Histon 1 Redditch United 1

REDDITCH United ended with a four-man attack but it was not enough to eke out a vital winner at Histon.

It felt like two points dropped rather than one gained as the Reds’ play-off push stuttered at the Glass World Stadium.

Clayton McDonald fired the Reds ahead ten minutes after half-time with his first goal for the club, but Histon levelled through debutant Geoff Mitchell 12 minutes from time.

Reds boss Liam McDonald fielded a four-man attack in the final minutes but Histon held firm and the result leaves seventh-placed Redditch four points behind St Neots, who occupy the final play-off place.

Reds’ own new striker Serge Mor Diop, a deadline signing from Gloucester, had begun his debut brightly and twice had opportunities. But he slipped just as he shot and then just couldn’t keep the ball under his control and he galloped towards goal.

Another Diop shot and efforts from Leigh Phillips snd Ashley Sammons failed to test home keeper Enol Ordonez.

Instead, Reds keeper Sam Hornby had to be alert to parry an effort from Nick Freeman.

The Reds stepped up their pressure after the break and were rewarded on 55 minutes. McDonald had had one effort from a corner cleared moments earlier but the centre-back had a simple finish when George Carline flocked a long throw-in from Jordan Cullinane-Liburd over Ordonez towards the far post.

Ordonez redeemed himself to save a great effort from Carline as the Reds looked for a second goal but they were stunned when Histon grabbed a 78th-minute equaliser.

Mitchell, who had had an earlier effort ruled out for a foul on Hornby, was not to be denied and when Freeman crossed the 6ft 5ins forward finished from close-range.

For all their endeavours, Reds could not find a winner and it now means Saturday’s home clash with Truro City becomes a must-win.

REDDITCH: Hornby 7, Jones 6 (Loveridge 49, 6), Cullinane-Liburd 6, Dinsley 8, Scarr 7, McDonald 8 *, Phillips 7 (Hylton 82), Maye 8, Mor Diop 7 (Baker-Richardson 72), Sammons 6, Carline 8. Subs not used: Bridgwater, Shearer.