REDDITCH were just inches away from booking their place in the first round of the FA Trophy.

With the game neatly balanced after Scott Rickards' penalty had been cancelled out by Barrow's Steve Flitcroft, Reds piled on the pressure for a late winner.

And Rickards looked to have done the deed with 15 minutes to go. He took the ball beyond keeper Ben Morsby and fired towards the open goal only for central defender Mark Salmon to scurry back and hoof it off the goalline.

Rod Brown could not have wished for a better start from his side as they opened the scoring after just seven minutes. Recalled midfielder Ian King crashed to the floor inside the area and Rickards made no mistake from the spot.

And they should have added a second six minutes later when a misunderstanding between Barrow keeper Mosby and his defence saw Joe Broad send a 40-yard effort back towards goal only to see it roll agonisingly wide of the post.

The visitors were on level terms thanks to a wonder goal midway through the half. Matt Clarke's clearance reached Flitcroft 35 yards out but the brother of Blackburn's Gary Flitcroft unleashed a stunning volley that flew past keeper Nathan Vaughan.

The second half again saw Redditch start the stronger and when Simon Hollis picked out Broad in the area, the Walsall midfielder steered his header towards the bottom corner only for Morsby to produce a fine save to turn the effort away for a corner.

Vaughan was again in action on the hour, keeping out another fierce Flitcroft drive, while Hollis cleared off the line moments later to deny Kevin Dawson.

The final stages saw Reds in control but they could not find a way through the solid Cumbrians' defence.

With Rickards being denied by Salmon's goalline clearance, Reds continued to push for a winner with King having an effort deflected over the bar while substitute Paul Moore powered an effort into the side-netting.

Reds: Vaughan 6, M Clarke 6, Pearce 5, Creighton 7, HDANN 8, Taylor 7 (Moore 46, 6), Hollis 7, King 7, Wilding 6, Rickards 6, Broad 7. Subs (not used): Feely, Doyle, Cornelius.

Barrow: Morsby, Cotterill, Ridley, Howarth, Salmon (Raven 82), Dawson, HRUSHTON, Flitcroft, Hill, Knight, Taylor (Tarrant 72). Subs (not used): Smith, Heffernan, Kewley.

Referee: Mr P Brown (Taunton)

Attendance: 289