Stocksbridge Park Steels 1 Redditch United 1

Reds hung on for a draw in their FA Umbro Trophy second round tie at Stocksbridge Park Steels on Saturday, despite player/manager Rob Smith being sent off with 21 minutes of the game to go.

Playing against a strong wind, they began the game looking the better side and duly took the lead in the 10th minute. A drive from the edge of the box from Mark Smith was deflected over the bar and from the resulting corner Andy Carney, the home keeper, punched the ball out to Rob Smith who drove the ball past him from fully 30 yards.

Stocksbridge came back strongly and within three minutes were level. They broke quickly and with the Reds defence in disarray, midfielder Mark Todd found wing back Richard Fidler unmarked on the left side of the area and he made no mistake from 12 yards.

The game then flowed from end to end and with both defences looking shaky and it seemed only a matter of time before further goals came but this proved not to be the case.

Reds' best chance to increase their lead in a very entertaining first half fell to Paul Danks. Some slick passing down the right flank ended with full back Ross Knight sending over a pin-point cross at the near post but Danks managed to head the ball wide of the far post from about six yards out.

Another chance went begging two minutes into the second half. Paul Molloy found himself with the goal at his mercy, but he somehow managed to put the ball over the bar.

Dave Adey came to Reds' rescue in the 61st minute when he blocked a pile-driver from Steel's centre back Ian Patterson after Reds had shown their frailty defending a corner.

The game had lost some of its sparkle and referee Birkett provided most of the action with his notebook, giving yellow cards to Jan Mulders and Mark Dearlove of Reds and Mark Highfield of the Steels.

The game took a downturn for Redditch in the 69th minute when Rob Smith was dismissed for kicking Chris Dolby after Reds had conceded a free kick just outside the area.

To their credit, Redditch defended very well and Stocksbridge showed little enterprise in their use of the extra man. Indeed, the best chance in the remaining minutes fell to Redditch. Jamie Hart was put through but with only the keeper to beat he fired the ball high over the bar.

Redditch: Adey, Knight, Smith M, Molloy, Manton, Mulders, Field, Dearlove, Cross, Danks, Smith R. Subs used: Hart. Not used: Randall, Burke, Evans, Shiels.

Attendance: 219

Man of the match: Dave Adey.