Redditch United 1 Taunton Town 2.

IT was a miserable opening day of the season for Redditch United who were stunned by Western League newcomers, Taunton Town on Saturday, writes Matt Smith.

In a tight match it was individual errors from two Reds defenders that cost United the game in the last five minutes.

Richard Softley managed to pinpoint his goal-line clearance past his own keeper with five minutes to go.

Two minutes later Steve Shaw was adjudged to have hand balled in his penalty area resulting in a spot kick which was despatched with ease by Taunton's substitute striker Peter Knox.

But this was not before Reds took a deserved lead through substitute Andy Dodds who hammered the ball home at an acute angle after 77 minutes.

Dodds had literally come off the bench to give Rod Brown's men the lead with his second touch of the ball.

Dodds' corner from the right was fumbled by Taunton keeper Ryan Draper and was squirted all the way back out to Dodds and with the open goal in front of him flashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Both teams had chances to secure the points throughout the game but at the same time both keepers were on top form.

Reds strikers Peter Sutton and Lee Booth both had chances to put the game beyond Taunton but Draper pulled off a series of superb saves to deny the Valley men.