Redditch United held by title rivals in goalless draw

REDDITCH slipped from top spot of the Southern League Premier Division after being held to a goalless draw by title rivals Leamington.

The Reds had the better of the game but lost their way in front of goal with visiting central defenders Joe Magunda and Jamie Tank keeping them at bay.

And they were almost undone late on when Leamington substitute Ben Mackey headed against the United upright after meeting Richard Taundry’s free-kick into a packed penalty area.

Jack Edwards went close for the visitors on ten minutes, lifting his shot over the crossbar from 12 yards, and Reds keeper Jose Veiga pulled off a smart save at the foot of his near post to keep out a Sam Austin free-kick ten minutes before the break.

But aside from these two efforts Redditch dominated with skipper Ashley Sammons controlling things from midfield.

Sam Merson volleyed wide on 18 minutes with Sammons then twice going close.

Simeon Maye forced visiting keeper Tony Breeden into a diving save on 26 minutes with Sammons then drilling a shot straight at the shotstopper soon after.

The second half was littered with cautions as referee Danny Gratton filled his notebook with eight names, Leamington’s on loan midfielder Callum Gittings being sent off after picking up his second yellow card 11 minutes from time.

The stop-start nature of the game did little to help the flow but, with 15 minutes to go, United’s George Carline almost broke the deadlock with a spectacular scissor kick that whistled just the wrong side of the upright.

Mackey’s header proved Leamington’s only real chance of the second half although the sending off did see them raise their tempo.

And then, as the game entered injury time, the Reds went close to snatching all three points when the ball broke for Merson but he guided his shot just over the visitors’ goal.

Reds: Veiga 6, Maye 7, Cullinane-Liburd 6, Carline 7, Flanagan 6, Richards 6, Thompson-Brown 6, Bako 6 (Hallahan 81), Merson 7, SAMMONS 8, Shearer 5 (Ellis 72). Subs (not used): Young, Loveridge, Molyneux