BERNARD Mensah scored a late equaliser to earn Redditch United an FA Cup replay against National League North side Peterborough Sports.
The Reds were two goals down at the break only for Ryan Nesbitt to halve the deficit just past the hour mark and Mensah to net sic minutes from time in a 2-2 draw at the Trico Stadium.
And the replay takes place TONIGHT (Tuesday, September 20) with kick-off at 7.45pm at the Bee Arena.
Redditch started the better of the two teams as Mensah forced the first meaningful save of the game when his dinked effort from the right was tipped over the bar by Peterborough goalkeeper Peter Crook.
However, Sports took the lead on 17 minutes when Lamine Kaba Sherif’s low shot from the edge of the penalty area found the bottom left corner.
Matt Clarke’s side responded well to the setback and almost drew level when Mensah’s delightful cross was just missed by the onrushing Reece Flanagan at the back post.
Peterborough doubled their lead on 31 minutes when Mark Jones tapped home from close range after Reds goalkeeper Kieran Boucher had made a fine initial double save to twice deny Ryan Fryatt.
And Redditch were handed a reprieve just four minutes later when Boucher and Jones came together when attempting to meet a deep cross as Connor Kennedy swept the ball home only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
The Reds went close early in the second period as Flanagan sent a curling effort inches wide of the post.
However, the visitors should have secured their place in the next round when Dion Sembie-Ferris headed through to Ky Marsh Brown only for the forward to fire over the bar on the half-volley.
Clarke turned to his bench on the hour mark and it paid dividends immediately when Nesbitt produced a composed finish from Mensah’s flicked header to halve the deficit.
And the home side almost drew level on 75 minutes as Mensah and Nesbitt combined again only for the former to see his powerful effort from a tight angle saved at the near post by Crook.
The Reds eventually found a deserved equaliser on 84 minutes when Mensah poked the ball home into the bottom right corner from Max Sheaf’s flicked header.
And Redditch went close to a winner in the final few minutes when Mensah rose highest to meet Calum Flanagan’s inviting cross only for the ball to bounce inches wide of the left-hand post.
Redditch play Peterborough in the replay TONIGHT (Tuesday, September 20) with kick-off at 7.45pm at the Bee Arena.
