LIKE Alfreton Town, Redditch United are not generally seen as one of the leading lights in the increasingly professional Blue Square North.
Yet the Valley Stadium remains a difficult place to visit and gain very much, so Alfreton will be kicking themselves for coming within four minutes of victory and then having to settle for a draw – especially after debutant keeper Kyle Sutcliffe, a new permanent signing from Premier Division Farsley Celtic, had brilliantly saved a penalty three minutes earlier.
That said, a share of the spoils was probably a fair result overall, and at least they did not come away with nothing, as they had done after leading at Vauxhall a week earlier.
The lesson to be learned, then, would appear to be on preserving a lead once established, which Chris Walton had done in the 67th minute, only for James Johnson to pull the home side level late on.
As well as naming Sutcliffe, Alfreton manager Nicky Law also went with a flat back four with Mark Barnard pushed forward into midfield, where he typically performed well.
Meanwhile Scott Rickards was facing another of his former clubs, and he was prominent in early Alfreton raids, first almost setting up strike partner Brian Cusworth and then seeing his own 25-yard shot on the turn deflected for a corner.
Little was seen of the home side in the first 10 minutes, before Robert Taylor blazed over from 12 yards after Greg Young had done well to force Richard Bell wide.
But Rickards was just unable to keep Barnard's through ball in play in the area, and keeper Danny Lewis then did well to collect Anton Brown's awkwardly bouncing through ball with the sturdy frame of Cusworth closing in on him.
Redditch had penalty appeals rejected in the 23rd minute when Brown collided with Howard Forinton while trying to clear.
Alfreton were still enjoying their fair share of the play, though, and when Cusworth put Rickards through again the ex-Redditch man lost control at the vital moment, and then saw Shane Healy clear as he tried to capitalise on another quality ball in from Barnard.
But Redditch hit back towards the end of the half, and Brown had to clear off the line as Forinton lobbed Sutcliffe.
Then the keeper was alert to turn a stinger from Bell behind for a corner from Alex Cowley's cross to ensure that the half remained goalless.
Sutcliffe underwent a nervy couple of minutes early in the second half, first fumbling Forinton's cross and then miscuing a throw out straight to Jai Stanley.
Then a minute later the debutant keeper charged out of his area and collided heavily with Forinton who definitely came off worst.
Before play was stopped to allow treatment Bell latched onto the loose ball, but Young was on hand to clear the shot off the line.
The Alfreton fans were celebrating in the 62nd minute, but prematurely as Walton's goal was ruled out for offside – he had followed up from 15 yards after Lewis had punched away Laurie Wilson's pass under pressure from Cusworth.
Twice inside the next two minutes Bell scorned good chances for the home side, and those misses were punished in the 67th minute.
Brown won a corner on the left, which Kris Bowler took, and Young's downward header came back off the foot of a post in a crowded area, but Walton squeezed the rebound over the line.
Three minutes later it could have been 2-0 but Lewis managed to block Cusworth's close range hooked shot.
But from Alfreton oozing confidence it suddenly became all Redditch again in the closing minutes.
Sutcliffe shone again, tipping over an awkward Taylor free kick and then going down to save from Cowley.
And United looked all set to equalise in the 83rd minute. Young was adjuged to have impeded substitute Damien Markman, and despite the protests of the visitors the penalty was awarded.
However, Sutcliffe came up with a fantastic double save to deny Bell's vicious strike and also his follow-up.
But Alfreton's joy was short lived, for three minutes later a cross from Cowley reached substitute Johnson, who headed out of the keeper's reach from eight yards.

REDDITCH: Lewis, Healy, Whitcombe (Petty 65), Rea, Walker, Stanley (Markman 71), Cowley, Murphy (Johnson 80), Bell, Taylor, Forinton. Subs not used: Deakin, Dickinson.
ALFRETON: Sutcliffe, Hannigan, Barnard, M. Wilson, Young, L. Wilson, Brown, Walton, Cusworth, Rickards (Douglas-Pringle 60), Bowler. Subs not used: Doxey, Outram, Henshaw, Cockerill.
REFEREE: S. Bennett of Stoke-on-Trent.
ATTENDANCE: 321.
SCORERS: Redditch – Johnson 86. Alfreton – Walton 67.
CAUTIONS: Alfreton – L. Wilson 31 (foul on Taylor); M.Wilson 61 (foul on Forinton); Brown 78 (foul on Markman).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Brian Cusworth.

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