Tadley's run goes on with win over Redhill
Tadley Calleva extended their unbeaten run to seven games thanks to a 2-0 Combined Counties Premier Division South win over Surrey side Redhill.
Goals from Kalum Cousins and Jamie Johnston either side of half time were enough to down Redhill, who finished the game with nine men following two second half red cards.
The Tadders welcomed Alfie Saunders back into their 11 – the full back having missed the trip to Jersey Bulls with an injury – but were without prolific frontmen Ben Wright and Brett Denham.
The hosts went ahead 25 minutes in when Johnston found space with some great footwork and picked out Cousins, who rose highest to head the ball home.
Redhill were reduced to 10 after half time and the hosts soon made the extra man count, doubling their lead as roles were reversed between Cousins and Johnston, Cousins turning provider as he rounded the keeper and squared to Johnston to tap into an empty net.
The visitors went down to nine before the full time whistle as a red-blooded contest ended with another three points for Tadley, who have now lost just once in their last fourteen games.
"It was a good result against a side who were unbeaten in seven," Ben Dillon, Tadley's joint-manager, said.
"We worked hard and came through it with three points and a clean sheet."
That shutout is Tadley's third in succession, an impressive turnaround for a side that conceded 11 goals in their first two league games.
Dillon said: "A lot of it comes from defending from the front, we're a unit that's hard to break down.
"We've got great desire and work rate, we've always maintained that if we can beat teams in terms of work rate and what we do off the ball, we've got more than enough quality in possession to win games."
Dillon was quick to praise the strength of his squad as he and Joe Lawler have been forced to rotate due to injuries and absentees in recent weeks – as well as Wright and Denham, Tadley were without fellow mainstay Dean Stow.
He said: "We're pleased, we've been really adaptable.
"Kalum Cousins came in and replaced Brett (Denham) in the nine and showed what he can do and Scott Kinge was excellent in place of Ben (Wright).
"We worked hard to sign good characters in the summer, of course we want players to have quality but it's essential to have a good group of lads and I think in that respect these are the best I've ever coached."
The former Hartley Wintney boss was keen to guard against complacency ahead of an FA Vase tie against Guildford City, who Tadley beat 4-2 in the league last month.
"It's vital we don't rest on our laurels and get complacent," he said.
"We know we're in for another tough game against a side that have had some good results since we beat them."
