IF this game doesn't get fans making a return to the Valley they might as well just lock the gates and throw away the key.

Not only did Reds manage to claw back a three-goal deficit but the fans found a new goalscoring hero.

Richard Ball had not even trained with his new teammates but managed to serve up just what has been missing for the best part of the season - goals!

The striker's arrival from Southern League football may have been questioned by a number in the crowd but they were singing his name by the end.

Ball certainly played his part in the Redditch fightback. He won the first half penalty that resulted in Kettering keeper Mark Osborn being sent off and rattled the crossbar before finally marking his debut with a goal. His equaliser, four minutes from time, was the icing on the cake.

But there were other heroes. Simon Hollis chipped in with the other two goals and proved a constant thorn in the side of the Poppies defence. And, after a nervy opening when the visitors scored at will, Ashley Walker grew in stature with a string of outstanding challenges.

But the star turn was Scott Rickards, the master craftsman whose creative flair spurred the Reds. He had a hand in United's three second half goals and, had he not pulled up with hamstring trouble, Redditch could well have been celebrating a victory.

The drama began in the opening minute when Chris Murphy sneaked behind the Kettering defence only to be denied by Osborn.

Ball and Robert Taylor were also denied but the visitors were suffering no such frustrations and Rene Howe headed in a Craig Westcarr cross for the 17th-minute opener.

The game looked beyond Redditch in a frantic two-minute burst. John Dempster headed a second on 38 minutes. Ball then sent an effort crashing against the woodwork before Brett Solkhon slotted home a third a minute later after the impressive Andre Boucaud had taken the ball around keeper Richard Anstiss.

But the fun was just beginning. Osborn's red card two minutes before the break, for bringing down Ball, resulted in Solkhon donning the keeper's jersey and his first task was fishing Hollis' penalty out of the net.

Seven minutes into the second half, Solkhon saved well from Rickards only for Ball to drill home the rebound. Boucaud added a fourth for Kettering on 69 minutes but the Reds, inspired by Rickards, continued to press and closed the gap again ten minutes later through Hollis.

Just four minutes remained when Ball stole in at the far post to ram home the equaliser and cap an enthralling encounter.

Reds: Anstiss 7, Petty 6, Taylor 7, A Walker 7, Geoghaghan 7, Softley 7 (D Walker 62, 6), Hollis 8, Murphy 6, Ball 8, RICKARDS 9 (Adams 89), Palmer 6. Subs (not used): Cottrill, Clarke, Rea.

Kettering: Osborn, Graham, McKie, Theobold, McIlwain, Dempster, Olaleye (Hall 69), BOUCAUD, Howe, Westcarr, Solkhon. Subs (not used): Caskey, Makofo, Black, Perrah.