REDDITCH UTD (1) 2 Aston Villa XI (1) 2

Both sides provided plenty of action for the 800-plus crowd which flocked to the Valley Stadium on Thursday to see this second floodlight celebration match.

Guest of honour, Villa midfielder Ian Taylor, got proceedings under way switching on the £32,000 lights.

Villa were rocked on 11 minutes when Redditch took the lead through Peter Sutton.

Sutton benefited from Paul Burton's neat turn and shot which was parried to him from Villa keeper Adam Rachel, allowing the striker to tap in from close range.

Redditch were good value for their lead, but it was Villa who were carving out the opportunities.

The in-form Adey made a superb stop with his legs from Gareth Evans' effort at the expense of a corner.

But the keeper could do little about the equaliser from the corner as David Hughes' bullet header flew into the net with 35 minutes gone.

Villa almost took the lead when Aaron Lescott's cross was well met by Greg Walters, who had Adey stretching after it took a deflection.

England international Gareth Barry went close after the break shooting over from an indirect free kick, before Villa substitute Tommy Jaszczun smashed a cross from the left against the Redditch upright, seconds after stepping off the bench.

The visitors took the lead on 65 minutes when Italian trialist Marco Russo converted from the penalty spot after Paul Molloy handled a strike by former Villa and England star Gordon Cowans.

Reds' fought back and Jamie Hart was unlucky when his firm effort hit the post and rebound to safety following an error in the Villa defence.

But Reds got the equaliser they deserved five minutes from time when Craig Gillett was gifted a free header 12 yards out after Mark Smith had curled in free kick from outside the area.

Redditch: Adey, Randall (Nicholls 46), Molloy (Randall 70), Cope (R Smith 46), Gillett, Mulders, Tilley (Yapp 75), Burton (Burke 46), Cross (Hart 46), Sutton, M Smith.

Attendance: 812

Man of the match: Adey