Redditch United 1 Cinderford Town 0

A Peter Sutton goal, fifteen minutes from time, was enough to settle this entertaining Western Division encounter and secure Reds' Dr Martens League status for another season, writes Rob Blundell.

However, it could have been a much more comfortable victory for United, had they taken any of a whole host of chances that came their way, particularly in the first half, when Sutton spurned one opportunity after another.

As it was, Rod Brown's side had to wait until the last quarter of an hour to clinch the points, with Cinderford putting up determined resistance and coming close to taking the lead themselves on a number of occasions.

Redditch had to overcome an injury crisis for this one, with Lee Knight unable to play any part after damaging his knee at Bilston last weekend.

In addition, Matty Hall's thigh problem prevented him from starting, although he did make an appearance as a second-half substitute, replacing Stuart Grosvenor.

The enforced changes gave youngster Chris Hill the opportunity to start for the first time, and he grasped it with both hands, showing the 130-strong crowd why the club had seen fit to award him a contract.

Hill was outstanding throughout, and his contribution, most notably in the first half, will not have gone unnoticed by those with one eye on next season. Hill, playing on the left wing, delivered cross after dangerous cross, only to see shots fly high and wide from forwards in good positions.

Three times in the first fifteen minutes, Hill laid on chances for the front two of Sutton and Paul Danks, but United's strikers were unable to convert.

Cinderford nearly made United pay for these misses, but James Turley must have borrowed someone else's boots for the game, as he wasted a number of excellent openings. On eleven minutes, he glanced a header wide from a good left-wing free-kick, when he should at least have hit the target, then seven minutes later, he was on the end of an excellent flick, but he put his far-post volley wide of a gaping goal.

Turley's frustration grew when he finally managed to get one on target, only to see it deflected onto the woodwork, Matt Southwick clearing the loose ball under pressure from Daryl Addis.

Chris Bale let fly from thirty yards, but his shot didn't quite dip enough, and Olden was grateful to see it clear the crossbar by inches.

At the other end, a fantastic pass from Sutton set up Grosvenor inside the Cinderford area, but the midfielder delayed his shot and the chance was gone.

Moments later, Danks controlled the ball and juggled it before crossing to Craig Harris, whose bullet header was fractionally over the bar.

Six minutes from the break, Hill created yet another chance for Sutton, but once again he was unable to hit the target.

Reds began the second half much the stronger of the two teams, and Sutton was unlucky to be flagged for offside, after more wonderful trickery from Hill.

On the hour, Grosvenor found time and space to get a shot away, but it was weak and failed to trouble Andy Fisher in the Cinderford goal.

Fisher was nearly caught out a few minutes later, hesitating and allowing Sutton to charge down his clearance, but the ball didn't run kindly for United, and they were unable to force a shot. Lyndon Tomkins might have scored for the visitors on sixty-nine minutes, but his header shaved the upright, while Jamie Ince should have done better than to fire wide after Redditch carelessly conceded possession.

On seventy-five minutes Redditch finally broke the deadlock, Southwick slipping the ball through for Sutton, who ran away from the visiting defence before driving the ball past Fisher and into the bottom corner.

Sutton then set up substitute Lee Booth with an excellent chance, but Booth's shot was well blocked by Fisher, and Hall could only volley wide from the rebound.

Hall had another great goalscoring opportunity moments later, getting into a great position after a one-two with Sutton, but he failed to compose himself, and planted his shot straight at the keeper. In injury-time, Hall delivered a cross which Sutton headed over the bar, then Hall himself had a shot that was blocked by his namesake, Cinderford defender Leigh.

Thanks to Redditch United for permission to use report.