"Bucks aiming to ascend to the summit at the Valley Stadium"

Match Date : October 21st, 2024 7:45 pm
Competition : Southern League Premier Central
Ground : Valley Stadium, Bromsgrove Road, Redditch, Worcestershire, B97 4AU
Kick Off : 19:45

The Bucks make an all but immediate return to action this Monday evening, when Kevin Wilkin takes his men to Redditch.

The Reds finished 4th last season and were unlucky to lose to Leamington in the playoff semi final. The Worcestershire side spent much of the season in the top three, but any hopes of a title tilt fell away after February and Matt Clarke’s enforced absence from the dugout.

Clarke had to step away from the club after drugs charges were brought against him. And while the charges were subsequently dropped at the end of June, that ruling came too late for the Reds who had already committed to a change in the dugout.

Tim Flowers is the new man in charge at the Valley Stadium. The former England international had a brief spell in charge of Bromsgrove Sporting at the end of last season, before making the move up the road to Redditch at the end of May. And Flowers had a busy summer reshaping his squad.

The Reds were dealt a blow when star men Ryan Wollacott and Reece Flanagan left for Halesowen, while promising midfielder Callum Rowe and dangerous forward Danny King joined Rushall Olympic (Rowe has since joined Radcliffe). Last season’s top scorer, Alex Cameron, is still on the books though, and Flowers secured the services of experienced left back Jordan Cranston on a permanent basis following his loan spell last season. Other new faces include commanding centre back Kyle Rowley, midfield dynamo Billy Shaw and, recently, former Buck George Burroughs.

Flowers’ new look side hit the ground running with 13 points from the first six games. However, six defeats from the next nine games, including an FA Cup exit to Shifnal Town, have dented the Reds’ momentum. That said, Flowers’ side still currently sit in 8th, only four points from top spot.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at the Valley Stadium in August 2023 before the Bucks won the reverse fixture 3-0 on Good Friday. And Kevin Wilkin will be hoping for a similarly positive result against a Redditch team that has struggled on home soil this season – while the Reds have the division’s best away record, Flowers’ side have picked up just four points from six home league games this term.

The Bucks played some of their best football of the season during Saturday’s 2-1 win at Harborough Town, and a win for Wilkin’s men on Monday would see the Bucks go top of the table.

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

Website: www.redditchunited.co.uk

You can purchase tickets in advance via the Redditch website.

Ground Address: Valley Stadium, Bromsgrove Road, Redditch, Worcestershire, B97 4AU