Redditch United 0, Hitchin Town 0

Redditch’s play-off hopes suffered a set-back as they were held to a goalless draw by their mid-table visitors.

Some resolute Hitchin defending restricted the home side to just a handful of clear chances with visiting keeper Charlie Horlock adding to the frustration by producing a number of excellent saves.

The first of these came on 13 minutes when he managed to push an Ashley Sammons effort around the foot of the post.

The Reds continued to dominate and, from a series of corners, Calvin Dinsley had a shot deflected wide before Clayton McDonald powered a header the wrong side of the post.

Horlock then pulled off a brilliant stop following another corner to keep out a point blank McDonald effort.

Hitchin created some chances of their own after the break with Jonny McNamara putting a free-kick wide before Nat Peacock fired a shot straight at Sam Hornby in the Reds goal.

But as the half wore on, United upped the tempo as they looked for the goal that would lift them to within touching distance of the top five.

Some excellent work from McDonald set up Sammons who fired his shot at the keeper before an excellent cross from Liam Spink on the right picked out substitute Courtney Baker-Richardson but the striker lifted his shot high over the target.

Jamie Molyneux entered the fray for the final 11 minutes and was thwarted in front of goal by Kane Smith’s perfectly-timed challenge.

And there was still time for one last save from the impressive Horlock who flung himself across goal to push away a Sammons free-kick two minutes from the end.

The draw stretched United’s unbeaten league run to six games but they remain three points adrift of the play-offs.

Reds: Hornby 6, Jones 6, Culinane-Liburd 6, Dinsley 7, McDonald 8, Flanagan 6, Maye 7 (Angus 68, 6), SPINK 8 (Molyneux 79), Phillips 7 (Baker-Richards 59, 6), Sammons 7, Carline 6. Subs (not used): Caines, Catlow.