Stoke Ramblers 3-8 Redditch

Stoke Ramblers lost their 12 month unbeaten home run against IFA opposition after being beaten by Redditch. The game was played at a good tempo between two good sides on a zippy pitch after heavy rain in the area through the days before the game. It wasn't a great day to be a goalkeeper and the opening goal was result of a great piece of sportsmanship from the hosts as Ramblers management member Simon Duckmanton called the referees attention to the assistant who had shouted but not flagged that the ball had crossed the line for a goal after a mistake from the keeper. The visitors then doubled their advantage when another shot squirmed past the keeper before a penalty, awarded after the keepers foul on Chris Cope, was converted by Cope to half the deficit going into the break. The second half started with Redditch quickly restoring their two goal advantage when a shot was parried out by the ramblers keeper, only for right back Dan Buxton to find the bottom corner  of his own net with an attempted clearance.  Redditch were spurred on by this and netted two more around the hour mark to open up a 5-1 advantage to seemingly tie up the game. The Ramblers, although shellshocked by the scoreline, refused to give up and two in two minutes gave them hope of clawing back the visitors and preserving a proud unbeaten home record with Craig Taylor heading in at a corner and then stand in striker Chris Cope bagging his second of the game with a cool finish past Redditch keeper Ryan Young. Stoke bombed on looking for another goal to really get the visitors nerves jangling but left themselves exposed at the back and Redditch helped themselves to a trio of late goals to put the icing on the victory cake.