Mpi's injury time goal wins Crusaders a point

The return of Stefan Brown on loan from Maidenheasd United was warmly welcomed and he was immediately given a place in the starting line-up, with James Pilling relegated to the bench. After the visitors had gone ahead with an early penalty, they had much the better of the first half, but we posed a more serious attacking threat after the interval, with keeper Sam Hornby pulling off at least three good saves until we finally salvaged a point in injury time when Charlie Mpi headed home from an Alan O’Brien corner. It had been a close-run thing, but our play-off hopes are still alive and with many of the contenders yet to play each other, anything can happen in a frantic run-in to the end of the season.
The visitors looked lively right from the start and Paul Strudley had to pull off an early save from Leigh Phillips, whilst our few attacks were blocked by a resolute defence. The visitors took the lead when Gay Horgan handled the ball following a free-kick from Calvin Dinsley, for George Carline to score from the resulting penalty after 15 minutes. The visitors were boosted by the goal and kept up the pressure whilst we found it difficult to mount any real attacks, the visitors commanding the midfield. Sam Hornby punched out a free-kick from Alan O’Brien, but half-time came with no further goals.
Carline shot wide early in the second half as the Reds threatened to increase their lead, but centre-back Daniel Scarr was sent off after a second yellow card and we at last began to pose some threats on the Redditch goal, James Pilling coming on to add more strength to the middle, whilst Isaac Osei-Tutu and Harry Goodger were also brought on.
We at last began to look like scoring, but Hornby brought off great saves from Stefan Brown and Mark Draycott, and then dived at Brown’s feet to ward off another attack. The visitors continued to battle hard and, with the 90 minutes up, and just as it appeared that their efforts would earn them victory, O’Brien won a corner on the right and Mpi got above the defenders to head the equalizer in the third minute of added time.
We had got away with a valuable point and kept our 5th.place in the table, whilst Redditch must have been shattered after being so close to victory.
Team; Strudley, Horgan(Tutu), John, Rusby, Day, Brown,Clark(Phillips),Collins(Goodger),Mpi,Draycott, O’Brien. Subs;Rees, Boardman.