Platt's dream debut earns Reds a point (From Redditch Advertiser)

Platt's dream debut earns Reds a point

9:39am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport

Redditch United 0, Bashley 0

Redditch United keeper Dan Platt made a dream debut to help secure a hard-earned point for the Valley Stadium side against their relegation rivals.

The former Evesham and Stourport Swifts shotstopper pulled off a series of fine saves to make it just one defeat in five games in their battle to avoid the drop.

He was first called into action inside two minutes when James Stokoe rose to meet a George Colson free-kick, Platt palming the header over the target.

The home side went close soon after when Jermaine Hylton drilled an effort goalwards which visiting keeper Stuart Moore did well to push around the foot of the post.

Hylton looked the likeliest in the Redditch side to break the deadlock, firing a long-range effort just over before steering another at the Bashley keeper.

But it was the visitors who finished the half the stronger and it looked as though Gary Middleton had handed them the lead just before the break only for his header to be diverted over the crossbar by teammate Stokoe.

The second half saw Stokoe break clear only to delay his shot and allow Redditch defender Asa Charlton to deny him while George Colson let fly from the edge of the area only for Platt to pull off another fine save.

But the Redditch keeper’s best saves came in the final 15 minutes. He pulled off an outstanding one-handed stop to keep out a 30-yard screamer from Ian Oliver before blocking a Charlie Knight effort after the winger had broken from inside his own half.

The Reds also had chances but found Moore in top form in the visitors’ goal as he tipped a close-range Charlton header over the crossbar.

And Will Richards was inches away from snatching a late United winner with a shot from the edge of the area that Matt Finlay managed to block, injuring his shoulder in the process.

Reds: PLATT 8, Moran 6, Quaynor 5, Charlton 7, Flanagan 6, Bennett 5 (Deards 56, 6), Oshungbure 6, McDonald 6, Hylton 7, Richards 6, Washbourne 6 (West 74). Subs (not used): Catlow, Gabbidon