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Droylsden 2 Redditch United 1

Gary Owen
19/12/2007

A DEBATABLE spot kick from Jody Banim with 11 minutes remaining saw the Bloods progress into the second round of the FA Trophy.

Terry Fearns was upended in the area, allowing Banim to score from the spot but leaving Redditch boss Gary Whild not best pleased with the officials.

He said: "That was a poor decision by the referee to award that penalty against us. Droylsden had lots of pressure – they are a good side going forward, but Danny Lewis was equal to anything they threw at him.

"It was only by a penalty that he was going to be beaten. After an hour, it looked like a replay, but then we get a poor decision like that."

It was Redditch who were presented with the game’s first great chance but James Johnson could only chip the ball into Paul Phillip’s hands after beating the offside trap.

Lewis saved all that Droylsden could throw at him until the 37th minute when Banim’s shot beat the keeper, but then amazingly struck both posts before being gathered by the Redditch custodian.

After the break, Johnson again shot straight at Phillips, Banim and Ashley Burbeary stung the Redditch keeper’s palms before the moment of controversy arrived.

Droylsden then doubled their lead three minutes later when Fearns squared for Banim, who checked before firing past Lewis.

Redditch were awarded a spot kick of their own in added time when Steve Halford bundled Carl Heggs over, Heggs himself converting the penalty.

"Maybe our penalty was a little soft – sometimes they go against you. Having said that, we had most of the play and controlled the game, but we needed to be more clinical. I never thought we’d lose the game, though" added Bloods boss Dave Pace afterwards, whose side went into the hat for the second round draw.

Attendance: 239

THE Bloods were given a home tie against Cambridge City in round two following Monday’s draw at Soho Square.