📸 George Arghir
✍️ Jack Underwood
Redditch United were forced to settle for a point away at Leamington on Tuesday night after the hosts scored twice in stoppage time. Szhem Whyte-Hall scored a first half-brace, before Chris Wreh and Kai Tonge scored late on.
Redditch had a bright start to the game, when Danny King had an effort saved at close range early on, before Szhem Whyte-Hall was played in behind, but rolled his effort just wide.
Harrison Hazard then crossed to Aaron Bishop from the left, and his powerful header was saved well by Brian Okonkwo.
Robbie Bunn then attempted an audacious lob from outside the box, which looked to have beaten the ‘keeper, but it rolled just wide.
In the 28th minute, Whyte-Hall was played in behind once again, and he rolled his effort past Okonkwo and into the back of the net to give Redditch the lead.
Just two minutes later, Szhem found himself running goalwards again, taking the ball round Okonkwo and slotting away for his second goal of the game.
Redditch were ruthless and nearly earned a third, as King and Billy Fielding should have scored, but had efforts saved at close range, while Whyte-Hall hit the post and the crossbar and nearly grabbed a first half hat-trick.
HALF-TIME: Leamington 0-2 Redditch United.
It was a quieter start to the second half, as the Brakes began to grow into the game, but it was still Redditch with the better opportunities.
In the 68th minute, Whyte-Hall was brought down in the box and Redditch were awarded a penalty. He stepped up for what would have been his hat-trick, but Okonkwo dived right and tipped it behind for a corner.
Leamington had started to put the pressure on as they forced multiple corners and hammered the goal with efforts. Rory Brown all of a sudden was called into action and produced a number of outstanding fingertip saves.
The referee had indicated four minutes of added time, but despite Brown’s save to deny Iddriss Fuseini, Chris Wreh was there to bundle home the rebound.
Shouts for the final whistle were echoing across the ground as more than four minutes had been played. Bishop took the ball into the corner but fouled his man and was booked for stopping the restart. Leamington launched the ball upfield and the ball fell to Kai Tonge who slotted it past Brown to earn his side a point right at the death.
FULL-TIME: Leamington 2-2 Redditch United.
Redditch United XI: Brown; Shambrook, Straw, Owen; King, Soleman, Bunn (C), Fielding, Hazard; Bishop, Whyte-Hall.
Subs: Willow (86’), Foreshaw (89’), Thompson-McKenzie, Johnson, Bruck (64’).
Attendance: 402
