Kettering Town 1, Redditch Utd 2

MAX Loveridge struck a stunning late winner as Redditch came from behind to claim an unlikely victory at Kettering.

Trailing to a goal within seconds of the kick-off, a solid second half display was rewarded with Pauly Apostocopoulos and Loveridge on target.

The Reds suffered the worst possible start, going behind when Rene Howe’s ball into the area found the unmarked Spencer Weir-Daly who headed down for James Brighton to slot home from six yards.

And things went from bad to worse when, with just eight minutes on the clock, striker Danico Johnson hobbled off to be replaced by midfielder Ahmed Ali.

Liam Canavan pounced on a loose ball only to steer a shot just wide of the Redditch upright before an effort from Wilson Carvalho wide on the right forced visiting keeper Brad Catlow into a save.

In contrast, the Reds struggled to create anything of note in the opening half with a wayward Duane Courtney header their only real effort.

There was a 25 minute delay midway through the half as a replacement official was found after referee Matt Smith picked up an injury with the Poppies picking up where they left off with Canavan crashing an effort against the upright on 41 minutes.

But the second half saw Darren Byfield’s side raise their game and they duly levelled on 57 minutes when excellent work from Simeon Cobourne saw him hold off his marker and, with the keeper caught in no man’s land, Apostocopoulos was on hand to roll the ball into the empty net.

United keeper Brad Catlow did well to block a Weir-Daley effort on 66 minutes and the same player was denied by the upright moments later.

But just when it looked as though the points would be shared, the Reds struck a dramatic winner. The ball fell fro Loveridge 30 yards out, he jinked past two defenders to the edge of the area before guiding his shot beyond Dean Snedker in the Kettering goal.

An injury time header from Gary Mulligan prompted another good save from Catlow as United held on for victory.

Redditch: Catlow 7, Jones 6, Kelly 5, Loveridge 7, Courtney 6, Culinane-Liburd 7, Sphinx 5, COBOURNE 8, Johnson 5 (Ali 8, 6), McDermott 6 (McDonald 84), Apostocopoulos 6 (Brown 90).