SINCLAIR STRIKES LATE FOR THE REDS

REDDITCH UNITED 1 PORT VALE 1

THERE was to be no dream start for new Redditch United boss Paul Davis as his Evo-Stik Premier Division South side held League Two outfit Port Vale.

Former Redditch favourite Dior Angus handed the Valiants the lead from the penalty spot just before half-time with Nyeko Sinclair levelling in the final seconds.

The visitors dominated the opening period and would have been clear at the break had it not been for a number of outstanding saves from Reds keeper Louis Connor.

Triallist Gime Toure and the lively Harry Benns were denied inside the opening ten minutes with Benns thwarted by the United shotstopper again midway through the half.

Angus then had three efforts brilliantly kept out by Connor before Toure planted a header over the bar from a corner.

The home side had struggled for possession for long periods but Luke Keen had a glorious chance ten minutes before the break only to miss the target having beaten the offside trap.

And he had an even better chance five minutes later after Yohan Rutty-Smith was tripped in the area but Keen’s penalty was well saved by Sam Hornby, another playing against his former club.

It looked as though the half would finish goalless but the final seconds saw Vale’s Joe Davis brought down in the box and Angus made no mistake from the spot.

Redditch made wholesale changes and were the better side in the second half with strikers Montel Gibson and Edji Mbunga causing problems.

Mbunga was twice denied by Hornby after breaking clear of the visitors’ defence and with 15 minutes to go Hornby did well to keep out an excellent Gibson effort after the frontman had neatly gathered.

United’s second half keeper Brendan Bunn was rarely called on as opposite number Hornby hogged the second half limelight, excelling himself once again five minutes from time with a fine diving save to keep out another Mbunga effort.

But with just seconds to go, a corner from the right found the unmarked Sinclair who tapped home the equaliser.