Prolific Daly delivers yet again for Brakes

Liam Daly’s incredible goalscoring run continued as he bagged his sixth of the season, and fifth in the last four games, to snatch a point for Brakes with almost the last kick of the match, writes Paul Edwards.

The unbeaten sequence now stands at 22 games but the team had to battle right to the end on a difficult playing surface to get anything out of this game as Redditch frustrated them after taking a 26th-minute lead.

In a bright opening, a Redditch cross was allowed to travel from one side of the area to the other, where Matt Dodd made a timely block to divert Liam McDonald’s shot behind.

Tom Berwick was doing his best to add to his early-season goals tally against one of his former clubs and forced Reds keeper Niall Cooper into a hurried clearance that he blasted against the striker.

Batchelor headed straight at Cooper from a free-kick, while Daly had an effort blocked on the line by Andre Francis.

The home side’s pace was stretching Leamington and another shot was blocked before Paul Holleran’s side had a great opportunity to take the lead.

Joe Magunda’s astute pass in to Dodd on the edge of the area was laid back for Berwick to curl a shot towards the top corner that Cooper managed to tip on to the bar. The ball was only partially cleared and Dodd eventually dragged his shot wide.

In their next attack, Redditch moved ahead.

McDonald’s 30-yard free-kick was pushed round the post by Kevin Sawyer and from the corner Will Richards rose to head home unchallenged.

The game was littered with free-kicks but referee Matthew Wilkes did not brandish any cards until the second half, the first of which was shown to Josh Quaynor for bringing down Berwick 25 yards from goal.

Stephan Morley fired the resultant free-kick just over the bar.

The hosts then saw a free-kick of their own deflected wide before stretching Leamington with a swift break, Fitzpatrick firing a dangerous ball across goal that Connor Deards was inches from converting.

Daly made a goal-saving tackle inside the area as Redditch attacked from the opposite flank, while Mark Danks’ powerful drive was well held by Sawyer at his near post.

Lee Chilton’s slip when in a great position to deliver a cross seemed to sum up Leamington’s evening, but despite being forced to adapt their usual style of play they began to exert pressure on the home defence in the closing stages.

Late changes brought fresh legs to the cause and keeping the ball on the deck led to the free-kick which provided the equaliser.

Daly was the hero yet again, heading almost in slow motion past Cooper to the delight of the Brakes fans behind the goal.

There was barely time for the match to kick off again and, while Redditch were no doubt frustrated at being denied a first home win of the season, this match will have reminded both players and supporters that there is still much work to be done for Brakes to maintain their lofty position at the top of the table.

Redditch: Niall Cooper, Andre Francis, Joshua Quaynor, Asa Charlton, Calum Flanagan, William Richards, Jorden Fitzpatrick, Mark Hands, Mark Danks (Alex Price, 85), Connor Deards, Liam McDonald (Jack Cresswell, 76).Subs not used: Aaron Stringfellow, David Bridgwater, Bradley Catlow.

Brakes: Kevin Sawyer, James Mace, Stephan Morley, Joe Magunda, Jamie Hood, Liam Daly, Matt Dodd, Lee Chilton, Tom Berwick, Lee Moore, Richard Batchelor (Sam Adkins, 85). Subs not used: James Husband, Michael Tuohy, Michael Quirke.