Redditch United 2, Kettering Town 1

Redditch are virtually guaranteed a play-off place after a brace of Ashley Sammons penalties wrapped up a nail-biting victory over promotion rivals Kettering.

The Poppies and Weymouth could still mathematically overhaul Liam McDonald’s side but would have to overturn the Reds’ superior goal difference of nearly 20 goals.

Sammons fired in the eighth minute opener from the spot after Kettering keeper Craig Hill had brought down Simeon Maye.

And there was nearly a second midway through the half when Sammons and Sam Merson combined to set-up Jim Mutton but his diving header was deflected for a corner.

Kettering also had chances with the best of them falling to James Brighton but he steered his header inches wide.

And then, on the stroke of half-time, keeper Hill brought down Maye for a second time and Sammons drilled in his second penalty of the game.

Hill made up for his misdemeanours in injury time though, keeping out Robbie Thompson-Brown’s point blank shot.

Kettering had more of the play in the second half and were thrown a lifeline on 67 minutes when Liam Canavan was shoved over by Jordan Liburd-Culinane and Wilson Carvalho fired in the penalty.

The visitors threw players forward in the closing stages but excellent defending kept them at bay with substitute Silvano Obeng having a shot deflected just wide before having an injury time header brilliantly kept out by Jose Veiga in the Reds goal.

Reds: Veiga 8, Culinane-Liburd 5, Flanagan 7, Maye 6, Mutton 7, RICHARDS 8, Thompson-Brown 5, Loveridge 6, Merson 8, Sammons 7, Bako 6 (Johnson 64, 5). Subs (not used): Young, Hallahan, Shearer, Bridgewater.