Click here to view the full matchday gallery, images taken by Martin Attewell & Linda Babaie.
Written by Jack Underwood.
Redditch United shared the points at home with Stratford Town, after Robbie Bunn’s rocket cancelled out Callum Ebanks’ early opener.
There was only one change to the team as Ryan Boothe came in to replace the departed Anthony Dwyer, who moved to step 6 side Wakefield AFC. Robbie Bunn also returned to the Reds squad and was named on the bench.
In the first minute, the visitors would take the lead, when a long ball was played down to Ebanks, who beat Ollie Taylor in the air, and the ball rolled into the back of the net.
It was a slow start to the game from Redditch, as the Bards continued to have long-ranged efforts; however, they were no test for Taylor.
The Reds began to grow into the game and came close from a Morgan Owen corner, but the visitors dealt with it.
Redditch came close again towards the end of the first half, as the ball fell to a Reds man at the back post, but the Stratford defender did well to clear.
There was a change in shape just before the break, as Bunn came on to replace Joel Shambrook.
Matt Clarke’s side entered the break behind but had come into the game a lot more.
Taylor was forced into a good save to deny Stratford a second, early on in the second half.
In the 60th minute, Bunn fired a first-time rocket from outside the box into the bottom corner past Jacob Weaver, to get his side back into the game.
The Bards responded quickly when they whipped in a ball across goal from the left, but no one was there to tap in.
Kieran Brown and Aurio Neto-Teixeira worked well together down the left, before Bunn’s effort hit the side netting.
Redditch came close twice late on when Cyrus Babaie had a shot which rolled inches wide of the post, taking a touch off a Stratford player on the way and out for a corner. The resulting set-piece from Josh Esen was then punched off the line by Weaver.
In stoppage time, Matt Clarke was sent off when he was believed to have stood in the way of a Stratford throw-in, whilst inside his technical area.
The referee then blew for full-time, confirming a good point for Redditch against a strong Stratford side.
Redditch United XI: Taylor; Shambrook, Lomax, Rowley (C), Dudley-Toole, Brown; Teixeira, Ceesay, Owen; Boothe, Babaie.
Subs: Burton, Kelly, Esen (63’), Mardenborough (80’), Bunn (42’).
Attendance: 500
