TWO first goals from teenager Fabian Reynolds put Redditch United back on track on Saturday.
After their 7-0 hammering by title-chasing Spalding last week, Mike Fowler’s side needed t respond – and they did just that at home to Banbury United.
Fowler told the club’s YouTube channel his starting line-up was a mix of youngsters and people playing out of position.
He said: “The team I put out was interesting too say the least. I had an 18-year-old making his debut. Fabien’s 18 and he scored twice.
“They did exactly what I asked for us. A clean sheet was good, but I’d been predicting a 7-7 draw!
“But buckle up Reds fans, it’s going to be a bumpy ride for a couple of weeks.”
Jason Cowley was on target again for Halesowen Town – but the Yeltz had to settle for a point at home to Kettering Town.
The result leaves Halesowen still on the edge of the play-off spots.
Manager Russ Penn told the club’s X channel: “Sometimes you have to accept it that it’s not your day in front of goal – the second half was like the Alamo.
“You’ve got to take it. We looked sharp, but we just lacked that bit of quality – we had enough chances to win two games. We’re just one defeat in nine now, but we’re disappointed with the draws we’ve had.”
Stratford Town put their off-field issues behind them to win 2-1 at Bromsgrove Rovers.
But it was Rouslers who took the lead through Charlie Pavey after just four minutes.
Dan Lafferty levelled eight minutes later though – and the Bards scored a 55th minute winner through Owen James.
Stratford skipper Paul McCone told the club’s YouTube channel: “We gifted them their goal, but we never felt under pressure.
“They threw a lot at us but we dealt with it. We thoroughly deserved this win and took our chances when we needed to.”
But Bromsgrove boss Scott Adey-Linforth told the club’s YouTube channel that he was frustrated by the end result.
He said: “It looked like a flat performance, we have to inject that – it was a big opportunity missed.
“It wasn’t good enough and we know that. We never really got going.
“The table is so tight and we’re trying to look up, a win would have sent us up a few places. And we let it slip.”
Stourbridge let a two-goal lead slip in their bottom four battle with Sudbury Town.
The Suffolk side’s second half display gave them a 3-2 win.
Toumani Sidibe netted for the Glassboys after only three minutes – and Jai Verma made it two just before the half-hour mark.
But Sudbury hit back through Marcel Lewis and two goals from Kien Connolly – with the winner coming in the last minute.
