| Team | CoB Men’s 1stXI |
| Opponent | Redditch 2 |
| Date | October 5, 2024 |
| Result | Draw |
| Score | 3 – 3 |
Goal scorers: Zach Jarvis, Jeevan Chagger, Jordan McGuigan
CoB Men’s 1stXI travelled away to Redditch this week, to kick off their league campaign following last week’s walkover by Pershore. CoB started off slowly in the opening exchanges in blue skies, though deceptively cold. The hosts held much of the ball with several moments of good play, but the defence of Ash, Mat and Taimoor stood firm and thwarted initial chances.
The hosts would take an early lead with a well-worked ball down the channel with their striker making no mistake and placing it past Neal. Seemingly rocked by the opening goal, CoB began to string together some momentum with Sohail, Junaid, Zach, and Kyle working the midfield to encourage attacks. But this was short-lived with Redditch breaking on the counter and a tomahawk from the left creeping inside the post. This was just what the visitors needed, kicking into gear and finding Jordan in attack well, with Jeevan and Sean entering the fray off the flanks. A good exchange of possession forced a short corner which was well worked, Zach and Kyle missing the goal by millimetres. CoB persisted and their pressure soon paid dividends with Redditch down to 10 men, Sohail worked the ball to skipper Zach on the left, who made no mistake from the top of the circle. Minutes later, CoB worked another attack, Kyle driving with the ball only to be fouled in the circle before having his shot at goal. The half whistle but a short corner, the team pressed up and kept the ball alive, Taimoor latching onto a poor clearance and striking the ball. A moment of silence, the ball deflected into the air towards the back post, Jeevan raised his stick in the air and deflected the ball into the net, his 100th Club Goal, on the stroke of half time. The scenes of celebration (and deflation from the hosts) as we entered the break.
Second half and Redditch still down to 10, CoB applied the pressure and had control of the game. Occasional breaks did not worry the visitors, with Jordan hitting a reverse onto the post, and the keeper kicking the ball into his own net. CoB soaked up the pressure well, Noor pressing from the front, the defence tidying up loose balls and the subs rotating into position seamlessly. The final 5 minutes and Redditch looked to punish with short corners, agonisingly wide, letting off the visitors. But the pressure soon was too much, Redditch working an opening from their final short corner to level scores.
Points shared in a thrilling game which would give our Men’s 1stXI much-needed game time and confidence as a unit together, next up they host Bournville and Kings Heath Men’s 2s at Home.