Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 2 – 1 REDDITCH UNITED

F. A. TROPHY - FIRST ROUND – Saturday 15 December 2007

Report by Gary Owen

Redditch boss Gary Whild was not best pleased with the officials as he watched his side knocked-out of this year's tournament. "That was a poor decision by the referee to award that penalty against us. Droylsden had lots of pressure – they are a good side going forward, but Danny Lewis was equal to anything they threw at him. It was only by a penalty that he was going to be beaten. After an hour, it looked like a replay, but then we get a poor decision like that."

The Bloods progressed thanks to Jody Banim's debatable spot kick – awarded on 79 minutes after Terry Fearns had been upended in the box.

It was Redditch who were presented with the game's first great chance, but James Johnson could only chip the ball into Paul Phillips hands after beating the offside trap.

Lewis saved all that Droylsden could throw at him, until 37 minutes when Banim's shot beat the 'keeper, but then amazingly struck both posts before being gathered by the Redditch custodian.

After the break, Johnson again shot straight at Phillips, and Banim and Ashley Burbeary stung the Redditch 'keeper's palms, but then came the moment of controversy.

Droylsden doubled their lead three minutes later when Fearns squared for Banim, who checked before firing past Lewis.

Redditch were awarded a spot kick of their own in added time when Steve Halford bundled Carl Heggs over – Heggs himself converting the penalty.

"Maybe our penalty was a little soft – sometimes they go against you. Having said that, we had most of the play and controlled the game, but we needed to be more clinical. I never thought we'd lose the game, though" added Bloods boss Dave Pace afterwards, whose side go into the hat for the second round draw.

TEAMS:

DROYLSDEN (4-3-3) Phillips 7, Cryan 7, Warner 7, Halford 8, Murray 7, Morris 6, McGuire 7 (Murphy G., 70' 7), Tandy 6 (Fearns, 72' 6), Burbeary 6, Banim 8, Denham 8.

Subs not used: Talbot, Salmon, Lynch

REDDITCH UTD. (4-4-2) Lewis 8, Clarke 7, Edwards 6, Walker 6, Rea 7, Softley 7, Murphy C. 8, Downes 7, Heggs 6, Johnson 6 (Evans, 77' 6), Forinton 6.

Subs not used: Dickenson, Cowley, Taylor

Referee: Mr. M. J. Denton (Todmorden, West Yorkshire)

Attendance: 239