REDDITCH United were knocked out of the FA Cup at the Second Round Qualifying stage after the Reds were beaten 1-0 in a replay away at National League North side Peterborough Sports.
Matt Clarke’s side battled back from two goals down last weekend to take the tie to a replay only to suffer a narrow defeat against 10-men in midweek at the Bee Arena.
Jordan Nicholson’s seventh-minute strike proved decisive despite Peterborough having Conor Johnson sent off on the half-hour mark.
Redditch started brightly as Yan Osadychi skipped his way past two defenders down the right before seeing his low cross deflected just wide of the near post.
And moments after Nicholson headed wide, the same player opened the scoring with a header from point blank range as he connected with Dion Sembie-Ferris’s cross.
However, undeterred by the setback, Redditch pressed for an equaliser as Max Sheaf’s curling effort was tipped over the bar by Sports goalkeeper Peter Crook.
And the Reds were handed a boost when Johnson was sent off for a reckless challenge on Bernard Mensah as his follow through caught the Redditch man on his knee.
Clarke’s men went close to an equaliser shortly before the break when Ryan Nesbitt’s flicked header hit the left-hand post and bounced behind for a goal kick.
Sports frustrated Redditch for much of the second period until a flurry of chances came the visitors’ way with Sheaf denied by Crook before Ryan Boothe flashed a ball across the face of goal.
However, Peterborough were denied a second goal by a stunning reflex save from Reds goalkeeper Kieran Boucher who somehow kept out Michael Gash’s header from close range.
Redditch return to league action against St Ives Town on Saturday, September 24 with kick-off at 3pm at Westwood Road.
