Football
Old boy deprives Reds of vital win

Redditch United 1 Leamington 1

FORMER Redditch United centre back Liam Daly came back to haunt his old club with a last-gasp equaliser which deprived the Reds of a precious Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division victory on Tuesday.

Simon Redhead's side had looked on course for only their second league win of the season thanks to Will Richards' opener but Daly preserved the table-topping Brakes' unbeaten record with a staggering sixth goal of the season already.

Daly's goal came in the third minute of injury time and is a bitter pill for the Reds to swallow, leaving them 18th in the table with seven points from eight matches before they return to league action with a home match against St Albans City on October 6.

The visitors went close when Joe Magunda and Matt Dodd combined to create an opening for another former Redditch man - Tom Berwick - but the striker's shot was tipped on to the bar by home keeper Niall Cooper.

The Reds hit back through Liam McDonald whose long range effort was turned around the post by Kevin Sawyer but Richards escaped his marker to head home the resulting corner in the 27th minute.

Brakes struggled to carve out any clearcut openings in a scrappy affair but the prolific Daly continued his rich vein of form by heading home Stephan Morley's free kick to spark celebrations among the visiting fans.

Redditch, whose next match is the FA Trophy first qualifying round tie at Nantwich Town on September 29, were beaten 3-2 at Devon outfit Bideford on Saturday.

Redhead handed debuts to new midfield recruits Niall Wellington and Jordan Fitzpatrick and ex-West Brom Academy man Wellington in particular looked lively on the left.

The visitors shaded the first half as Fitzpatrick and Mark Danks both fired wide but early second half goals from Dominic Rivans and Matty Bye put the hosts in command by the hour mark.

Connor Deards' close range finish gave Redditch hope with ten minutes remaining but Matty Andrew's goal on the break ended any ambitions of a comeback and ensured Danks' last minute strike after good work by Deards was no more than a consolation.

REDDITCH United U18s were beaten 1-0 in the FA Youth Cup by visitors Newcastle Town on Wednesday as they paid the price for a poor first half in which they conceded the goal.

The Reds were vastly improved after the break and only the heroics of the Newcastle keeper prevented them from progressing.

There was better news for United U21s who thumped visitors Washford Lions 5-0 in Stratford Alliance Aquaid Division One on Saturday.

Ash Granville bagged four goals to make it eight in just two games for him and Ryan Butler was also on the mark.

United Reserves are still chasing their first win after being held to a 0-0 draw by Quorn on Saturday.

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