Match Reports 2002/03

Injury and absenteeism forced Redmires into several changes before the start of this game. The game started in an end-to-end manner and this was to prove the general pattern for the whole game. With fifteen minutes gone, the match was being keenly fought with one or two half chances for both teams, however Dronfield broke the deadlock with a penalty. Despite this setback, Redmires continued to compete well, however, Dronfield scored a second goal when the referee waved away strong off-side appeals to leave an unmarked Dronfield forward to finish well. The game moved up a notch in intensity as Redmires sought to get themselves back into it and they were finally rewarded five minutes before halftime, when Luke Siggs headed home at the far post..

Dronfield had a couple of half chances at the beginning of the second half, but Redmires took a firmer grip on the game and began to control the midfield. Redmires were rewarded for their endeavour when Zahid Din equalised with a well hit shot from the edge of the box. With Redmires shading the game, Dronfield continued to get forward, but good chances were few and far between. A series of controversial refereeing decisions ensued that two Redmires players went into the Referee's notebook  and Dronfield took the lead again as a direct result of one of these incidents. A seemingly innocuous challenge was deemed a foul by the referee resulting in a  free kick on the edge of Redmires's box. Whilst the initial shot hits the wall., Dronfield made no mistake with the rebound.

Despite the setback and in contract to the previous week, Redmires did not roll over a die and instead took a firm hold of the latter end of the game. After going close twice, Redmires were finally got their rewards, when Nick Milnes finished neatly to equalise and give Redmires a share of the points.

Our view:  "A tough game, heavily influenced by the referee. However, we thoroughly deserved the point and attitude and commitment of the whole team was commendable."

23rd February 2003

Redmires 0 Handsworth OB 2

League

With a couple of injury absentees, Redmires started the game well, playing some attractive football. However, Handsworth gradually began to get back started to threaten the Redmires goal.. With half an hour gone, Handsworth were well on top, and it was no surprise when they took the lead. With Redmires playing very poorly, Hansworth were creating chances at will, but could not capitalise on them and so went into half time with a 1-0 lead.

Redmires continued where they had left off, playing some of their worst football of the season and Handsworth continued to dominate the game. Handsworth hit the woodwork twice before they finally added to their score and Paul Oxley had to make several good save to prevent even further embarrassment. Ten minutes from the end, Redmires finally started to put their game together and exert some pressure. However, Handsworth were well up to the challenge and held on comfortably to secure a 2-0 win.

Our view:  "An appalling team performance, possibly the worst in several seasons!. Handsworth were well worth their win and were unlucky not to have have won by a more significant margin".

16th February 2003

Civil Service 3 Redmires 4

League

Redmires started brightly had the better of the early exchanges. As the half wore on, Redmires began to create some good chances but were let down by poor finishing. At the other end Civil Service gave Redmires one or two scares, whilst playing on the break. However, Redmires finally broke the deadlock when a well worked move gave ended with a good finish from Luke Siggs. Redmires wasted several more opportunities, before Siggs doubled his tally with a fine individual goal. Despite further chances, Redmires could not add a third and went into the break with a 2-0 lead.

Civil Service started the second half on a more positive note and for the first time in the game, began to pose a threat. With ten minutes of the second half gone, Service pulled a goal back and the game was back on. A close range tap in from Mark Critchly, followed by a rare Luke Siggs header, gave Redmires what appeared to be an unassailable lead, but suddenly, after being in full control, a second Service goal gave Redmires the jitters.  The game become end to end and Service pulled back a third with five minutes left. Despite further pressure, Service could not find the elusive equaliser and Redmires held on to secure a narrow win.

Our view:  "Poor finishing meant that what should have been a very comfortable victory almost ended in disaster."

9th February 2003

Redmires 0 Stannington Village 1

League

Stannington started the game the stronger of the two sides and were quick to create a couple of half chances. Gradually, Redmires got themselves into the game, and were unlucky not to take the lead with a quick break. Stannington were having the better of the possession whilst Redmires continued to threaten on the break. With five minutes of the first half remaining, a long ball found Stannington's Centre Forward unmarked and his calm finish gave them the half time lead.

In the second half, Redmires took the game to Stannington, and whilst enjoying more possession, could not create any notable chances. As the half wore on, Stannington's resolve began to crumble and in the last ten minutes, Redmires lay siege to the Stannington goal. Some good goal keeping and several goal line clearances ensured that Stannington held on to snatch the win. 

Our view:  "A close game in which we were unlucky not to share the points.".

2nd February 2003

Redmires 3 Noah's Ark 2 (match abandoned after 86 minutes)

Quarter Final - Sunday County Cup

With Dave Naisbit missing, Redmires were forced into a re-shuffle, with leading scorer Luke Siggs moving to Centre Back for the day. The match started with Redmires having a strong wind in their favour. However, Noah’s Ark were quick to attack and had the better of the early exchanges. With ten minutes gone and having given away a number of free kicks, Noah’s Ark went a goal behind. Jamie Milnes’s half way line free kick was well met by John Sanderson. Whilst the keeper made a good reaction save, he could not hold the ball and Tom Lawrence was on hand to rifle the ball into the net.

Noah’s Ark continued to attack, and had a couple of near misses, but with twenty minutes gone, Redmires doubled their lead. Poor defending (and an apparent lack of knowledge of the offside rule on goal kicks), left Ashton Woodhouse though on goal, and with the keeper advancing, he pulled the ball back to Mark Critchly, who made no mistake with the finish. The half continued to be fought in a competitive manner and ominously, Ark picked up four bookings before the half time whistle. However Redmires went into the break with their two-goal lead intact.

For the second half, it was Redmires’s turn to play against the whether and Ark were quick to take advantage of this fact. Only some desperate defending, the woodwork and poor finishing preserved Redmires’s lead, but with twenty minutes gone, Ark pulled a deserved goal back. A defensive free kick on the edge on Ark’s box looked to be of no danger, but the long clearance took Redmires by surprise and a good finish gave Ark some hope.

Redmires threw on Kevin Drury for the injured John Sanderson and with the weather getting worse, Ark pilled forward. Drury was booked for shirt pulling and Ark were rewarded with an equaliser, when a mêlée in the Redmires box was volleyed home. A respite in the weather coincided with Redmires upping their game and the match became end-to-end. A good passing move was met close in by John Davis, to restore Redmires’s lead. This setup the game for a grandstand finale. Unfortunately, football lost its way in the last few minutes of the game……

With eight minutes remaining, and with Ark desperately seeking an equaliser, Ark’s right back committed a foul on the edge of Redmires’s box and looked to be destined for a second yellow card. However, before the referee could produce his notebook, he was confronted by the offending player and a fracas developed. At this point the referee threatened to abandon the match, accusing the Ark player of physically threatening him. After discussions between the referee and respective managers, it was agreed to continue the game, with the Ark player going for an early bath. With the football temporarily back on, Ark threw everyone forward but Redmires continued to hold on. With four minutes left, further abuse was directed at the referee from a member of Ark’s playing staff on the sideline. The referee decided enough was enough and abandoned the game. Thus, the game ended with Redmires leading 3-2 and the County FA having to decide if the result stands and how to discipline Noah’s Ark their conduct.

Our view:  "A competitive match in which we battled well, but rode our luck at time. Noah's Ark are a good footballing side, let down by appalling discipline and the main loser today was football itself.".

26th January 2003

Redmires 3 Yew Tree 2

Round 5 - Sunday Cup

After weeks of delay, Redmires finally got to play their County Cup game against Yew Tree.

Both sides stated the game indifferently, and it was obvious that the long lay off had taken the edge off both sides. The first half had little in the shape of clear cut opportunities until Yew Tree broke the deadlock with hald an our gone. Redmires went looking for an equaliser, but  Luke Siggs could not convert a good opportunity and Yew Tree went into the break with a 1-0 lead.

The second half continued in the same guise as the first, however Yew Tree extended their lead when a cross (or was it a clever shot) caught the wind and drifted over the Redmires keeper. Things were not looking good for Redmires, but they finally managed to put their game together and create chances. A quick, fluent attack saw Nick Milnes pull a goal back with a near post diving header, and suddenly Redmires were back in the game. Twenty minutes into the second half, Luke Siggs made it two a piece, from close range. With less than five minutes remaining, Dave Naisbit bundled a corner in to give Redmires the lead and they held out to secure a place in the quarter final.

Our view:  "Both sides were rusty from the long break, but we just about shaded it with a good fight back.".

1st December 2002

Moorview 6 Redmires 7

League

Moorview started very brightly and were rewarded with two well taken goals in the first ten minutes of the game. Luke Siggs then reduces the deficit with a strike from close range. Moorview continued to dominate and added a third after 30 minutes. Shortly before half time, Redmires began to get a foot hold in the game and were rewarded when new signing Mark Critchley sprang the Moorview defence to make the score 3-2.

Redmires started the second half as they had finished the first and began to take the game to Moorview. On 60 minutes, Kevin Drury equalized for Redmires with a powerful drive from a sharp angle. The game was becoming a midfield battle with both teams giving 100 percent. The contest was turned on its head on 75 minutes, when Jamie Milnes fired home a forty yard free kick straight into the top corner. Further goals followed for Redmires through Luke Siggs, Steve Fife, and Dave Spacey with Redmires cruising to a 7-3 lead. With just 5 minutes left, Redmires defence decided to press the self destruct button and concede three quick goals. At 7-6 Redmires were relieved to hear the final whistle and take the points.

Our view:  "A great comeback mixed with some good football but defensively fragile".

With several players missing through illness and injury, Redmires started with a different looking lineup and the change in personnel seemed to upset the balance of the team. Arksey had the best of the early spells and went close on a couple of occasions. Gradually, Redmires began to get themselves into the game and began to create chances. Luke Siggs went close before Dave Naisbitt (pictured left) eventually broke the deadlock with thirty five minutes gone. Redmires continued to create chances and just before half time, Luke Siggs (pictured right) doubled the lead.

In the second half, Arksey looked like a different team and with fifteen minutes gone, pulled a goal back. The game was now an end to end affair, with Arksey competing well. Nick Milnes scored a third for Redmires and this should have been enough to wrap up the game. Arksey had different ideas and within a fifteen minute spell, had pulled back the two goal deficit. With five minutes left and the match looking to go into extra time, Matt Saunders produced a super bit of skill to score a memorable winning goal.

Our view:  "A typical cup game, competitively fought against a team that would not give up".

With the Pheonix Ground unavailable, Redmires had to switch the game to an alternative venue. Within ten minutes of the start, Redmires found themselves two goals behind, when SCS capitalised on poor defending. Redmires got back in the game when Gary Cotterill (pictured) scored from inside the box, and thirty five minutes into the half, they were back on level terms through a Luke Siggs penalty. Siggs then hit the post, whilst SCS continued to threaten at the other end. Despite the frantic action, no further goals were to come and Redmires went into the break 2-2.

SCS were kicking with the elements in the second half and the pitch gradually began to cut up. This began to effect both sides as the game went through a scrappy period. SCS were having a lot of possession, but could not break down the Redmires defence. The only chance of note, was a speculative free kick that hit the Redmires bar. With ten minutes remaining, SCS appeared to be visually tiring and Redmires had two good opportunities to win the game. However, Redmires couldn't convert their chances and the game went into extra time.

Redmires had a disastrous start to extra time when SCS score a fine goal on the break. Redmires worked hard to pressure SCS and were rewarded when a Luke Siggs equalised from close range. However, two more goals put SCS firmly in command and the game was now effectively over. With five minutes remaining, SCS added a sixth.

Our view:  "We missed our opportunity to win it in normal time and SCS finished the stronger of the teams.".

Worksop Welfare 2 Redmires 4

Round 3 - Sunday Cup