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Report written by Jack Underwood.
Redditch United were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Bishop’s Stortford. The Reds dominated the majority of the game, but could not just get the ball over the line despite a number of good chances.
There were two changes to the line-up from the defeat at Stratford as Joel Shambrook and Jack Loughran returned to the starting XI, whilst Dexter Dudley-Toole and Matt Warburton were sidelined with injury.
It was a quiet start to the game, but in the 14th minute Redditch somehow did not take the lead when Liam Loughlan cut inside and his effort smacked off the crossbar. The rebound fell to Alex Cameron who hit the woodwork again, before Adam Hayton pulled off a brilliant save to deny the third effort.
The Stortford ‘keeper was called into action again a few minutes later, as the Reds opened up the defence and Hayton tipped away a powerful Loughran effort from the edge of the box.
The rest of the first half remained quiet until the break, with the home side unlucky not to be ahead after hitting the woodwork twice and controlling the game.
After the break, Loughran was dispossessed in the middle of the park, with the ball falling to Obi Onyeagwara who ran towards goal, going down easily in the box and the referee was quick to wave away the claim.
The visitors began to grow into the game and Victory Aiye was played through down the right, but Warmington comfortably held their first effort of the game.
A Redditch set-piece on the edge of the box nearly saw Loughran played through on goal, but the ball was intercepted and launched forward to Cole DaSilva, but the defender opted to shoot from distance and the break was over.
Late on, the home side were battling for the breakthrough, as Loughran’s cross fell to Loughlan whose effort was saved, before Shan Fernando’s effort inside the box was blocked near the goal.
However, Redditch could not quite get the ball over the line and the referee blew for full-time to settle the stalemate at the Valley Stadium.
Redditch United XI: Warmington; King, Owen, Soleman, Shambrook, Mole; Bunn, Loughran; Loughlan, Cameron (C), Bruck.
Subs: Baker, Fernando (84′), Flanagan (73′), O’Hare, Brown (73′).
Attendance: 428
