REDDITCH UNITED 2 Shepshed Dynamo 2

A STUNNING 35-yard strike by full back Stuart Randall seven minutes from time got the Reds out of jail as they looked to be heading for defeat against lowly opposition.

Redditch began confidently as they went in search of their first home league victory of the season against a visiting side still looking for their first away league goal.

Adam Nicholls should have done better on three minutes when he got on the end of Randall's cross from the left but his free header flashed wide of the post.

Seconds later, Nicky Cross nearly opened the scoring with an opportunist strike from 30 yards but could only watch in dismay as it hit the upright.

At the other end, Michael Stephenson struck a powerful shot inches over the bar to give the home side a warning.

Redditch took a controversial lead on 30 minutes as Jan Mulders scored the easiest of headers from Peter Sutton's pin-point free kick, as the Shepshed defence stopped after the referee blew his whistle with the ball in flight.

Mulders almost grabbed his second with a fierce volley from the corner of the area but was foiled by a fine finger-tip save by visiting keeper Dean Thomas.

The visitors got back on level terms just before the break when Lee McGlinchey took advantage of sloppy defending to head home Carl Nolan's free kick from the left.

Their goal inspired Shepshed as they outplayed Redditch in the second half and only excellent goalkeeping from Dave Adey kept the Reds in the game as he foiled Stephenson and Ibrahim Bah in the space of 60 seconds.

But Adey was unable to stop Stephenson on 70 minutes when the lively striker slotted home after a fine four-man move.

Redditch failed to capitalise on a number of half chances and looked to be heading for defeat until Randall unleashed a candidate for goal of the season.

The full back began the move before picking up a return pass from Peter Sutton, which he struck venomously into the top corner to give Redditch a share of the points.

Redditch: Adey, Sutton, Randall, Manton, Gillett, Mulders, R Smith (M Smith 45), Nicholls, Cross, Hart, Dearlove. Subs (unused) Burke, Evans.

Booked: Gillett - foul

Attendance: 222

Man of the match: Mulders