Redditch United 1, Stratford Town 1

Redditch United were denied all three points as former striker Edwin Ahenkorah struck a last gasp equaliser for visitors Stratford.

It looked as though the Reds would claim the spoils thanks to an early Luke Keen strike but it wasn’t to be with their neighbours having the better of the second half.

The opener came after just ten minutes when good control from Simeon Cobourne saw him tee up Keen and the striker drilled his shot beyond Niall Cooper in the Town goal.

Brad Catlow pulled off an excellent save to keep out a well-struck Ben Stephens strike midway through the half before Cobourne pushed an effort just the wrong side of the post following a neat one-two with Lee Hendrie.

But as half-time approached, it was Stratford who looked the more likely to add to the scoreline with Dan Summerfield firing over and Michael Taylor heading wide. And then in injury time, Richard Gregory drilled a shot just past the post with Catlow beaten.

And it was the visitors who continued to have the upper hand after the break with Catlow forced into a fine double save, firstly blocking a Taylor shot with his outstretched leg and then blocking Gregory’s fierce drive as the ball was floated back into the area.

Midway through the half, the Reds keeper was called on again, this time palming away a well-struck effort from the excellent Stephens.

United managed just one notable effort after the break, Keen being denied by the Stratford keeper with four minutes remaining.

But there was still time for the visitors to claim their equaliser, Ahenkorah latching on to Donnell Benjamin’s through ball before firing home on 89 minutes.

Reds: CATLOW 8, Jones 6 (McDonald 69, 6), Kelly 6, Loveridge 6, Courtney 7, Culinane-Liburd 6, Spink 6, Cobourne 7, Keen 6, McDermott 7 (Apostocopolous 60, 6), Hales 5 (Hendrie 18, 7). Subs (not used): Young, Brown