20 hours Ago
Matt Clarke's fifth-placed Reds deservedly pulled back the goal to draw 1-1 with Spalding United at the Valley Stadium last Saturday. The Reds now head to Hitchin Town on Saturday (3pm) before hosting another struggler in Biggleswade Town on December 14. Johnston struck on 81 minutes in front of 397 fans after Theo Hudson had put visitors Spalding ahead 11 minutes previously.
In a slow start neither keeper was tested early on with Marvellous Onabirekhanlen not quite catching an opportunity right for Redditch on the edge of the area. Spalding went close with a deflection and another effort scooped over before the ball was in the net but ruled out for offside on 19 minutes. Home keeper Callum Smith made the first save of the game on the half-hour mark from the away side's Khanya Leshabela.
Alex Cameron fired a shot wide for the Reds before half-time after being played in by Johnston. Johnston was denied by experienced keeper Tony Breeden, formerly of Kidderminster Harriers and Bromsgrove Sporting, early in the second half and then he rolled another opportunity just wide from the edge of the box. Lashebela looped a chance off target before Redditch went down the other end and Johnston's effort was blocked before George Burroughs directed his shot narrowly wide.
But Spalding swooped with the opener on 70 minutes as a left-wing cross was flicked home by striker Hudson in the six-yard box. Redditch quickly hit back with keeper Smith launching a counter-attack which ended with Johnston not quite being able to get his shot off. With Bradley Burton and Jahvan Davidson-Miller introduced as subs, it did not take long for Johnston to swoop for the equaliser as the forward took a touch before firing low into the left-hand corner.
Cameron headed Jack Kelly's cross over as Redditch were unable to find a winner but the point kept them in the top five. Meanwhile, mid-table Studley slumped 5-0 at title-chasing Brocton in the Midland League Premier Division. They host Stone Old Alleynians on Saturday (3pm) and AFC Wulfrunians next Monday in the League Cup (7.
45pm). High-flying Redditch Borough entertain Wellington in Hellenic League Division One on Saturday (3pm). Runaway leaders Droitwich Spa suffered a first league defeat of the season 3-1 at home to Stonehouse Town.
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