Reds Out-Fought As Studley Get Revenge

Today we welcomed Studley in a reverse of last weeks fixture.

Always difficult playing a team 2 weeks on the spin, as their wounds are still fresh and they know what to expect, with some complacency threatening to set in after a victory.

The Reds started brightly with an early sighter for Jack which was saved by the keeper. Jack proving to be a real threat flying down the right side and getting in a great cross but Rushys shot was saved by the keeper.

Studley were growing into the game and had some bite in their tackles, and soon found themselves 1-0 up when the attacker drove through and placed a shot into the far corner off the post.

A reaction was needed but it didn’t seem to be coming from the boys in Red, who were losing the battle on the pitch. Mistakes were creeping in, with foul throws and mis-hit clearances, the Reds looking a shadow of the team who beat Studley 3-0 last week.

At half time the Reds trudged off looking defeated.

The second half seemed to follow the same path as the first, with Studley putting bodies on the line and battling hard, and the Reds frustrated in their pursuit for an equaliser. A chance did arrive when Jacks corner found the head of Omar but it went over.

Studley got their second having countered from a throw-in, and the Reds heads dropped. A quiet game for Rushy but he turned on the after-burners and raced down the left wing, crossing for Omar who’s shot was saved but Josh P was on hand to slot home. 1-2 and game on…

However that battle was still being won by Studley, with multiple slide tackles going on from the boys in yellow and Hampton guilty of being a bit too nice. Oscar showed some good fight on the right hand side and Rayyan was his usual battling self, but it wasn’t enough, we needed more. As we tried to chase that equaliser, Studley caught us on the counter again and killed the game, 1-3.

There was another chance when Omar raced clear, but 1 v 1 the keeper came out on top.

Full time and the Reds lose their unbeaten home record in the league in disappointing fashion, not beaten by the better side, just out-fought for 70 minutes as well as not finishing good chances.

Hope to see us get a bit meaner in future, because as we keep saying this division is very tight and the boys levels can’t afford to drop like they did today.

Jack still managed to put in a good performance himself, creating several big chances and can feel very frustrated being on the losing side, he did however walk away with man of the match.

We’ll be working on throw-ins on Thursday, that’s for sure!

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