Worksop Town 1, Redditch United 1

MANAGER Gary Whild was hoping for three points from this clash with fellow relegation candidates Worksop.

In the end it was a hard-earned draw for the Reds who showed plenty of spirit in battling back after conceding inside the opening ten minutes.

A two-week break ensured defensive trio Mark Creighton, Ian King and Damian Whitcombe had recovered from knocks and they took their place in a side that also had places for a trio of strikers in Richard Adams, Jermaine Clarke and Craig Wilding - the latter playing just behind the others.

And that formation seemed to be causing the Nottinghamshire side problems early on as Wilding put and effort inches wide on five minutes before Adams was denied by the keeper's legs a minute later.

But with Redditch looking for a breakthrough, they were caught with a sucker punch at the other end when a low Ben Saunders shot squirmed under keeper Richard Anstiss and Steve Owens tapped the ball over the line on nine minutes.

The goal seemed to drain the confidence out of the visitors and both Saunders and Leo Bertos tried their luck from distance before the impressive Tony Crane sent a free-kick just over the crossbar.

But with ten minutes of the half remaining, Reds levelled with a stunning 30-yard strike from King, the ball swerving past diving Worksop keeper David Stockdale.

The second half saw Clarke have an effort blocked by the home keeper soon after the restart following an excellent break through the middle by Carl Palmer.

But it was Worksop who created the better of the second half chances. On 63 minutes the United defence failed to deal with a free-kick into the area and although Crane's header was blocked, Saunders volleyed the rebound goalwards and Anstiss needed to produce a brilliant save to keep the scores level.

Mark Wilson then headed just over before Owens drilled an effort against the Redditch upright with just a minute to go.

But there was still a chance for the visitors to grab the win when, deep in injury time, Daire Doyle picked out Adams in front of goal only for the striker's stooping header to sail wide of the target.

Worksop: Stockdale, Nicholson, Davies, Thorpe (Jackson 65),CRANE, Gordon, Bertos, Dempsey, Saunders, Owens, Wilson. Subs (not used): Pearce, Oldham, Leeson, Sollitt.

Reds: Anstiss 6, King 6, Whitcombe 6, Thomas 6, Creighton 6, Taylor 8, HPALMER 8 (Hollis 81), Scheppel 6, Wilding 7 (May 78), Clarke 6 (Doyle 67, 7), Adams 7. Subs (not used): Field, Reece.

Referee: Mr AN Smith (Castleford)

Attendance: 370