Brook beat Lakeside and Boelo to march on in the cup

REDBROOK Rovers booked their place in the next round of the Gloucestershire Junior Cup with an excellent performance in dreadful conditions, overcoming both FC Lakeside 4-2 and the challenges of Storm Boelo at their Wyeside ground on Saturday.

The afternoon presented problems before a ball was even kicked, with the weather and traffic delays leaving Redbrook with just 10 players at kick-off.

Paul Brooks arrived five minutes into the game, before Joe Stephens joined the squad later to provide their only substitute, with 39 minutes remaining.

Despite the difficult start, Redbrook were outstanding from the first whistle. with high pressing, tremendous work rate and quick forward passing putting Lakeside under pressure, and the defence dealing superbly with anything played forward.

Anything that got through was confidently claimed by Theo Bowen.

And the breakthrough arrived on 10 minutes following some lovely midfield build-up play, with a perfectly-weighted through ball finding Jake Teague, who finished with his usual ruthlessness.

Six minutes later, captain Scott Windley saw a superb free-kick crash against the bar and Jono Wright react quickest, shrugging off two challenges before smashing the rebound into the net for 2–0.

Joe Reeves, operating in an unfamiliar position, was outstanding contributing defensively, linking the play and making tireless runs to create space.

Redbrook adapted brilliantly to the conditions and went into the break firmly in control.

Lakeside made tactical changes at half-time, pushing three players forward, and their approach paid off on 49 minutes as a quick break resulted in a composed finish to make it 2–1.

Redbrook’s response was immediate though, when another dangerous Windley free-kick saw the goalkeeper spill the ball, allowing David Teague to pounce and restore the two-goal advantage.

The players adapted superbly to the conditions, moving the ball forward quickly at every opportunity, and on 70 minutes, Jake Teague struck again, driving a low shot into the net from the tightest of angles near the byline to extend Redbrook’s lead.

Lakeside continued to battle and kept the ball in the Redbrook box for a sustained period, but the hosts eventually won possession and broke quickly, Joe Stephens coming close to adding another, only to be denied by an excellent save.

Lakeside grabbed a second on 75 minutes to make the closing stages competitive, but Redbrook held firm to go through to the next round.

Jake Teague was named ‘Man of the Match’ after two goals and a superb attacking contribution.

Elsewhere, the Reserves battled hard in their storm-hit North Gloucestershire 3 fixture, but lost narrowly away to Harrow Hill B.

Alex Riddell made his first start of the season, Connor Tyson returned to action after five years out with injury, and Ben Davies made his debut in goal.

The game was disrupted by a sin-bin for Josh Scott, followed shortly afterwards by an injury to Riddell, leaving Redbrook temporarily down to nine men.

But Logan Griffiths came agonisingly close to opening the scoring with a long-range effort that just cleared the crossbar before Davies produced two good saves, leaving it 0-0 at half-time.

But a series of defensive errors after the restart allowed Hill’s striker to break through unchallenged and finish well to break the deadlock.

Ralph Heaven Richards found space at the back post for the visitors but headed over, before Robbie Evans’ downward header bounced just wide and it finished 1-0.

Redbrook 1sts host Howle Hill on Saturday while the 2nds visit Leckhampton.