SATURDAY 5th JANUARY 2008

REDDITCH UNITED 2 v 0 VAUXHALL MOTORS

BLUE SQUARE NORTH

Showing five changes from the previous outing, the much-changed Motormen went on to dominate the opening half of this contest, but were then hit by a double sucker punch in the opening quarter of the second period, to leave manager Andy Mutch hugely frustrated.

After a quite start, Motors took control of proceedings, with on-loan striker Kevin Rapley only inches away from netting after a strong run down the left by Peter Heler.  Alan Griffiths and Jordan Holmes also went on barnstorming runs through the middle only to be denied by home keeper Danny Lewis, before Mark Reed ought to have put the visitors in front on 35 minutes, when he burst through into the area, but again thwarted by Lewis, with only the keeper to beat.
                          
In a rare home attack, Matty Clarke did well down the right, but Graham Deakin fired his cross high and wide of the target.

Three minutes into the second half, United’s other full back Danny Edwards raced went through on the left in space and it took a smart save from on-loan keeper Lloyd Rigby going to his left to keep out his shot at the expense of a corner.  But from this, central defender Liam Daley applied a glancing header at the near post to put the hosts into a flattering lead.

Shortly after, substitute Stuart Whittaker put Rapley through but his driven shot from an angle went just over the bar.

And on 59 minutes, Motors were left with more than the noticeable slope to climb, when Edwards raced through again. This time through the middle only this time he found the back of the net to double the Redditch lead.  Seconds later Reed wasted a great chance to pull Motors back into the game from Lee Dames’ cross from the right, but the striker shot weakly with only Lewis to beat from close range.

Captain Ged Brannan almost gave them hope of a recovery with a well-struck free kick in the last ten minutes, but Lewis again read the situation perfectly to take the sting out of the set piece, as the match tamely came to a frustrating conclusion for the visitors, with Mutch still seeking his first away points as Vauxhall manager.

Vauxhall: Rigby, Owens (Williams 73), Dames, Hitchen, Holmes, Brannan, Heler, Griffiths, Reed, Rapley (Roberts 70), Smith (Whittaker 53).  Subs not used: Wright, Carney.