It now feels like Spring today. It has been raining this morning but when I make my way to Foregate Street rail station in Worcester , the sun is starting to shine through. My destination is Redditch in north Worcestershire, where league leaders Redditch United are playing in a table topping local derby at home to fourth placed Leamington from Warwickshire.
I had visited the Valley Stadium near the end of last season when Redditch just missed out on the play-off places but this time round have been more successful and they have been unbeaten at home after losing their first match of this campaign.
I arrive at the ground 20 minutes before kick-off and it looks like there is going to be a big crowd watching today, as there is a fairly long queue at the turnstiles.
When the teams march out, Redditch are in their usual red shirts, black shorts and socks while the visitors are in their away strip of all blue.
There are plenty of photographers here and I can count 4 round the pitch.
The Leamington forward, Jack Edwards has the first chance after 10 minutes but shot over after being played in by Danny Dubidat.
The Brakes keeper, Tony Breeden made good saves from Simeon Maye and the dangerous Redditch playmaker, Ashley Sammons.
Leamington do show they still carry a threat when their tricky winger, Sam Austin has a free kick saved by Jose Veiga.
The first half has seen the home side mainly on top but with neither side looking like they can score the first goal so far.
I reckon there are about 200 to 250 Leamington fans here today, with a section of them on the far side of the pitch shown above.
Play in the second half is spoilt somewhat by the referee who does not let the game flow and gives out a lot of yellow cards, which is puzzling as it's not a dirty game. This annoys the spectators and bemuses the players.
The last 15 minutes are the most eventful of the match. George Carline sees his acrobatic scissors kick go just wide for Redditch. Then Leamington's Callum Gittings is sent off after receiving a second yellow for dissent.
Leamington are still striving to get a possible 3 points and they go very close when substitute, Ben Mackey, sees his header come back off an upright while Redditch's No.9, Sam Merson, sees his effort just go over the bar right near the end.
Leamington have a tough away trip to Weymouth coming up this Tuesday. Both teams drop down a place after wins by Poole Town and Hungerford Town who move up to 1st and 4th positions respectively and there are only 5 points separating the top 5 teams.
Match attendance: 742
Match entertainment: 6.5/10
Match entrance fee: £10
Match programme: £2
Ah, the warmer weather is here at last. The last time I visited today's destination, the Valley Stadium in Redditch, it was a January afternoon, 4 years ago, with a raw northerly wind blowing down the pitch. Funnily enough, that day's match featured the same opponents, Banbury United.
After changing trains at Birmingham New Street, I take the Redditch train and admire the countryside scenery in the Barnt Green and Alvechurch area. After a 35 minute journey I arrive at Redditch and quickly find a cafe for an all day breakfast meal. I have enough time to have a quick look round the Kingfisher Shopping Centre and then I walk up the nearby Bromsgrove Road to Redditch United's home.
There is a long drive down the hill to where the stadium is located. As you enter the ground, there is a club shop immediately on your left (where I buy a club badge for £3:50), with a tea bar beyond that and then there is the impressive looking stand with seating on the lower tier and then boxes above them. The changing rooms are located underneath this stand. Down the bottom (southern end) of the ground is a terrace which has a row of seating at the top with a covering roof. On the side opposite the stand is a covered terrace (seen in the cover photo). The top end of the ground is uncovered, with just a path.
Redditch United have a small mathematical chance of reaching the play-offs but will probably have to win all their remaining games to do so. A 0-4 home defeat on Saturday against high flying Truro City has not done their confidence any good and they sold their promising young 20 goal striker, Jermaine Hylton, to Swindon Town a few months ago too.
Banbury United on the other hand are playing for their Premier Division lives as they are looking likely to be relegated, with them firmly in 22nd place out 23 teams.
When the teams troop out on to the field, Redditch are in their usual red and black strip while the visitors are in their change strip of all yellow.
After a slow start, Redditch dominate the play for large periods of the first half with No.10, Ashley Sammons marshalling their midfield play well.
I notice that in the Redditch line up that they have 2 players in midfield who were playing at a lower level last season. They are Simeon Maye (ex-Boldmere St.Michaels) and George Carline (ex-Cadbury Athletic) and they certainly don't look out of place in this company.
Redditch deservedly take the lead in the 39th minute when after some good build up play, Sammons shoots home after the ball is knocked down to him. It's his 16th goal of the season so far.
So it's 1-0 to the home side at the interval and are looking likely to be building on this lead after the interval.
It's certainly pleasantly warm today, with many spectators in shirt sleeves and it feels about 17 degrees Celsius.
The second half starts and it's Redditch who are still having more of the play. After 49 minutes their young No.9, Courtney Baker-Richardson, sees his shot hit the post and then 8 minutes later, their energetic No.7, Leigh Phillips, takes the ball round the Banbury keeper but then from a narrow angle he too hits the post with his shot.
The Redditch captain, Ashley Sammons, suffers a heavy challenge and it's noticeable to me he's not so influential and effective for the rest of the game. Banbury United manage to get back in to the game and their forward Leam Howards sees his shot well saved by Sam Hornby in the Redditch goal after 64 minutes.
With just 8 minutes to go, Redditch pay the price for their earlier misses when from a free kick, they are unable to clear the ball and it eventually falls to the Banbury No.5, Sam Westbrook, who manages to shoot past Hornby.
Although Carline manages to get in a header on the Banbury goal with just 2 minutes to go, unfortunately he is only able to direct it in to the Banbury keeper's safe hands (as shown below).
So the final whistle blows and the draw is no good for either team. It surely ends Redditch's final hopes of reaching the play-off places and leaves Banbury with an 11 point gap to make up on Frome Town to escape relegation with just 5 games to go.
I think Redditch under the guidance of Liam Mc.Donald have had a good season on the whole with a young improving team and now need to look for a reliable striker to make progress yet again next season.
Banbury on the other hand will probably need to regroup next time round if they are relegated.
Match entrance fee: £10
Match attendance: 285
Match programme: £2
Match entertainment: 6.5/10
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