Redditch United 1 Clevedon Town 1

UNITED'S backup keeper Matt Jones was the hero as United held a top three side for the second time in a week.

The former Solihull custodian was called up after Harvey Willetts was ruled out through work commitments and made a series of vital, if unconventional blocks.

His finest stop came in first half injury time when he reacted brilliantly to fend off a fierce Keith Knight free kick which went straight through a seven man wall.

Jones was blameless as the visitors struck the first blow in the 75th minute with Steve Lester's harmless-looking shot deflected in by Tony Cook, although Lester claimed the strike.

And four minutes later Jones kept the hosts in it when he raced out to stop a Cook effort with his feet after the United defence went AWOL.

And Jones saved the day with his studs again seven minutes from time after Sam Allison sprang the offside trap and left Ian Mitchell and Steve Frost trailing.

Within a minute the importance of the acid blond keeper's contribution was underlined when captain Richard Field rose to plant home an equaliser from a Gary Hackett corner before a clenched fist celebration for the Valley faithful.

Field, a transfer target for Hinckley United, had won the corner when his fierce effort was deflected over.

United belied their lowly league position in a bright start which saw Field shoot too near Town keeper Jason Matthews before a sublime lob from Scott Colcombe went over.

Veteran striker Nicky Cross restored himself to the starting lineup and could have put his side in front on 27 minutes when he turned in the area but shot straight at Matthews.

But the high-flying visitors got stronger as the match went on and created their fair share of chances.

Cook missed the pick of them, firing wastefully wide with only Jones to beat on 34 minutes before Mike Wyatt came close with a curler which left Jones flat-footed.

Field came close in added time before leading scorer Paul Danks rounded Matthews and fired into the side netting from an impossible angle.

A cheeky Mark Swann backheel had Matthews scrambling after the break before Cook had two efforts disallowed for offside within three minutes.

Redditch survived another scare when Cook and Allison both failed to get on the end of an inviting Wyatt centre before Clevedon went ahead.

Town sub Steve Peters was booked after a spat with Danks on 68 minutes and was fortunate to escape a second booking after a horrendous tackle on the same player seconds later which sparked a ten man confrontation.

But the incident fired the hosts and the combative Field, fittingly, claimed the equaliser.