Experimental Reds side in narrow defeat

Oldbury United 1-0 Willenhall Town

By Martyn Simpson

A makeshift Willenhall side narrowly lost against big spending Midland Alliance outfit Oldbury United. In a game arranged to help out Oldbury’s pre-season preparations, the Reds acquitted themselves well despite missing many key players.

Striker John Quilt was forced to don the goalkeeper’s jersey, and he didn’t let the side down at all with a couple of handy saves and good command of his area. In the opening half of the game, it was the visitors who made all the running, and Oldbury couldn’t have complained if they’d gone in at the interval trailing.

As it was, a combination of poor finishing and bad luck kept the sides level in the opening half. Dean Perrow really should have given Willenhall the lead on 21 minutes, when put clean through. The keeper spread himself early, but Perrow dragged his shot wide. Just five minutes later, strike partner Nathan Jones went off injured and with the absence of a striker on the bench, Phil Rowe came on and the Reds shuffled the pack.

Further chances were created, with Perrow heading over a Craig Holland cross in a super move started by Martin Myers. It was Myers who was next up to test the Oldbury backline with a volley that was turned around the post for a corner. Three minutes before the interval, Perrow showed good vision to lob from 35 yards, but the ball narrowly missed the target.

The players entered the field for the second half with torrential rain pouring down, making conditions near impossible for flowing football, which perhaps evened out the contest. Free kicks from Luke Bradley and Chad Sheppard again came close to putting Willenhall in front, but the turning point came when trialist John Newell was forced off injured. Within a few minutes, the Reds defence was caught square, Lee Booth timed his run to perfection and slotted home leaving Quilt with no chance.

The home side never looked back, as Willenhall failed to create any further telling chances, and were condemned to their first defeat of the pre-season campaign.

Line up: Quilt; Newell (Myers 63), Heaney, Ellard; Holland, Myers (Derry 60), Rochester, Sheppard, Bradley; Jones (Rowe 26) Perrow