Redditch United 1, Weymouth 1

A MEASURE of any team is how they deal with adversity, and Redditch United certainly had to cope with plenty of angst and anguish against high-flying Weymouth.

A point was the least the Reds, showing plenty of spirit and skill, deserved after dominating the second-half.

And that came after an incident-packed first period which saw the Terras take an early lead, the Reds lose Jamie Ashmore to a horrible injury which prompted a 20-minute break in play and then Redditch boss Liam McDonald being sent to the stand for a bust-up with referee Tom Ratheram.

The Reds had levelled just before the break when Jamey Osborne slotted home a gift goal handed to him by keeper Jason Matthews’ blunder and it was pretty much one-way traffic after the break.

The Reds had been stunned when Weymouth took the lead on nine minutes with their first real attack. Keeper Jose Veiga misjudged a cross from Jake Wannell and midfielder Dean Evans stooped at the far post to squeeze the ball home.

Daniel Dubidat and Ashmore threatened an equaliser but then play was halted on 39 minutes for an ambulance to be called and take full-back Ashmore to hospital with a serious injury to his left knee.

Osborne levelled matters before the break and then the Reds, guided by playmaker Osborne’s range of passing and trickery, pushed relentlessly forward. Ten efforts on goal to just two from Weymouth told own story.

The woodwork denied Jim Mutton’s lunging effort from George Carline’s header and both Jamie Molyneux and sub Luke Shearer wasted opportunities after surging through the Terras defence.

One point ended a run of back-to-back defeats and proved that the Reds have more than enough to compete with the top teams. They will just hope Ashmore will have his chance to prove it again this season.

REDDITCH: Veiga 5; Ashmore 7 (Young 39, 6), Mutton 7, Richards 6, Flanagan 6; Baker 6 (Shearer 65, 6), Loveridge 7, Carline 7; Osborne 8; Dubidat 5, Molyneux 6. Subs: Swan, Mutibvu, Bridgwater.