Andy Reynolds’ answer to losing Harry Barbrook at the end of his loan spell was to drop Sam Johnson into the back line and bring in Gabe Overton up front for this Pitching In Southern League Premier Central Division clash.

The new formation took time to settle and Dylan Thomas had already missed one golden opportunity before Redditch took the lead after 11 minutes, writes Terry Lynes.

Robert Eagle was harshly penalised 25 yards out and Jack Kelly’s free kick left Sam Blair helpless.

Blair was soon in action again flying across his goal to turn away another Kelly rocket and from the corner stretched to tip Abdilahai Youssef’s header over the bar.

From this corner Kyle Rowley rose high at the far post to head home Redditch’s second goal.

Eagle pulled up in that sequence of play to be replaced by Ashton Blogg.

Lowestoft were now getting their passing game moving causing the home defence numerous headaches and they pulled a goal back in the 29th minute.

Joao Rangel and Owen Murphy combined down the left and Murphy’s cross found Joe Duffy steaming in from the right to power a header past Oliver Taylor.

Lowestoft were on top by now and levelled the scores on the stroke of half time with a mirror image of their first goal as the ball was crossed from the right for Overton to head home at the far post.

In the absence of Travis Cole Lowestoft are vulnerable to high balls from set pieces and that failing led to them falling behind again in the 56th minute as Kelly’s corner saw Rowley’s header parried by Blair but in the scramble that followed the ball was prodded into the net by Yussuf.

One thing this young Lowestoft side doesn’t do is lose heart and it took just six minutes for them to draw level again.

Virtually all the outfield players were involved as the ball was passed across the entire pitch before Kyle Haylock’s inch perfect pass inside Bradley Burton put Rangel cleared and after taking a couple of steps he smashed the ball past the keeper from a narrow angle.

With the game going into the first minute of added time, Rangel drew both Burton and Kelly to him before playing the ball back perfectly for Murphy to smash first time from just outside the corner of the area into the top corner for a tremendous match winning goal.

TEAMS:
REDDITCH UNITED: Taylor, Burton, Kelly, Dawkins, Rowley, Johnston, Inman (sub Atwal 35), Burroughs, Thomas Kirton (sub Digie 71), Yussuf (sub Boothe 71). Subs (not used): Stafford, Brooks

LOWESTOFT TOWN: Blair, Norman, Eagle (sub Blogg22), Murphy, Ruffles, Johnson, Rangel, Duffy, Overton (sub Aldous 76), Sayer (sub Ben Atkinson 91), Haylock. Sub (not used): Yeo.

REFEREE: Mr. J Porter

ATTENDANCE 441

Report by Terry Lynes