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Badgers beat Redditch again
Blue Square North Eastwood Town 3-1 Redditch Utd
EASTWOOD Town recorded their second win over Redditch in the space of four days - and as with the first game they came from behind to do it.
Unsurprisingly, but unusually this season, Eastwood nominated an unchanged starting line-up, with even the subs bench populated by the same five players named for the clash the previous Tuesday.
Quickly off the blocks, Eastwood had United keeper Danny Lewis hopping about and an early celebration of an Ian Holmes goal was aborted as Danny Holland's illegal block of a defender's attempted interception was spotted by a vigilant referee.
It was the visitors who impressed more in midfield and went ahead after 12 minutes when a long throw was only cleared as far as Jamie Sheldon whose seemingly poor volleyed connection somehow evaded two defenders and stranded Ed Eley.
Carl Heggs shot narrowly wide and Matt Blair nearly put Sheldon in for a second, before Eastwood levelled in style.
Holland was fouled by Tom Birch and from Russell Cooke's free-kick, the ball broke to Ross Gardner outside the box who took it on his chest and sweetly volleyed across and beyond Lewis.
The service from Eastwood's midfield was, at best, disfunctional with Lindon Meikle being double marked, though when Anton Foster put Meikle in Asa Charlton tackled well.
Holmes should probably have done better after nicely timing his run onto Gardner's through ball but fired just past the post, and Holland then did similarly when the ball was pulled back to him moments later.
Eastwood safely negotiated early second-half pressure before the introduction of Marc Smith for Holmes signalled the Badgers' move to attack 'plan B', and the big lad immediately set up Holland whose shot shaved the post.
Just before the hour mark, an audacious piece of skill from Paul Riley set up an Eastwood goal. The wing-back looked likely to settle for a corner when boxed in by Jerry Gill and Birch.
Instead, he cheekily flicked the ball over his opponents' heads and crossed unerringly for Nwadike to head the Badgers in front.
Now revelling in the space created by Marc Smith, Holland had two clear chances but missed narrowly, and sub Jay Smith then worked a good opening for Meikle whose cut-back for Gardner was smothered by Lewis.
The 'usual suspects' created Eastwood's third goal on 66 minutes.
Riley's set-piece inevitably went via Marc Smith to Holland who was quickly surrounded by anxious defenders.
The lively striker feinted to shoot but then squared for Paul Robinson whose successful afternoon was well rounded off by a firm shot for a 3-1 scoreline.
Visiting sub Marlon Semper crashed into Eley late on forcing the home debutant to retire from the game injured, and with all subs used and no keeper to call on anyway, it was Russell Cooke who took over for the closing minutes and he soon pulled off a stunning save when Semper went clear again, Cooke spreading himself to block and smother a point-blank range shot.
After an eminently missable first period, Eastwood settled to a better-than-competent second stage level and I was tested by several good showings.
Marc Smith is disqualified by not playing for 90 minutes and, from the other candidates, I pass over Ross Gardner, Paul Riley and Danny Holland in opting for Paul Robinson.
Eastwood: Ed Eley (Jimmy Turner 85), Russell Cooke (c), Paul Riley, Emeka Nwadike, Paul Robinson, Tom Marshall, Lindon Meikle, Anton Foster (Jay Smith 46), Ian Holmes (Marc Smith 50), Danny Holland, Ross Gardner. Subs not used: David Brown, Laurence Gaughan.
Ref: A Holmes
Att: 457
Best Badger: Paul Robinson
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Weather for Eastwood
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
