United's cup hopes shattered by class finish (From Redditch Advertiser)

United's cup hopes shattered by class finish

12:11pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in Sport

Redditch United 1, Birmingham City 2

Redditch suffered their second cup exit in a week after Dutch youngster Akwasi Asante knocked them out of the Birmingham Senior Cup.

There had been little to choose between the sides until the teenage striker curled a sweet effort beyond United keeper Niall Cooper midway through the second half.

Young American Will Packwood volleyed Blues into a 14th minute lead after the Reds failed to clear a corner.

Asa Charlton missed a chance to level proceedings after nodding David Bridgewater’s whipped free-kick narrowly wide before the visitors went close through Callum Reilly’s speculative long-range effort and a Packwood shot that found the side netting.

Just before the break Redditch stunned the Championship side with an equaliser from Mark Danks who turned Packwood inside out before firing home.

An upset looked likely just four minutes after the re-start when Craig Wilding found space at the back post but somehow managed to fluff his shot.

Asante, a member of City’s Europa League campaign, almost restored his side’s lead on 63minutes but Cooper did well to keep out his cheeky back-heel.

The striker made amends four minutes later but there was still a chance for the Reds to draw level through a Will Richards header only for city keeper David Lucas to deny him with an excellent save.

Blues finished the game with ten men after Mitchell Hancox was sent off for a dangerous tackle.

Reds Cooper 6, Stringfellow 6, Quaynor 6, Bridgewater 6, Charlton 7, Deards 6, Richards 7, Creswell 7, DANKS 8, Wilding 6, McDonald 6. Subs (not used): Catlow.