Reds pointer

THE second week of the season is, as one supporter noted, a little early for a big relegation six-pointer, but this game had all of the hallmarks of a must-win fixture between two clubs desperate to avoid being dragged into a bottom-of-the-table scrap.

There was very little quality or imagination on show, with long balls being the order of the day from both sides.

Leigh were slightly more adventurous and more willing to play the ball on the ground. They had the lion's share of what chances there were but failed to trouble Reds keeper Richard Anstiss enough to earn anything more than a draw.

In fact, it was Redditch who had the better of the opening exchanges but they too failed to test the keeper, Richard Softley going closest with a volley over the bar.

On 19 minutes Leigh came close to taking the lead with their first significant attack.

A clever turn by Scott Willis 25 yards from goal drew a foul from Carl Palmer. Andy Roscoe fired the ball low around the wall and although Anstiss was unable to hold on to the effort, he recovered well to block the follow-up.

As the interval approached, Chris Murphy volleyed wide from 20 yards, taking the shot on early after good build-up play from Palmer and Simon Hollis.

In the second half, Leigh looked the more threatening side for long periods, and Chris Simm forced a good save from Anstiss just three minutes after the restart.

Reds boss Gary Whild soon changed things around in the hope of conjuring a breakthrough, replacing Hollis and Rob Taylor with James Knott and Francino Francis (pictured). Murphy dropped into midfield as the formation switched from 4-3-3 to a basic 4-4-2.

However, the action continued to be concentrated in the United half and if Willis was disappointed to fire over the bar on 61 minutes, it was nothing compared to the miss from Simm moments later.

The unmarked striker got on the end of a cross from the right but, from in front of goal, sliced his shot so badly that an embarrassed silence descended over Hilton Park before being replaced by the jeers of the travelling support.

With 15 minutes to go, Redditch finally forced home keeper John Lamb into his first save of the afternoon when Francis drilled in a low shot from 18 yards.

As the clock ran down and the fans began to contemplate the trip home with a first point in the bag, Reds nearly snatched all three when Murphy tricked his way down the left and stood the ball up perfectly for Knott to glance a header over Lamb only to see it hit the crossbar, the home defence eventually scrambling the ball to safety.

Leigh: Lamb, Ellison, ROSCOE, Stoker, Brockley, Maddox, Settle (Shillito 71), Willis (Drew 90), Owen (McDonough 71), Simm, I Taylor. Subs (not used): McGrath, Mann.

Redditch: Anstiss 5, Robinson 5, Charlton 5, Softley 6 (Walker 68, 5), GEOHAGHON 7, Petty 5, Hollis 5 (Knott 56, 6), Whitcombe 6, Murphy 7, R Taylor 6 (Francis 56, 6), Palmer 6. Subs (not used): Reece, Willetts.

Attendance: 155.