Redditch United 1, Weymouth 1

An inexperienced Redditch United scored their first league goal in three games to salvage a valuable point late on against a largely dominant Weymouth side, writes Lewis Cox.

Jamie Spencer smashed in a penalty five minutes from time to cancel out Stewart Yetton’s first-half header as Liam McDonald’s men earned an unlikely draw against one of the Southern Premier League’s early pace setters.

The Reds fielded an almost unrecognisable line-up, particularly in attack, where injuries to Jermaine Hylton and Jamie Molyneux and Ashley Sammons and Max Loveridge suspensions forced McDonald’s hand.

A recall for Rikardo Reid saw him partner youngster Liam Fullerton up front, both were offered little service and struggled to impose throughout.

The southerly visitors thought they had the lead on 18 minutes, Yetton smashed home but was pulled up after home keeper Bradley Catlow was barged over.

Simeon Maye wasted the host’s best opening of the first-half as he blazed a cross wastefully over.

On the half-hour, Chris Shepard tested Catlow from distance, before five minutes later the Terras broke the deadlock when right-back Ashley Wells’ perfect cross was headed beyond Catlow for Yetton’s eighth of the season. The Weymouth skipper almost doubled the lead three minutes later, fizzing an effort inches wide.

Ten minutes into the second period Weymouth midfielder Adam Kelly’s fine half-volley from 30-yards flicked Catlow’s crossbar on the way over, before Tim Sills’ header found the side netting on the hour.

Spencer and reserve forward Demarni Wisdom were introduced shortly after and offered a pace injection going forward. George Carline’s nice touch on the edge of the box teed up Spencer who fired narrowly wide on 69 minutes.

The visitors looked set to be heading home with maximum points as the game entered the final ten minutes, before Maye’s burst was almost inexplicably halted by a desperate Chris McPhee lunge.

Spencer’s fierce spot-kick gave Weymouth player-manager Jason Matthews no chance in goal and put an end to a tough run with what could prove a crucial point.

Redditch: Catlow 7, CULLINANE-LIBURD 8, Flanagan 7, Maye 7, Scarr 7, Mutton 7, Carline 8, Spink 7, Fullerton 6 (Melvin 60, 6), Reid 6 (Spencer 60, 7), Jones 7 (Wisdom 70, 6). Subs (not used): Hornby, Bridgwater.