This article about our U21s side, from Matt Tennant, reflects on last weekend’s match and this Saturday’s fixture…
It was a tough day out last Saturday for Bromsgrove Sporting U21s, as they lost 3-0 to Bedworth United U21s in their most recent league game.
Bedworth started well, with an early goal from Luke Curtlin giving the team a lead which they maintained throughout the first half.
The home side kept Bromsgrove under pressure with Sporting’s goalkeeper, Jacob Jones, working tirelessly on his debut against tough opposition, as the team struggled to convert their chances.
Impressive finishes from Bedworth’s Alex Coventry and Muctar Bah extended the Greenbacks’ lead in the second half, with the home side subjecting Sporting to their first defeat without scoring this season.
In a breakdown of his team’s performance, Under 21s joint-manager, Stuart Carson, said: “After a good session in the week, we looked forward to Saturday’s encounter with Bedworth, as it’s always a tough test against a well organised side.
“We started okay but conceded a preventable goal. Although we grew as the half went on, we didn’t take our chances and their keeper made a couple of good saves.
“We started bright in the second half and sometimes when you are struggling for form you get undone. A cross from 40 yards somehow sailed into the top corner, and there was nothing our new keeper Jake, who I thought did great on his debut, could do.
“Despite being better in the final 20 minutes of the game, we couldn’t make an impact.”
The result leaves Bromsgrove’s U21s fifteenth in the U21 Division, with six points after seven games.
Offering a candid reflection of the season so far, Carson said: “We are in a rebuild phase with eight lads from last season moving into men’s football. These are the challenges of Under-21 football. When players who have ability are offered money to play at Step Four, Five or Six, you do lose them.
“Onto next week and we will continue to remain positive and work on the lads who I believe can play at this level, no doubt, but need to learn. A local derby should need no motivation.”
This local derby sees Bromsgrove Sporting U21s welcome Redditch United U21s this weekend.
Not only does this promise to be a competitive matchup, but it also looks to be a close contest, with both teams having experienced a similar journey so far this season.
Redditch United U21s are currently sixteenth in the MFL U21 Division table on four points, putting them just two points behind Sporting’s U21s in fifteenth.
The Reds have endured a difficult league journey so far, with one win, one draw and five losses.
Of those losses, two saw the team fail to score at all, although the team have gone close in some games, such as their 3-3 draw to Boldmere St Michaels U21s on the road.
Redditch’s most convincing win was a resounding 7-2 home victory against Diamonds Academy U21, which provided some much needed morale for the team.
The visitors will head into this weekend following an enthalling start to their County Cup campaign last week, which saw them win 2-4 on penalties after drawing 2-2 in regular time against Cadbury Athletic U21.
Bromsgrove share similar stats, boasting only one more win than their upcoming opponents.
With both sides eager to move up the U21 Division rankings, this promises to be a fiery local derby, with all to play for.
Bromsgrove Sporting U21s welcome Redditch United U21s on Saturday 18th October at the UK Electrical Stadium (10:30 KO).
