Jack Byrne's 90th-minute goal earned Redditch United the three points they needed for Blue Square North survival while Hyde United were relegated.

Redditch manager Gary Whild paid tribute to the grit and determination shown by his young squad.

"It is a marvellous achievement for the lads and they deserve to be where they are," he said.

"They have shown over the last couple of months that they have the desire and the ability to be in this league."

Given what was riding on the outcome of the game it was not surprising that the first half proved to be a nervy affair from both sides with Ryan Beswick coming closest to breaking the deadlock.

We've achieved something this year that has been superb when you consider what has gone on at the football club Gary Whild

The Reds' loanee from Leicester City rattled the Hyde crossbar with a free-kick from the edge of the area.

Hyde enjoyed their fair share of possession but they seldom threatened to make the breakthrough they so desperately needed.

With time running out, Mark Hands found himself free down the right-hand side and his cross was met by Byrne, whose finish finally banished all Redditch fears of relegation.

Hands told BBC Hereford and Worcester it had been all about grinding out the result they needed to preserve their Conference status.

"It is not a good pitch to play on at all but Hyde came here and gave us a good game," he said.

"It probably wasn't our best performance of recent weeks but it's all about the result.

"We just decided to put it on them as much as we could and as early as we could and see if we could grind something out and we did it, so we're really happy to be staying up," he added.

Redditch's season has been set against a backdrop of serious financial problems that were recently exacerbated by their main sponsors pulling out of a £40,000 two-year deal.

Given these problems, Whild feels it is only right that the squad should enjoy the moment, but he insists they will be looking to finish off the season in style.

"We've achieved something this year that has been superb when you consider what has gone on at the football club," he said.

"We've got two games left and we want to finish as high as possible.

"So we'll have a few drinks tonight and then we will look forward to Tuesday."

Redditch United will entertain Harrogate Town on Tuesday, 21 April and there will be coverage of that match in a sports special on BBC Hereford and Worcester

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