REDDITCH United manager Gary Whild praised keeper Richard Anstiss after the Valley Stadium side kept their first clean sheet in nine months.
Anstiss was also in goal on that occasion, helping the Reds hold Altrincham to a 0-0 at their Moss Lane ground in April.
Since then the popular shot stopper has been on loan at Midland Alliance outfit Boldmere St Michaels but was called back by Whild to cover for regular keeper Nathan Vaughan who is undergoing tests on an injured shoulder.
"Richard is an experienced keeper and makes good decisions," Whild said. "He is glad to be back and he is a bit of a character in the dressing room. He is the type of person we need at the moment."
Vaughan is set to see specialists at Birmingham City this week but Whild hopes Anstiss' return will create some competition for places.
"I will treat it as if it was an outfield position," the manager added. "Richard did not want to come back for a one-off game. He would not have let Boldmere downif that had been the case.
"But he has the shirt at the moment and we will see what happens when Nathan is fit again."
With the transfer embargo still in place, Whild has been unable to add to his squad. But he is still tracking former Reds striker Rory May, now with Stourport Swifts.
"It would be good to bring in another player like Rory," the manager added. "Jermaine (Clarke) and Craig (Wilding) worked well together on Saturday but it is good to have competition.
"There is certainly a call in this league for a physical presence."
Redditch will be looking for another vital victory when they meet fellow strugglers Vauxhall Motors at the Valley Stadium on Saturday.
Reds lost 2-1 when the sides met in Cheshire back in August and victory could lift United above the Motormen and clear of the relegation zone.
Central defender Scott Dann could be back in contention after hamstring trouble ruled him out of the Nuneaton clash.
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