Redditch United 1, Alfreton Town 1

A LATE goal from substitute James Johnson salvaged a point for the Reds in a dour Valley Stadium clash but it was a game they should have won with ease.

On another day striker Richard Ball could have finished with a hat-trick while Alfreton scored with one of their few shots on target.

But there was at least one positive to come from the game - the display of 17-year-old defender Shane Healy.

The teenage right back, a regular in United's successful youth team, was Redditch's best player, making it a dream debut.

It was the visitors who started the brighter though with Brian Cusworth latching on to a long clearance only to send his 35-yard effort over the crossbar.

Ball put an effort wide while Rob Taylor drilled one over the target in what was a tentative opening period.

Redditch had claims for a penalty turned down midway through the half when Howard Forinton appeared to be shoved in the back by defender Anton Brown but the referee waved play on.

Alfreton then pushed on with former Redditch striker Scott Rickards firing an effort at keeper Danny Lewis while Laurie Wilson's trickery took him past United defender Ashley Walker only for his cross to run harmlessly across goal.

The final minutes of the half saw Reds up the tempo. With 38 minutes gone Jai Stanley, starting his first game for the Valley Stadium side, lifted a free-kick into the area for Forinton but his shot was cleared off the line by Brown.

A minute later Ball was denied by a fine low save from Kyle Sutcliffe, the Alfreton keeper signed during the week from Farsley Celtic.

It was a similar tale at the start of the second half with Redditch having the better of the chances only for their finishing to let them down.

Ball should have done better on 64 minutes when, after racing on to a Lewis clearance, he rushed his shot and the ball ballooned high over the bar.

And the striker was again off target a minute later, clearing the woodwork from six yards after latching onto a clever free-kick from Damian Whitcombe.

After going so near to taking the lead, United found themselves trailing on 68 minutes. A corner was not dealt with and although Greg Young's header was cleared off the line by Chris Murphy, Chris Walton was on hand to force the rebound home.

Two minutes later and Cusworth was denied by a good Lewis save while Walton went close to netting his second with a shot that fizzed the wrong side of the post.

The arrival of substitute Damien Markman injected extra pace into the Redditch attack and the pacey frontman won his side a penalty seven minutes from time when he was held back in the area by Young.

Ball took the spot kick but Sutcliffe saved and then managed to keep out the follow-up thanks to a brilliant reflex stop.

But United continued to push and they finally bagged an equaliser on 86 minutes. Good work from Forinton saw him pick out Johnson and the former Birmingham City youngster headed in from six yards.

Reds: Lewis 7, HHEALY 8, Whitcombe 6 (Petty 65, 5), Rea 6, Walker 5, Stanley 5 (Markman 71), Cowley 6, Murphy 6, Ball 5, Taylor 7, Forinton 8. Subs (not used): Deakin, Dickinson Alfreton: Sutcliffe 6, Hannigan 6, HBARNARD 8, M Wilson 6, Young 6, L Wilson 7, Brown 7, Walton 6, Cusworth 7, Rickards 6 (Douglas-Pringle 60, 7), Bowler 6. Subs (not used): Doxey, Outram, Henshaw, Cockerill.

Ref: Mr S Bennett (Stoke) 6