Redditch United 1

Woodford United 1

A GOAL seven minutes from time from Redditch supersub Lee Jenkins saved his side's blushes in this second qualifying round FA Cup tie.

The former Swansea City and Kidderminster Harriers player can hardly be used to lining up against the likes of Woodford - a village side who were still playing parks football seven years ago.

But he still brought an urgency to the proceedings and could have struck a match-winning second during his brief stint on the pitch.

The fact that Redditch defender Mark Creighton claimed the man of the match accolade - closely followed by fellow stopper Matt Clarke - highlighted how close Reds were to making an embarrassing exit from the competition.

Woodford may not have conceded a goal in their three previous rounds but a Nationwide Conference North side shouldn't need a replay to dispose of a team playing at the same level as Alvechurch and Studley.

Assistant manager Gary Whild admitted it was a close call for the Valley Stadium side.

"It was a relief to get that goal. The tie had the makings of being a banana skin and it proved to be just that.

"We were not at the races in any shape or form. It was one of those games where we were looking for something to give us a spark.

"Maybe at the end our extra bit of fitness told because we had them penned back but it was too late for us to get the winner."

For all their possession early on, Redditch rarely troubled Matt Finlay in the Woodford goal, Craig Wilding and Scott Rickards firing wide while Danny Scheppel sent a 25-yard effort over the bar.

Nevertheless it came as a shock to the home side when the Northamptonshire visitors opened the scoring two minutes into the second half. Midfielder Neil Champelovier threaded a ball through to leading scorer Russ Dunkley who held off Creighton to fire home from 18-yards.

It was the Woodford striker's ninth goal of the season and he showed a confidence currently lacking among the Redditch strikeforce.

A long-range free-kick from Arran Pearman had to be turned over the bar by Lewis Solly midway through the half but the game began to turn in Redditch's favour with the introduction of Jenkins and Paul Moore moments later.

Moore had the ball in the net on 76 minutes only for the effort to be ruled out for offside while Jenkins was denied by the crossbar four minutes later.

The equaliser came seven minutes from time, Jenkins forcing the ball home after the keeper failed to hold Mark Taylor's corner.