halted their season.
Manager Jade Guppy was without a few key players for this fixture. Stand-in goalkeeper Ellie Baker, midfielder Robyn Hall, and forwards Alice Rogers and Emily Douglas were all missing from the squad.
The hosts had the first attempt at goal after a missed clearance in the Reds defence fell to a Droitwich player, but her shot was dragged wide of the post.
The Reds had their opportunity of the game six minutes later, however Maz Redmond-Lyon’s half chance was comfortably saved by the Droitwich goalkeeper.
Redditch took control of the half after that half chance and ten minutes later Redmond-Lyon played in Humera Ashfaq who showed good feet in the box to put the ball onto her other foot, but her shot could only find the side netting.
In the 23rd minute, Ashfaq played an excellent cross to Maddy Sutton, but her stab at goal was saved.
Three minutes later the Reds somehow didn’t take the lead after Ashfaq’s shot took a wicked deflection and it looked through all the world it was heading into the bottom right-hand corner, but the Droitwich keeper made an unbelievable save to keep the scores level.
The Reds were pushing for a goal in the last third of the half. Ashfaq, Redmond-Lyon and Nieve Newman all tried their luck from distance, however, no shot troubled the keeper.
Captain Casey Ryder had a header after a great corner was whipped in from Sutton, but could only find the side netting.
On the stroke of half time, the Reds finally got the goal that their persistence and performance merited after Ashfaq teed up Redmond-Lyon who fired the ball into the net to give Redditch a 1-0 lead going into the interval.
Two minutes after the restart the Reds doubled their advantage. It was role reversal this time as Redmond-Lyon played in a great ball through the Droitwich defence which saw Ashfaq bare down on goal and she made no mistake putting the ball past the keeper.
Droitwich immediately pulled a goal back after the Reds failed to deal with a corner that was played deep into the box and it was tapped into an empty net.
In the 55th minute, Ashfaq played in Sutton with the Reds keen to double their advantage for the second time in the game, but the keeper was equal to the shot.
That was the catalyst for the hosts to take control of the game, dictating the half from the base of midfield and they got their rewards in the 66th minute after a missed header at the back fell perfectly to the Droitwich striker who made no mistake into lobbing Naomi Parkinson in the Reds goal to leave the game all square.
Chances were few and far between after the Droitwich equaliser as the game ended 2-a-piece, but both sides would’ve been happy taking away a point each.
Final Score:
Droitwich Spa Ladies 2-2 Redditch United Women
Redditch United Women goals: Redmond-Lyon (45′), Ashfaq (47′)
Yellow cards: Redmond-Lyon (81′)
Redditch United Women Line Up: Parkinson, Waine, Bugg-Millar, Broadbent, Pygott, Ryder ©, Redmond-Lyon, Newman (Farrell, 74′), Burke, Sutton, Ashfaq
Unused Sub: Whittaker
Manager Jade Guppy spoke after the game and here is what she had to say about the game:
“Given that we hadn’t played in over a month, I was extremely pleased with how we played. It was a good performance from the ladies and they followed the strategies that were outlined at the beginning of the game.
We created some really good passages of play, but credit goes to Droitwich who managed to make some changes at halftime and get back into the game.
In spite of the absence of some key players, the team should be proud of what they accomplished. We are looking forward to our next game in the quarter-final of the challenge vase next Sunday”
We also caught up with goalscorers Maz Redmond-Lyon and Humera Ashfaq immediately after the final whistle to get their thoughts on the game.
Next up for the Reds is a cup Women’s Challenge Vase quarter-final action as we take on Stourbridge Standard Women at The Valley Stadium on Sunday 19th January, 3pm kick off.
Tickets are available from the turnstiles and can be purchased by either cash or card – £3 adults, £1 U16s & free entry for U5s.
