A LATE own goal from former Redditch United favourite Ryan Wollacott earned the Reds a point in a dramatic 2-2 draw against 10-man Halesowen Town.
Wollacott headed into his own two minutes into injury time after McKauley Manning saw red for the visitors just before the hour mark in a feisty affair.
That came after Halesowen took a two-goal lead courtesy of strikes from Ryan Wynter and Kieren Donnelly before Musa Ceesay reduced the deficit.
A power outage in the town meant kick-off at the Valley Stadium was delayed by almost an hour although the game began at a frantic pace.
The Reds won a penalty after just eight minutes after Harry Emmett drew a foul in the box only for Daniel Platt to save Alex Cameron’s spot kick.
And Halesowen made the most of that reprieve to break the deadlock on 13 minutes as Wynter rose highest to head home at a corner.
The Yeltz went close to a second goal as only a goalline clearance and superb save from Adam Harrison denied the visitors.
Redditch responded with a chance of their own as Platt parried Cameron’s bouncing effort.
However, a well-executed counter attack saw Halesowen double their lead on 35 minutes as Donnelly picked out the left corner of the goal.
The Reds halved the deficit six minutes later as Ceesay grabbed his second goal in as many games.
And the home side had a chance to draw level straight from the restart only for Cameron to shoot straight at Platt when one-on-one.
The floodlights went out again just after the half time whistle but came back on around 10 minutes later.
Reds defender Max Ram glanced a header over the bar early in the second period before Manning picked up a second yellow card on 58 minutes for a late challenge on Emmett.
Flowers’ men struggled to make the most of the man advantage with Halesowen happy to soak up the pressure.
However, former Redditch man Wollacott headed a cross into his own net at the death to ensure the Reds remain unbeaten this season.
Redditch are next in action at home to Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday, August 17 with kick-off at 3pm at the Valley Stadium.
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